System and method for cooling a rotating control device

摘要

A Drill-To-The-Limit (DTTL) drilling method variant to Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) applies constant surface backpressure, whether the mud is circulating (choke valve open) or not (choke valve closed). A sensor measures the temperature in a cavity defined by a rotating control device “RCD” first sealing element and second sealing element, an inner member and a tubular. The RCD cavity is cooled by communicating/supplying or calculating/cooling fluid to the RCD cavity.

主权项

1. Method for cooling a first sealing element of a rotating control device configured for use above a wellbore, wherein said rotating control device having an inner member, said first sealing element and a second sealing element rotatable relative to an outer member, the method comprising the steps of:
positioning a tubular with said rotating control device; sealing said first sealing element and said second sealing element of said rotating control device with said tubular; communicating a pressure to a first cavity defined by said rotating control device inner member, said rotating control device first sealing element, said rotating control device second sealing element and said tubular, said first sealing element having a first sealing element cavity side surface and a first sealing element wellbore side surface; measuring a pressure on said first sealing element wellbore side surface; and supplying a cooling fluid in said first cavity during the step of sealing said first sealing element and said second sealing element with said tubular so that the pressure on said first sealing element cavity side surface is greater than said measured pressure on said first sealing element wellbore side surface.