A self cleaning leak containment apparatus for an oil drilling rig includes nozzles to direct jets of cleaning fluid into the apparatus. The self cleaning leak containment apparatus can include a tray with nozzles fed by pumps that also serve to drain the tray. A sheet-form around the tray and draining into the tray can also have nozzles directed into it.

A self cleaning leak containment apparatus for an oil drilling rig includes nozzles to direct jets of cleaning fluid into the apparatus. The self cleaning leak containment apparatus can include a tray with nozzles fed by pumps that also serve to drain the tray. A sheet-form around the tray and draining into the tray can also have nozzles directed into it.

A drilling apparatus (1) is for use on a rotary drilling rig with a top drive which enables circulation and rotation of a drill string (3) to continue uninterrupted during the making of drill string connections. It has a snubber gripping mechanism (10, 9) to enable tool joints (2, 3) to be supported and gripped with a reduced pressure chamber (5) volume and snubbing force, during tool joint connections. The gripping mechanism has gripping pads (14) arranged to move radially by relative rotation of a drive cylinder (34) causing a tapered surface (36) of the drive cylinder (34) to press against or release the pad (14). A guide cylinder (30) supports and guides the pads (14) and collets (13) for retaining a drill string at an upset shoulder (19).

A valve assembly for drilling systems comprising a bidirectional valve (1) cooperating with a hydraulic clamping device (2) and being applied to a drilling machine for supplying a drilling fluid in two discrete directions, the valve assembly comprising a valve outer body adapted to be arranged between drilling rods while allowing said rod to be exchanged while keeping the mud continuously circulating.

A valve assembly for drilling systems comprising a bidirectional valve (1) cooperating with a hydraulic clamping device (2) and being applied to a drilling machine for supplying a drilling fluid in two discrete directions, the valve assembly comprising a valve outer body adapted to be arranged between drilling rods while allowing said rod to be exchanged while keeping the mud continuously circulating.

A circulation sub including a tubular and a diverter valve are configured to continuously circulate fluid into a drill string. The tubular has a first end connectable to the drill string, a second end connectable to a pipe segment, and a port. The tubular has a fluid path for allowing the fluid to flow from the pipe segment to the drill string and a circulation path for allowing the fluid to flow from the port to the drill string. The diverter valve has a channel in selective fluid communication with the fluid path. The diverter valve is positionable between a flow through position for selectively allowing the fluid to flow through the fluid path and a diversion position for selectively allowing the fluid to flow through the circulation path whereby the fluid may continuously flow through the drill string.

A system and method for installing a tubular in a wellbore, of which the method includes coupling a fluid connector tool to a lifting assembly, coupling a casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly to the fluid connector tool, and coupling two segments of casing together to form a casing string. At least one of the segments of casing is fluidically coupled to the casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly. The method also includes running the casing string into a wellbore, pumping a first fluid from the lifting assembly, through the fluid connector tool and the casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly, and into the casing string as the casing string is run into the wellbore, de-coupling the casing fill-up and circulation seal assembly from the fluid connector tool, and coupling a drill-pipe seal assembly to the fluid connector tool.

A method for continuously controlling fluid flow rates through a well (4) provides to shut off the drilling mud at the well inlet and outlet and detect measurements of flow rate and density of said drilling mud by a Venturi measuring device (10,2).

A pipe for cableless bidirectional data transmission and continuous circulation of a stabilizing fluid in a well for the extraction of formation fluids includes a hollow tubular body which couples with respective drill or completion pipes; a radial valve associated with the tubular body, the radial valve connectable to a pumping system outside the tubular body; an axial valve associated with the tubular body; a communication module associated with the tubular body that includes at least one metal plate selected from a transmitting metal plate, a receiving metal plate, and a transceiver metal plate; an electronic processing and control unit that processes signals to be transmitted by means of the at least one metal plate or signals received by means of the at least one metal plate; and one or more supply batteries for feeding the metal plates and the electronic processing and control unit.

A method for maintaining a constant bottom hole pressure during wellbore drilling operations, the method comprising supplying drilling fluid to the drill string via a top drive at a first pressure while flow of drilling fluid out of a wellbore annulus is restricted by a choke to hold pressure in a wellbore annulus and supplying drilling fluid to the drill string via the top drive at a second pressure lower than the first pressure and to a circulation coupler at a third pressure while flow of drilling fluid out of a wellbore annulus is restricted by a choke to hold pressure in the annulus, wherein the sum of the second and third pressures is approximately the same as the first pressure. The method also comprises supplying drilling fluid to the drill string via the circulation coupler at the third pressure while pumping drilling fluid into the wellbore annulus by a back pressure pump, wherein the bottom hole pressure at the bottom of the wellbore is maintained substantially constant during all steps of supplying drilling fluid to the drill string.