Patent ID: 9033048
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus useable in an offshore drilling installation having a mud loop into a well drilled below a seabed, the apparatus comprising: a blowout preventer coupled to a wellhead disposed on the seabed, the blowout preventer located near the seabed; a riser coupled to the blowout preventer, the riser including a casing circumscribing a drill string to define an annular space therebetween; a first sensor connected to a fluid pump, the fluid pump disposed at a surface location and configured to pump an input mud flow into the well to thereby circulate a drilling mud, the first sensor configured to measure the input mud flow pumped into the well; a second sensor disposed near the seabed and configured to provide measurements indicating a variation of a return mud flow emerging from the well, the return mud flow flowing from the well towards the surface location via the annular space defined between the casing of the riser and the drill string; and a controller in communication with to the first sensor and to the second sensor and configured to perform the following to identify a likely occurrence of an ongoing or imminent kick event, to include: