ROTARY CONTROL DEVICES AND METHODS

摘要

Rotary control devices are disclosed which have a particular utility it's the oil and gas exploration and production industry, in particular, rotary control devices are disclosed for sealing a rotatable tubular member extending through the device, such as a drill string or casing, A pressure control apparatus comprising such a rotary control device: a seal element for a rotary control device: a selectively employable sealing device for sealing a bore of a subsea stack comprising a pressure control assembly; and associated methods are also disclosed. One rotary control device (32) which is disclosed is for sealing a rotatable tubular member (26) extending through the device, the device comprising; an outer housing (46) defining a bore (48) which can receive the rotatable tubular member; a connecting component (50) provided at a lower end (52) of the outer housing, and which can mate with a corresponding connecting component (54) at an upper end (56) of a pressure control assembly (10), for releasably mounting the device to the pressure control assembly; an inner housing (58) mounted within the bore of the outer housing for rotation relative to the outer housing; at least one seal element (60, 62) which is movable radially inwardly between a retracted position and a radially extended position in which the seal element can contact the rotatable tubular member, to seal the rotatable tubular member within the bore of the outer housing; and a radial fluid bearing assembly (64) disposed between the inner and outer housings. The at least one seal element is provided on the inner housing so that, when the seal element is in contact with the rotatable tubular member, the inner housing and the seal element can rotate together with the tubular member whilst maintaining a seal therewith.