Continuous circulation drilling method

摘要

A method for drilling wells in which the tubular (5) can be added or removed from the drill string (17) while the drill is rotating with the mud and drilling fluids being circulated continuously and kept separated from the environment to reduce pollution. A connector is used with an inlet (15) and outlet (10) for the mud etc. and which incorporates rams (11) to seal off and separate the flow of mud as a tubular is added or removed.