Patent ID: 6745851
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A system for processing drilling fluid during top-hole drilling in underwater drilling operations comprising:a sealing device for mounting over a drilling hole in sealed relation to the surroundings seawater to prevent leakage of drilling fluid from the drilling hole; a floating drilling vessel having at least one of a treatment plant for treating drilling fluid and a storage installation to receive drilling fluid; at least one pump module spaced from and connected to said sealing device to effect a differential pressure therein for pumping drilling fluid from said sealing device upwardly to said at least one of said treatment plant and said storage installation on said vessel; and a line extending from said pump module upwardly to said at least one of a treatment plant and a storage installation on said vessel to convey the drilling fluid from said pump module to said at least one of a treatment plant and a storage installation on said vessel.