Well control system and method of use
The invention provides well control system for a riser. The well control system comprises a riser assembly and at least one flow meter. The at least one flow meter is configured to be mounted on the riser.
1 . A well control system for a riser comprising:
a riser assembly, comprising:
an upper riser disconnect assembly located axially above a tension ring, between the tension ring and an upper end of the riser assembly;
a managed pressure drilling manifold located above the upper riser disconnect assembly and the tension ring, the managed pressure drilling manifold comprising:
at least one flow meter;
at least one choke assembly; and
a flow line fluidly connected to a riser bore above the upper riser disconnect assembly,
wherein the at least one flow meter and the at least one choke assembly of the managed pressure drilling manifold are mounted on an outer surface of the riser assembly and supported by the riser assembly.
2 . The well control system according to claim 1 wherein the riser assembly comprises at least one valve assembly located on the riser assembly.
3 . The well control system according to claim 1 wherein the riser assembly comprises a riser isolation device positioned axially between the upper riser disconnect assembly and a rotating control device.
4 . The well control system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one flow meter and the at least one choke assembly are integrated with a flow spool on a riser slip joint.
5 . The well control system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one flow meter is selected from the group comprising orifice plate, wedge, venturi, Coriolis, Pitot tubes, differential pressure flow meter and/or variable area flow meters.
6 . The well control system according to claim 1 , further comprising a control unit configured to receive at least one measurement signal from the at least one flow meter to measure at least one parameter or at least one property of drilling fluid or drilling fluid flow in the riser and/or in at least one mud return line.
7 . The well control system according to claim 6 wherein the control unit is configured to monitor drilling fluid flow in the riser and/or in the least one mud return line.
8 . The well control system according to claim 6 wherein the control unit is configured to calculate, estimate or predict the density and/or viscosity of the flowing drill fluid.
9 . The well control system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one flow meter has a flow measurement range of 10 to 2000 USG/min.
10 . The well control system according to claim 1 wherein the system comprises two or more flow meters.
11 . The well control system according to claim 1 , wherein the weight of the managed pressure drilling manifold is supported by the riser assembly.
12 . A method of measuring at least one parameter or property of drilling fluid in a subsea riser comprising:
providing a well control system for the subsea riser, the well control system comprising:
a riser assembly comprising a tension ring and an upper riser disconnect assembly located above the tension ring, between the tension ring and an upper end of the riser assembly; and
a managed pressure drilling manifold located above the upper riser disconnect assembly and the tension ring, the managed pressure drilling manifold comprising:
at least one flow meter;
at least one choke assembly; and
a flow line fluidly connected to a riser bore above the upper riser disconnect assembly,
wherein the at least one flow meter and the at least one choke assembly of the managed pressure drilling manifold are mounted on an outer surface of the riser assembly and supported by the riser assembly; and
measuring at least one parameter or at least one property of the drilling fluid in the riser bore.
13 . The method according to claim 12 further comprising comparing the at least one parameter or at least one property of the drilling fluid with a desired range of drilling fluid operating parameters or properties.
14 . The method according to claim 13 , further comprising generating a control signal from a control unit when the at least one parameter or at least one property of the drilling fluid is determined to be outside of the desired range of operating parameters or properties.
15 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising measuring a pressure differential across a differential pressure flow meter AP.
16 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising determining or calculating a friction factor, a discharge coefficient of the flow, Reynolds number, density, viscosity and/or a flow rate of the drilling fluid.
17 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising measuring at least one parameter or at least one property of the fluid using two or more flow meters.
18 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising switching between a first flow meter having a first flow measurement range and a second flow meter having a second flow measurement range.
19 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the weight of the managed pressure drilling manifold is supported by the riser assembly.
20 . A system for managed pressure drilling in a riser comprising:
a well control system assembly comprising:
a riser assembly, the riser assembly comprising:
an upper riser disconnect assembly located axially above a tension ring, between the tension ring and an upper end of the riser assembly; and
a rotating control device located above the upper riser disconnect assembly; and
a managed pressure drilling manifold located above the upper riser disconnect assembly and the tension ring, the managed pressure drilling manifold comprising:
at least one flow meter;
at least one choke assembly;
a flow line fluidly connected to a riser bore between the rotating control device and the upper riser disconnect assembly;
wherein the at least one flow meter and the at least one choke assembly of the managed pressure drilling manifold are mounted on an outer surface of the riser assembly and supported by the riser assembly.
21 . The system according to claim 20 wherein the riser assembly comprises at least one valve assembly located on the riser assembly above the tension ring.
22 . The system according to claim 20 wherein the riser assembly comprises a slip joint and the at least one flow meter is located on an outer surface of the slip joint.
23 . The system according to claim 20 , wherein the weight of the managed pressure drilling manifold is supported by the riser assembly.
24 . A method of managed pressure drilling in a subsea drilling operation comprising:
providing a well control system comprising:
a riser assembly, the riser assembly comprising:
an upper riser disconnect assembly located axially above a tension ring, between the tension ring and an upper end of the riser assembly; and
a rotating control device located axially above the upper riser disconnect assembly;
a managed pressure drilling manifold located above the upper riser disconnect assembly and the tension ring, the managed pressure drilling manifold comprising:
at least one flow meter; and
at least one choke assembly; and
a flow line fluidly connected to a riser bore between the rotating control device and the upper riser disconnect assembly;
wherein the at least one flow meter and the at least one choke assembly of the managed pressure drilling manifold are mounted on an outer surface of the riser assembly and supported by the riser assembly; and
measuring at least one property of drilling fluid flow using the at least one flow meter.
25 . The method according to claim 24 further comprising actuating the at least one choke assembly to control flow.
26 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising diverting managed pressure drilling fluid returns from beneath the rotating control device back into the riser via the at least one flow meter.
27 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein the weight of the managed pressure drilling manifold is supported by the riser assembly.