Patent ID: 7938190

Claim:
A fluid return system for use in an offshore location having a water surface and a sea floor, comprising: a drill string having a distal end and being suspended from above the water surface and into a well bore; a drilling fluid source for supplying drilling fluid through said distal end of said drill string, said drilling fluid returning up the well bore; a suction module for collecting said drilling fluid emerging from the well bore; a return conduit fluidly coupled to said suction module; a pump disposed on said return conduit below the water surface and above the sea floor and operable to pump the drilling fluid through said return conduit to a location at the water surface; an anchor coupled to said return conduit for securing said return conduit to the sea floor, wherein said anchor comprises a first elongated member and a second elongated member coupled to said return conduit and translatable within the first elongated member, a housing having a cavity therein, a first end, and a second end, and wherein the first elongated member has a cavity therein and a first end coupled to the second end of the housing, and a first opening at a second end, wherein the second elongated member has a first end inserted through the first opening into the cavity of the first elongated member and a second end coupled to the return conduit; and wherein the second elongated member is free to translate within the cavity of the first elongated member, wherein the first elongated member further comprises a plurality of perforations.