Control systems and methods for rcd active pressure compensation

Abstract

Control systems and methods for rotating control device (RCD) active pressure compensation are provided. A control system for an RCD for rotary drilling in a wellbore includes: RCD equipment having an internal pressure P3, wellbore having a wellbore pressure P1, the RCD equipment being operably connected to the wellbore, a return line leading toward a ground surface and having a return pressure P2, the RCD equipment being operably connected to the return line, and a regulator configured to adjust a fluid pressure supplied to the RCD to control the internal pressure P3.

1 . A control system for a rotating control device (RCD) for rotary drilling in a wellbore, comprising:
 RCD equipment having an internal pressure P 3 ;   a wellbore having a wellbore pressure P 1 , the RCD equipment being operably connected to the wellbore;   a return line leading toward a ground surface and having a return pressure P 2 , the RCD equipment being operably connected to the return line;   a regulator configured to adjust a fluid pressure supplied to the RCD to control the internal pressure P 3 ; and   a hydraulic logic circuit configured to:
 receive information corresponding to the wellbore pressure P 1 ; and 
 automatically control the regulator to control the internal pressure P 3  according to: 
   
       
         
           
             
               
                 P 
                 3 
               
               ∝ 
               
                 
                   
                     P 
                     1 
                   
                   
                     P 
                     2 
                   
                 
                 . 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a wellbore pressure gauge operably connected to the wellbore and configured to read the wellbore pressure P 1  at the wellbore below the RCD. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a software logic configured to automatically control the wellbore pressure gauge and the regulator,   wherein the regulator is further configured to control the internal pressure P 3  based on the wellbore pressure P 1  read by the wellbore pressure gauge.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a return pressure gauge operably connected to the return line and configured to read the return pressure P 2  at the return line above the RCD,   wherein the software logic is further configured to automatically control the return pressure gauge, and   wherein the regulator is further configured to control the internal pressure P 3  based on the wellbore pressure P 1  read by the wellbore pressure gauge and the return pressure P 2  read by the return pressure gauge.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a reservoir configured to contain a fluid to be supplied to an input port of the RCD at the internal pressure P 3 ; and   a pump operatively connected between the reservoir and the regulator, the pump being configured to supply the fluid from the reservoir to the regulator.   
     
     
         6 . A control system for a rotating control device (RCD) for rotary drilling in a wellbore, comprising:
 RCD equipment having an internal pressure P 3 ;   wellbore having a wellbore pressure P 1 , the RCD equipment being operably connected to the wellbore;   a return line leading toward a ground surface and having a return pressure P 2 , the RCD equipment being operably connected to the return line; and   a regulator configured to adjust a fluid pressure supplied to the RCD to control the internal pressure P 3 ,   wherein the regulator is configured to:
 receive information corresponding to the wellbore P 1 ; and 
 control the internal pressure P 3  according to: 
   
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   P 
                   3 
                 
                 ∝ 
                 
                   P 
                   1 
                 
               
               , 
             
           
         
         
           
             
               
                 where 
                 ⁢ 
                     
                 
                   P 
                   3 
                 
               
               < 
               
                 
                   P 
                   1 
                 
                 . 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the regulator comprises a manual pressure regulator. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a wellbore pressure gauge operably connected to the wellbore and configured to reach the wellbore pressure P 1  at the wellbore below the RCD. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a software logic configured to automatically control the wellbore pressure gauge and the regulator,   wherein the regulator is further configured to control the internal pressure P 3  based on the wellbore pressure P 1  reach by the wellbore pressure gauge.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a return pressure gauge operably connected to the return line and configured to reach the return pressure P 2  at the return line above the RCD,   wherein the software logic is further configured to automatically control the return pressure gauge, and   wherein the regulator is further configured to control the internal pressure P 3  based on the wellbore pressure P 1  read by the wellbore pressure gauge and the return pressure P 2  read by the return pressure gauge.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a reservoir configured to contain a fluid to be supplied to an input port of the RCD at the internal pressure P 3 ; and   a pump operatively connected between the reservoir and the regulator, the pump being configured to supply the fluid from the reservoir to the regulator.   
     
     
         12 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors;   memory accessible to at least one of the one or more processors; and   processor-executable instructions stored in the memory and executable to instruct the system to:
 receive information from a wellbore corresponding to a wellbore pressure P 1 , wherein RCD equipment having an internal pressure P 3  is operably connected to the wellbore, and wherein the RCD equipment is also operably connected to a return line leading toward a ground surface, the return line having a return pressure P 2 ;
 automatically control a regulator to control the internal pressure P 3  based on the wellbore pressure P 1 , wherein automatically controlling the regulator comprises causing the regulator to adjust a fluid pressure supplied to the RCD equipment; and 
 control the regulator to control the internal pressure P 3  according to: 
 
   
       
         
           
             
               
                 P 
                 3 
               
               ∝ 
               
                 
                   
                     P 
                     1 
                   
                   
                     P 
                     2 
                   
                 
                 .