Secure DrillingSM Services

Model 7875 Rotating Control Device

Marine Series
Weatherford’s model 7875 rotating
control device (RCD) is a pressure-
control solution for annulus gas
containment and drilling operations.
The model 7875 RCD is part of
Weatherford’s SeaShield RCD series,
purpose-built for applications in the
offshore (marine) environment. The
7875 RCD has the pedigree of existing
RCD systems, but uses the latest
technological advances with a thoughtful
approach to move to the offshore arena.
The design of the 7875 RCD is based on
Weatherford’s field-proven 7000 series
RCDs. When mounted to the top of a
surface blowout preventer (BOP) stack
or on top of a collapsed telescopic joint,
the 7875 RCD creates a secure seal
around the rotating drillpipe and tool
joints to positively divert annulus returns.
The 7875 RCD can also divert mud
and cuttings through a dedicated
choke manifold to the separation
equipment, enabling use of various
techniques—managed pressure drilling,
underbalanced drilling, and air drilling.
As a result of this diversion process,
the 7875 RCD enhances health, safety,
and environmental performance during
Secure Drilling operations. The operator
can remove the bearing assembly to
quickly revert to conventional drilling
A bearing assembly OD of 19.63 in. enables
deployment through most rotary tables.
In lieu of bearing assembly accessories,
this RCD uses:
• wireline lubricator
• casing stripper
• test plug
• protective sleeve
Two cone-shaped, dual-barrier elastomeric
sealing elements in the bearing assembly
rotate with the drillpipe and maintain a tight
seal as the drillpipe passes through the RCD.
The elements’ sealing capability increases as
annular backpressure increases. Durability
and reliability of these elements enable the
7875 RCD to handle drillpipe sizes up to
6-5/8 in. and tool joints up to 8.890-in.
Top flange of the bowl enables the RCD to
be tied back as an integral part of the riser.
Latching assembly in the interior profile of
the bowl secures and releases the bearing
and sealing element assembly.
Locking dogs in the latching assembly
provide a means for remotely locking
and unlocking the bearing assembly and
accessories such as protective sleeve, logging
adapter, snubbing adapter, and test plug.
Protective sleeve prevents damage to the
latching assembly that could be caused by
tripping in drillpipe or a bottomhole assembly.

operations and vice versa.

Proper use of the RCD has been
proven to statistically reduce the risk
of a well-control event.1 Bottom flange of the bowl is typically bolted
to the top of an annular BOP or collapsed
telescopic joint. An integral part of the body,
the flange is available in various sizes.

1
Jablonowski, Christopher J. University of Texas at Austin.
Paper presented at the IADC Well Control Conference
of the Americas & Exhibition. 25 August 2009.

