Patent ID: 7513310

Claim:
A method for starting a surface hole in a seabed, comprising: using a drilling system comprising a structural conductor attached to a drilling riser suspended from a drilling platform whereby a lower end of the structural conductor extends to the seabed, the drilling riser being vented to atmosphere, a drilling string disposed within the drilling riser, the drilling riser comprising an outlet at a depth below the water surface where the outlet is connected to a pumping system situated on or above the seabed and below the water surface, the pumping system having a return conduit running to the surface, the drilling system further comprising a pressure control system configured for controlling pressure within the lower end of the structural conductor by operation of the pumping system to control fluid level in the riser; drilling a first section of a surface hole in a seabed while operating the pumping system so as to maintain a fluid level in the riser corresponding with a pressure within the lower end of the structural conductor equal or lower than the higher of sea level pressure and soil fracture pressure present at the lower end of the structural conductor, while pumping fluids and cuttings from the first section of the surface hole through the structural conductor into the drilling riser and to the surface via the outlet in the riser and the pumping system; and lowering the structural conductor into the first section of the surface hole.