Seal Integrity Verification System for Riser Deployed RCD

Abstract

A system, method, and rotating control device (RCD) for monitoring a condition of a sealing element engageable with a body of the RCD. The system comprises a riser assembly, the RCD body, the sealing element, a latch assembly, a measurement device, and a controller. The RCD body is connectable with the riser assembly and the latch assembly is locatable in the RCD body and actuatable to expand the sealing element to engage the RCD body. The measurement device is operable to measure a parameter indicative of a condition of the sealing element. The controller is operable to analyze the parameter to identify the condition of the sealing element. The method for monitoring a condition of the sealing element comprises measuring the parameter indicative of the condition of the sealing element with the measurement device; and analyzing the parameter to identify the condition of the sealing element with the controller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drilling system, comprising:
 a riser assembly;   a rotating control device (RCD) body connectable with the riser assembly;   a sealing element expandable to engage the RCD body;   a latch assembly locatable in the RCD body and actuatable to expand the sealing element;   a measurement device operable to measure a parameter indicative of a condition of the sealing element; and   a controller operable to analyze the parameter to identify the condition of the sealing element.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement device comprises at least one of a strain gauge, a load cell, a displacement sensor, a pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the parameter includes at least one of a force, a strain, a pressure, a displacement, and a temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the strain includes a measured strain of at least one of the latch assembly, the RCD body, and the sealing element; and   the displacement includes a detected displacement of at least one of the latch assembly relative to the RCD body, the sealing element relative to the RCD body, and a mechanism in the latch assembly relative to another mechanism in the latch assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement device is in fluid communication with an upper pressure region in the RCD body above the sealing element and a lower pressure region in the RCD body below the sealing element and wherein the parameter includes pressures in the upper and lower pressure regions. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a bearing assembly including an inner sealing element engagable to seal between a drill string and the bearing assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication device in communication with the controller to transmit the parameter to the controller. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the condition of the sealing element comprises at least one of an installation status of the sealing element, a seal integrity status of the sealing element, a force applied to the sealing element, a pressure applied to the sealing element, a temperature of the sealing element, and a strain of the sealing element. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the displacement sensor comprises at least one of a hall effect sensor and a magnetic device, a magnetometer and the magnetic device, a continuity sensor, an electromagnetic proximity sensor, and an acoustic proximity sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement device is engaged with at least one of the sealing element, the latch assembly, and the RCD body. 
     
     
         11 . A method of monitoring a condition of a sealing element engageable with a body of a rotating control device (RCD), comprising:
 measuring a parameter indicative of the condition of the sealing element with a measurement device; and   analyzing the parameter to identify the condition of the sealing element with a controller.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 expanding the sealing element to engage the RCD body with a latch assembly; and   monitoring the parameter of the sealing element to identify if the sealing element engages the RCD body.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the parameter comprises at least one of a force, a strain, a pressure, a displacement, and a temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the strain includes a measured strain of at least one of a device operable to apply a force to the sealing element, the RCD body, and the sealing element; and   the displacement includes a detected displacement of at least one of a latch assembly relative to the RCD body, the sealing element relative to the RCD body, and a mechanism in the latch assembly relative to another mechanism in the latch assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the condition of the sealing element comprises at least one of an installation status of the sealing element, a seal integrity status of the sealing element, a force applied to the sealing element, a pressure applied to the sealing element, a temperature of the sealing element, and a strain of the sealing element. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising transmitting the parameter to the controller with a communication device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising performing, based on the condition of the sealing element, at least one of repairing the sealing element, replacing the sealing element, adjusting a force applied to the sealing element, adjusting a pressure applied to the sealing element, and adjusting a temperature applied to the sealing element. 
     
     
         18 . A rotating control device for use in conjunction with a riser assembly, comprising:
 a body connectable with the riser assembly;   a sealing element expandable to engage the body;   a latch assembly locatable in the body and actuatable to expand the sealing element; and   a measurement device operable to measure a parameter indicative of a condition of the sealing element.   
     
     
         19 . The rotating control device of  claim 18 , wherein the measurement device comprises at least one of a strain gauge, a displacement sensor, a pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The rotating control device of  claim 18 , wherein the parameter includes at least one of a force, a strain, a pressure, a displacement, and a temperature.