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Model 7875 Rotating Control Device
Applications
• Managed pressure drilling, air
drilling, and underbalanced
drilling operations
• Offshore drilling operations, which
present the risk of two-phase flow
• Extended-reach horizontal wells
and ultradeep vertical wells that
require large-diameter drillstrings
• Drilling operations that require
prevention of background gas
from flashing to the atmosphere
on the rig floor
• Drilling in all marine environments
• Drilling in shallow-gas formations
• Drilling in formations with
abnormally pressured aquifers
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Secure DrillingSM Services
Features, Advantages and Benefits
• The bearing and sealing element assembly hydraulically latches inside the bowl,
improving safety by eliminating the need for personnel to loosen and tighten the
clamping mechanism from beneath the rig floor. This is particularly advantageous
for offshore drilling where manual tasks in the moonpool can be dangerous.
• The bearing assembly running tool, its control console, and stabbing stand
facilitate installation and improve safety by enabling positioning and removal
of the bearing and sealing element assembly. Alternatively conventional
systems use a hoist and require that personnel work below the rotary table.
• The 7875 RCD’s capability to accommodate large-diameter drillstrings
makes the system suitable for deep wells, Secure Drilling operations, and
DwC™ drilling-with-casing operations with 7-in. and smaller casing. This
flexibility increases productivity and profitability by improving safety and
operational efficiency for the most demanding applications.
• The top flange design makes it possible for the RCD to become an integral
part of the riser system, thereby forming a closed-loop system that provides
enhanced pressure control. Mud can be diverted, eliminating the need for a
containment system to catch overflow. The flange design also accounts for
tension in the riser string, enabling the RCD installation to take place without
affecting nondrilling activities.
• The design and proprietary elastomeric composition of the redundant sealing
elements improve durability and ensure sealing capability, making the
7875 RCD suitable for low- and high-pressure drilling operations.
• Weatherford provides delivery, installation, and on-site instruction for each unit.
• Features of the hydraulic power unit (HPU) control console that improve
operational efficiency and safety include:
–– The operator must press an enable button during the movement of any
switch for the control console to function properly—ensuring that switches
are not accidentally activated.
–– Safety interlocks ensure that switches are not inadvertently activated,
preventing unsafe operation of the latching mechanism.
–– A screen displays helpful troubleshooting information.
–– Controls and monitoring gauges latch/unlatch the bearing and sealing
element assembly and the protective sleeve.
–– Monitors display real-time wellbore pressure and hydraulic pressure of
the tool, contributing to operational safety.
2 © 2010 Weatherford. All rights reserved. 4594.03
 Secure DrillingSM Services

Model 7875 Rotating Control Device

Parts and Accessories

An operator on the rig floor uses the
intrinsically safe HPU control console to
latch and unlatch the bearing assembly
and sealing elements inside the bowl
area. This feature reduces labor costs and
is especially advantageous for offshore
drilling, where performing this task
manually can be dangerous.
• Sealing elements come in natural rubber, oil-resistant polyurethane and
HNBR, which are determined by the operating parameters. Heavy-duty
seal elements are available upon request.
• Casing seal elements are made of heavy-duty natural rubber. The casing
seal element holder is used to strip casing in the well. It seals tight against
the bowl gasket using a quick-lock clamp and diverts mud and gas through
the flowline outlet, ensuring safety of rig personnel. It is available for any
size casing up to 13-3/8 in.
• Flowline flanges are used to connect the flowline to the RCD which
is equipped with three studded outlets, two at 7-1/16 in. and one at
2-1/16 in., 5,000 psi (34.47 MPa).
• Stabbing stand articulates to accommodate pickup using top drive.
• Bearing assembly running tool is used to aid installation and removal
of the bearing assembly and drillpipe within the 7875 RCD.

2,000
13.8

1,800
12.4

1,600 Beyond operating range

11.0
1,500
1,400
Wellbore pressure (psi/MPa)

9.7

1,200
8.3

1,000
6.9 1,000

800
5.5
700
600
4.1
500
400
2.8 Operating range
200
1.4

0
0 50 100 150 200
Speed (rpm)

Model 7875 bearing assembly: wellbore pressure rating versus speed

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 Secure DrillingSM Services

Model 7875 Rotating Control Device

Specifications

RCD Sealing Elements for Various

Pipe and Tool Joint Sizes
Dynamic pressure rating (psi/MPa) See chart
Nominal Pipe Size Maximum OD*
(in./mm) (in./mm)
2,000
Static pressure rating (psi/MPa)
13.8 6-5/8 8-1/2
168 216
Maximum speed rating (rpm) a
200
5-7/8
Through-bore ID (in.) b
Up to 18-5/8 149 7-3/4
Power requirement 380V, 60 Hz, 3-phase 5-1/2 197
140
a
Dependent on wellbore pressure.
When the bearing and sealing element assembly is removed from bowl; dependent on
b
5-1/2
bottom flange size of bowl. 140 6-3/4
5 171
127
4-1/2
114 6-3/4
4 171
102
3-1/2 6-3/4
89 171
2-7/8
73 6-3/4
2-3/8 171
60
*Maximum OD refers to the largest-diameter
equipment that can be safely tripped through the
sealing element ID.

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