Patent ID: 6352114
Filing Date: 2002-03-05
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A deep ocean drilling system for drilling an offshore well from a floating drilling vessel comprising:a) a reduced diameter marine riser extending from the floating drilling vessel to a lower marine riser package connector; b) a retrievable, high pressure blowout preventer stack having one or more annular preventers, one or more ram preventers, and a lower marine riser package mandrel, wherein the lower marine riser package connector may be releasably connected to the lower marine riser package mandrel; c) a fluid diverter line extending from the blowout preventer stack to a fluid return mandrel, wherein the lower marine riser package connector may be releasably connected to the fluid return mandrel; and d) a retrievable lifting and guide frame assembly comprising an upper lifting frame connected to the lower marine riser package connector and a lower guide frame connected to the blowout preventer stack, wherein the lower marine riser package connector and the upper lifting frame are vertically and laterally moveable about a slot formed in the lower guide frame to maintain the axial alignment of the riser and provide a pathway for controlled movement of the riser between the lower marine riser package mandrel and the fluid return mandrel.