Surge control system for managed pressure drilling operations

Abstract

A managed pressure drilling (MPD) system including a work string including tubulars having an internal flow path. The work string supports a liner float. A liner hanger running tool is coupled to the work string uphole of the liner float. An MPD sub is coupled to the work string and is operable to close off the internal flow path to fluid pressure passing uphole from the liner float in a first position and opens the internal flow path to fluid pressure after the liner string reaches a target depth. The MPD sub includes a housing having a rotatable ball valve including a ball. A ball seat is arranged between the rotatable ball valve and the downhole end, and a ball engagement member arranged between the rotatable ball valve and the uphole end. The ball engagement member includes a seal component that engages the ball portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A managed pressure drilling (MPD) system comprising:
 a work string including one or more tubulars having an internal flow path, the work string supporting a liner string terminating in a liner float;   a liner hanger running tool coupled to the work string uphole of the liner string and the liner float;   a selectively operable surge control sub arranged uphole of the liner hanger running tool; and   a selectively operable MPD sub coupled to the work string and being operable to close off the internal flow path to fluid pressure passing uphole from the liner float in a first position during MPD operations and opens the internal flow path to fluid pressure after the liner string reaches a target depth, wherein the selectively operable MPD sub includes a housing having an uphole end, a downhole end and a rotatable ball valve including a ball portion arranged between the uphole end and the downhole end, a ball seat arranged between the rotatable ball valve and the downhole end, and a ball engagement member arranged between the rotatable ball valve and the uphole end, the ball engagement member including a seal component that engages the ball portion.   
     
     
         2 . The MPD system according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal component includes an outer surface section and an inner surface section, the outer surface section including a groove supporting an O-ring. 
     
     
         3 . The MPD system according to  claim 2 , wherein the ball engagement member includes a recess, the seal component being installed in the recess. 
     
     
         4 . The MPD system according to  claim 2 , wherein the seal component includes a seal element having an angled surface that is receptive of the ball portion. 
     
     
         5 . The MPD system according to  claim 4 , wherein the seal element is bonded to the seal component. 
     
     
         6 . The MPD system according to  claim 4 , wherein the seal component is formed from a first material and the seal element is formed from a second material that is distinct from the first material. 
     
     
         7 . The MPD system according to  claim 6 , wherein the first material is steel and the second material is nitrile rubber. 
     
     
         8 . The MPD system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball engagement member includes a ball engagement portion and a conduit portion extending from the ball engagement portion, and a spring that extends about the conduit portion. 
     
     
         9 . The MPD system according to  claim 8 , further comprising: a pressure balancing ring disposed about the conduit portion between the ball engagement portion and the spring. 
     
     
         10 . The MPD system according to  claim 1 , wherein the selectively operable MPD sub includes a tripping member arranged between the rotatable ball valve and the downhole end and the ball portion includes a recess receptive of the tripping member. 
     
     
         11 . A resource exploration and recovery system comprising:
 a surface system including a managed pressure drilling controller;   a host casing extending downhole into a wellbore;   a subsurface system including a work string extending through the host casing into the wellbore, the work string including one or more tubulars having an internal flow path, the work string including a liner string and a liner float;   a liner hanger running tool coupled to the work string uphole of the liner string and the liner float;
 a selectively operable surge control sub arranged uphole of the liner hanger running tool; and 
 a selectively operable MPD sub coupled to the work string and being operable to close off the internal flow path to fluid pressure passing uphole from the liner float in a first position during MPD operations and opens the internal flow path to fluid pressure after the liner string reaches a target depth, wherein the selectively operable MPD sub includes a housing having an uphole end, a downhole end and a rotatable ball valve including a ball portion arranged between the uphole end and the downhole end, a ball seat arranged between the rotatable ball valve and the downhole end, and a ball engagement member arranged between the rotatable ball valve and the uphole end, the ball engagement member including a seal component that engages the ball portion. 
   
     
     
         12 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 11 , wherein the seal component includes an outer surface section and an inner surface section, the outer surface section including a groove supporting an O-ring. 
     
     
         13 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 12 , wherein the ball engagement member includes a recess, the seal component being installed in the recess. 
     
     
         14 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 12 , wherein the seal component includes a seal element having an angled surface that is receptive of the ball portion. 
     
     
         15 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 14 , wherein the seal element is bonded to the seal component. 
     
     
         16 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 14 , wherein the seal component is formed from a first material and the seal element is formed from a second material that is distinct from the first material. 
     
     
         17 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 16 , wherein the first material is steel and the second material is nitrile rubber. 
     
     
         18 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 11 , wherein the ball engagement member includes a ball engagement portion and a conduit portion extending from the ball engagement portion, and a spring that extends about the conduit portion. 
     
     
         19 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 18 , further comprising: a pressure balancing ring disposed about the conduit portion between the ball engagement portion and the spring. 
     
     
         20 . The resource exploration and recovery system according to  claim 11 , wherein the selectively operable MPD sub includes a tripping member arranged between the rotatable ball valve and the downhole end and the ball portion includes a recess receptive of the tripping member.