Patent ID: 6904981

Claim:
A system for controlling formation pressure during the drilling of a subterranean formation, comprising: a drill string extending into a borehole, the drill string including a bottom hole assembly, the bottom hole assembly comprising, drill bit, sensors, and a telemetry system capable of receiving and transmitting data, including sensor data, said sensor data including at least pressure and temperature data; a surface telemetry system for receiving data and transmitting commands to the bottom hole assembly; a primary pump for selectively pumping a drilling fluid from a drilling fluid source, through said drill string, out said drill bit and into an annular space created as said drill string penetrates the formation; a fluid discharge conduit in fluid communication with said annular space for discharging said drilling fluid to a reservoir to clean said drilling fluid for reuse; a fluid backpressure system connected to said fluid discharge conduit; said fluid backpressure system comprised of a flow meter, a fluid choke, a backpressure pump, a fluid source, whereby said backpressure pump may be selectively activated to increase annular space drilling fluid pressure.