Heave compensation system for assembling a drill string

1. A method of deploying a jointed tubular string into a subsea wellbore, comprising:

lowering the tubular string into the subsea wellbore from an offshore drilling unit, wherein the tubular string has a slip joint;

sending a wireless command signal from the offshore drilling unit down the tubular string to a setting tool to set an anchor, wherein the sending the wireless command signal comprises at least one of:

pumping a wireless identification tag through the tubular string; and

modulating rotation of the tubular string;

after lowering, anchoring a lower portion of the tubular string below the slip joint to a non-heaving structure;

while the lower portion is anchored:

supporting an upper portion of the tubular string above the slip joint from a rig floor of the offshore drilling unit;

after supporting, adding one or more joints to the tubular string, thereby extending the tubular string; and

releasing the upper portion of the extended tubular string from the rig floor;

releasing the lower portion of the extended tubular string from the non-heaving structure; and

lowering the extended tubular string into the subsea wellbore.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-heaving structure is a casing string cemented in the subsea wellbore.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

the anchor is disposed below the slip joint, and

the lower portion is anchored by setting the anchor against the casing string.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the setting tool is disposed between the slip joint and the anchor.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the anchor is set by the sending the wireless command signal to the setting tool and circulating fluid through the tubular string.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein:

the tubular string is rotated during lowering,

rotation is ceased before anchoring,

the setting tool has a controller and a tachometer, and

the controller sets the anchor in response to detection of cessation of rotation using the tachometer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-heaving structure is one of: a marine riser, a lower marine riser package, and a blowout preventer (BOP) stack.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

the slip joint is a tensioner,

the non-heaving structure has a drill string gripper, and

the portion is anchored by engaging the gripper with the drill string.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the tubular string is lowered through the marine riser and an upper marine riser package having a rotating control device (RCD),

the method further comprises closing a BOP against the drill string, and

the tensioner is operated by pressurizing the riser between the RCD and the closed BOP.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

fluid is circulated through the tubular string during lowering,

the drill string further has a flow sub, and

the tensioner is operated by engaging a clamp with the flow sub to maintain circulation during anchoring.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising engaging the gripper with the drill string in response to detection of a well control event.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the tubular string is a drill string having a drill bit at a bottom thereof, and

fluid is circulated through the drill string and the drill bit is rotated during lowering, thereby drilling the wellbore.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the setting tool comprises an antenna.

14. A heave compensation system for assembling a jointed tubular string, comprising:

a jointed tubular string comprising:

a slip joint;

an anchor comprising slips movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and

a setting tool connecting the slip joint to the anchor, comprising:

an actuation piston operable to move the slips between the positions;

a plurality of toggle valves, each valve in fluid communication with a respective face of the setting actuation piston and operable to alternately provide fluid communication between the respective piston face and either a bore of the setting tool or an exterior of the setting tool;

an electronics package operable to alternate the toggle valves; and

an antenna; and

a wireless identification tag, pumpable through the tubular string, and operable to transmit a command signal to the antenna.

15. A method of deploying a jointed tubular string into a subsea wellbore, comprising:

lowering the tubular string into the subsea wellbore from an offshore drilling unit, wherein the tubular string has a slip joint;

after lowering, anchoring a lower portion of the tubular string below the slip joint to a non-heaving structure, wherein the non-heaving structure is one of: a marine riser, a lower marine riser package, and a blowout preventer (BOP) stack;

while the lower portion is anchored:

supporting an upper portion of the tubular string above the slip joint from a rig floor of the offshore drilling unit;

after supporting, adding one or more joints to the tubular string, thereby extending the tubular string; and

releasing the upper portion of the extended tubular string from the rig floor;

releasing the lower portion of the extended tubular string from the non-heaving structure; and

lowering the extended tubular string into the subsea wellbore, wherein:

the slip joint is a tensioner,

the non-heaving structure has a drill string gripper, and

the portion is anchored by engaging the gripper with the drill string.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein:

the tubular string is lowered through the marine riser and an upper marine riser package having a rotating control device (RCD),

the method further comprises closing a BOP against the drill string, and

the tensioner is operated by pressurizing the riser between the RCD and the closed BOP.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein:

fluid is circulated through the tubular string during lowering,

the drill string further has a flow sub, and

the tensioner is operated by engaging a clamp with the flow sub to maintain circulation during anchoring.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising engaging the gripper with the drill string in response to detection of a well control event.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein:

the tubular string is a drill string having a drill bit at a bottom thereof, and

fluid is circulated through the drill string and the drill bit is rotated during lowering, thereby drilling the wellbore.