Patent ID: 9019118
Filing Date: 2015-04-28
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus providing for automatic detection and control of a kick during subsea well drilling and completion operations with a rig connected to a subsea wellhead assembly via a riser and blowout preventer (BOP), the BOP having a riser disconnect, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of sensors adapted to be coupled to a wellhead assembly for producing current sensor values of a well undergoing operations; a control system having a processor containing a database of known sensor values indicative of a kick event, the processor having means for receiving and the current sensor values from the sensors and comparing the current sensor values against the known sensor values; the control system having an automated warning component that alerts operations personnel if the comparison indicates a kick event; the control system being linked to the BOP to automatically close the BOP if the kick event is still occurring after a selected time period; and the control system being linked to the riser disconnect to automatically begin steps to actuate the riser disconnect if the kick event is still occurring after the BOP has been closed for a selected time period.