Apparatus and method for data transmission from a rotating control device

1. A rotating control device (RCD) for use with an offshore drilling unit, comprising:

a body having a flange formed at an end thereof for coupling to the offshore drilling unit;

a seal assembly for receiving and sealing against a tubular;

a bearing assembly for supporting rotation of the seal assembly relative to the body;

a releasable connection connecting the bearing assembly to the body and comprising:

a fastener disposed in the body; and

a piston disposed in a chamber formed in the body and selectively operable to engage the fastener with the bearing assembly; and

a data system, comprising:

a transmitting assembly rotatable with the seal assembly and comprising:

a sensing member for measuring one or more parameters selected from a group, consisting of: revolutions per minute (RPM) of the seal assembly, pressure, and temperature;

a transmitting antenna; and

a module operable to receive the parameters from the sensing member and to transmit the parameters as a radio frequency (RF) signal to a receiving assembly using the transmitting antenna; and

the receiving assembly attached to a non-rotating portion of the RCD and comprising:

a receiving antenna operable to receive the RF signal; and

an electronic system in communication with the receiving antenna and operable to communicate the parameters to the offshore drilling unit.

2. The RCD of claim 1 , wherein:

the seal assembly is a second seal assembly,

the RCD further comprises a first seal assembly,

the sensing member is in fluid communication with a pathway between the seal assemblies, and

one of the measured parameters is pressure between the seal assemblies.

3. The RCD of claim 1 , wherein one of the measured parameters is temperature of the bearing assembly.

4. The RCD of claim 1 ,

further comprising a rotating section for mounting the seal assembly to the bearing assembly,

wherein the transmitting assembly is coupled to the rotating section.

5. The RCD of claim 1 , wherein:

the transmitting antenna is single and located adjacent an inner surface of the body, and

the receiving antenna is single.

6. The RCD of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting assembly further comprises a battery.

7. The RCD of claim 1 , wherein:

the flange is an upper flange for coupling to a riser of the offshore drilling unit, and

the body further has a lower flange for coupling to the riser.

8. A method for drilling a subsea wellbore using the RCD of claim 1 , comprising:

injecting drilling fluid down a drill string while rotating the drill string having a drill bit located at a bottom of the subsea wellbore,

wherein the RCD is engaged with drill pipe of the drill string, thereby diverting return fluid from the wellbore to an outlet of the RCD; and

monitoring the parameters while drilling the wellbore.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising using the parameters to predict failure of the RCD.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the drill string extends into the subsea wellbore through the riser, and

the body is coupled to the riser.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the subsea wellbore is drilled riserlessly, and

the body is coupled to a blowout preventer stack.