A method of controlling an influx in a petroleum well with a managed pressure drilling system can include directing mud into the well; regulating a pressure of the mud proximate to a surface of the well with a choke valve; detecting, with a computing device having one or more processors, an intrusion of the influx in the well; increasing, in response to the detecting, the pressure of the mud proximate to the surface to a first level of surface back pressure by controlling the choke valve; determining, with the computing device, a volume of the influx; ascertaining an intrusion depth substantially concurrent with the detecting; and evacuating the influx in response to a correlation between both of the first level of surface back pressure and the volume of the influx relative to the intrusion depth.

A flow diverter is provided having a first sub member, a second sub member, a third sub member connected in series and a piston, a spring, and a sleeve member. The sleeve member is removeably disposed within the second sub member. The spring concentrically surrounds at least a portion of the piston and the spring are slidably disposed within the first sub member with the piston further slidably disposed within the second sub member and at least a portion of the third sub member. A drilling fluid having a first predetermined pressure passes through the flow diverter. The drilling fluid having a second predetermined pressure moves the piston until at least a portion of the drilling fluid passes through bypass ports formed in the piston, sleeve member, and second sub member and out of the flow diverter, thus controlling the pressure of the drilling fluid.

The invention concerns a computer implemented method for underbalanced drilling. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a plurality of gas injection rate versus bottom hole pressure curves for a plurality of liquid injection rates for a specified minimum and maximum gas injection rate and a minimum and maximum liquid injection rate. Next, the method determines a set of four interception curves including a minimum motor equivalent liquid rate interception curve, a minimum vertical liquid velocity intercept curve, a minimum horizontal liquid velocity intercept curve, and a maximum motor equivalent liquid rate intercept curve for a specified minimum and maximum mud motor rate range and a minimum horizontal and vertical annulus velocity.

A system and method is provided for converting a drilling rig between conventional hydrostatic pressure drilling and managed pressure drilling or underbalanced drilling using a docking station housing mounted on a marine riser or bell nipple. This docking station housing may be positioned above the surface of the water. When a removable rotating control device is remotely hydraulically latched with the docking station housing, the system and method allows for interactive lubrication and cooling of the rotating control device, as needed, along with a supply of fluid for use with active seals.

A method of drawing a fluid into a wellbore from a formation. The wellbore is separated into a first section and a second section via an annulus closure device, the annulus closure device having a passage therethrough. A pump at a surface location, circulates a circulation fluid in the first section to reduce a pressure in the second section. Reducing the pressure in the second section draws the fluid from the formation into the second section.

The invention concerns a computer implemented method for underbalanced drilling. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a plurality of gas injection rate versus bottom hole pressure curves for a plurality of liquid injection rates for a specified minimum and maximum gas injection rate and a minimum and maximum liquid injection rate. Next, the method determines a set of four interception curves including a minimum motor equivalent liquid rate interception curve, a minimum vertical liquid velocity intercept curve, a minimum horizontal liquid velocity intercept curve, and a maximum motor equivalent liquid rate intercept curve for a specified minimum and maximum mud motor rate range and a minimum horizontal and vertical annulus velocity.

Systems and methods are provided for geosteering in directional drilling based on water detection. An exemplary method includes determining a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for an electromagnetic communication between devices on a bottom hole assembly, and determining a distance to water based, at least in part, on the SNR. Adjustments to geosteering vectors for the bottom hole assembly are determined based, at least in part, on the distance to water.

A method and system are geosteering in coiled tubing directional drilling. In an exemplary method, a response from a gas sensor disposed on a bottom hole assembly is measured and a gas parameter from the response is determined. A trend in the gas parameter is determined. Adjustments to geosteering vectors for the bottom hole assembly are determined based, at least in part, on the gas parameter, the trend, or both.

A well system includes a work string extendable into a wellbore, and a pump that pumps a fluid into an annulus defined between the work string and the wellbore. A flow-activated motor is coupled to the work string and has a housing that receives the fluid pumped into the annulus. The flow-activated motor further includes a driveshaft rotatably positioned within the housing and a plurality of rotor vanes coupled to the driveshaft, wherein the driveshaft rotates as the fluid flows through the housing and impinges on the plurality of rotor vanes. A rotating agitator tool is coupled to the driveshaft such that rotation of the driveshaft correspondingly rotates the rotating agitator tool. The rotating agitator tool engages and loosens debris in the wellbore while rotating, and the debris is entrained in the fluid and flows through the flow-activated motor and subsequently to a surface location for processing.

A fast-acting managed pressure drilling rig is disclosed. A main valve configured as an alternative for a conventional rotating control device is provided to control drilling of a wellbore. A second valve is configured to trap pressure in the wellbore. A choke valve maintains well bottomhole pressure within specified limits by trapping pressure or by releasing trapped pressure within the wellbore. A pressure relief choke is configured to provide fine pressure stability control within the well and to act as a pressure relief valve in response to wellbore overpressure. A controller is configured with at least one processor to affect operation of the main valve, the second ratio valve, the choke valve, and the pressure relief choke in response to information received by the controller representing operation of the managed pressure drilling rig.