WO2013167872A2

WO2013167872A2 - Drilling and lining subsea wellbores

Info

Publication number: WO2013167872A2
Application number: PCT/GB2013/051133
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antony Stephen Bamford; Nicholas James St.John BAMFORD; Vincent Van Lilley
Original assignee: Geoprober Drilling Limited
Priority date: 2012-05-10
Filing date: 2013-05-01
Publication date: 2013-11-14
Also published as: GB201208223D0; WO2013167872A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of drilling and lining a plurality of subsea wellbores with wellbore lining tubing, and to subsea assemblies for use in the drilling and lining of a subsea wellbore. The invention also relates to devices for use in such a method/assemblies. In one embodiment, a method of drilling a plurality of subsea wellbores and of lining the wellbores with wellbore-lining tubing (5) in a single trip is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of: locating a first guide pipe and at least a second guide pipe (8) in a seabed; deploying a string of wellbore-lining tubing (5) from surface; mating the wellbore-lining tubing (5) with the first guide pipe (8); drilling a first wellbore through the first guide pipe (8) using the wellbore-lining tubing (5); separating a first part of the wellbore-lining tubing (5) located in the first wellbore from a remainder of the tubing, leaving the first part of the tubing in the wellbore; mating the wellbore-lining tubing (5) with the second guide pipe (8); drilling a second wellbore through the second guide pipe (8) using the wellbore-lining tubing (5); and separating a second part of the wellbore-lining tubing (5) located in the second wellbore from a remainder of the tubing, leaving the second part of the tubing in the wellbore.

Description

DRILLING AND LINING SUBSEA WELLBORES

The present invention relates to a method of drilling and lining a plurality of subsea wellbores with wellbore lining tubing, and to a corresponding assembly. The present invention also relates to a device for use in drilling and lining subsea wellbores.

In the oil and gas exploration and production industry, many oil and gas deposits are found in offshore locations. This presents certain challenges, chief of which is that the equipment which is required to gain access to the well fluids (oil and gas) must be deployed from a structure at sea surface, which may for example be a floating vessel such as semi- submersible rig, or a permanent structure such as a gravity base platform or jack-up rig which is supported by the seabed.

Access to the oil and gas deposits is achieved by drilling a wellbore from the seabed extending to the rock formation containing the well fluids. The wellbore is lined with wellbore-lining tubing known as 'casing', which typically comprises a number of sections of tubing coupled together end-to-end. The casing performs a number of functions, including supporting the drilled rock formations, and providing a passage for the flow of fluid, tools and tubing into and out of the wellbore.

Conventionally, a wellbore was drilled to a first depth using a drill bit carried on a drill string suspended from the surface structure. A section of casing known as a 'conductor pipe' (or 'conductor') was installed in an upper part of the drilled wellbore soon after drilling commenced, to support the unconsolidated surface formations. The drill string was then pulled out of the hole and a 'surface' casing assembled and deployed into the drilled wellbore, tied into a wellhead at the seabed. The casing was then cemented in place and, following suitable testing, the wellbore was extended to a second depth. A second, smaller diameter casing was then installed in the wellbore, extending from the wellhead through the conductor pipe and the larger diameter surface casing into the extended section of the wellbore. The second casing was then cemented in place, and the process repeated as necessary until the wellbore had been extended to the required depth. This conventional method of drilling and lining a wellbore has been employed for many years, but is a relatively costly and time-consuming method of preparing a well for production. In particular, it requires many separate runs of tools and tubing to drill and install the casing.

To address these issues, the wellbore has been drilled employing the casing, such techniques being known as 'casing- while-drilling' or 'casing drilling'. In these techniques, a drill bit and bottom hole assembly are provided at the lower end of the casing, and the casing employed to drill and extend the wellbore, typically by means of a fluid operated motor coupled to the drill bit, powered by drilling fluid supplied down through the casing. Following completion of drilling, the drill bit and bottom hole assembly can be retrieved to surface such as by wireline, leaving the casing in the wellbore. A difficulty with current casing drilling technology, particularly in deepwater environments, is that after drilling in the surface casing, the length of casing corresponding to the water depth must be retrieved to surface. Alternately, a drill pipe is used to connect to and drive the casing, which must similarly be retrieved through the water column following completion of the drilling procedure. This is particularly undesirable in situations where the operator wants to drill multiple wells for production purposes, and may reduce the appeal of casing drilling for the surface casing section.

It is well known that in many parts of the world, especially but not limited to West Africa, well depths to a reservoir below the mudline (seabed surface) may be a considerably shorter distance than the water depth. In some complex reservoirs, for example where there are multiple stacked channel sands, horizontal well penetrations are required. In these situations, the wellbores are 'geo-steered' so that they remain within the optimal part of the channelised sand. This means that the drilled well must penetrate the reservoir in a near horizontal attitude. At shallow depths below the mudline, this requires that the wellbore starts the build-up in angle from the mudline. When drilling with casing in a deviated well, there is a maximum casing diameter that can negotiate the build-up section without becoming stuck. The larger the rate of build up, the smaller the diameter of casing that can successfully negotiate the build up section. Small diameter, 'drilled-in' surface casing is ideal for this application. There have been proposals to streamline the wellbore drilling and lining procedure by establishing the well in a single pass. This involves jetting in the first section of casing, known as the 'conductor', and then, on the same trip, drilling-in and cementing the surface casing through the conductor. See International patent publication no. WO-2006/010906 of one of the present inventors. Other proposals include the use of a suction anchor or Conductor Anchor Node ('CAN') as the means of establishing a sound structural foundation.

Whilst the above proposed techniques have improved the process of drilling and lining a wellbore, they do not address the problem of retrieving casing/drill pipe to surface.

Accordingly, there remains a desire to streamline the wellbore drilling and lining process.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of drilling a plurality of subsea wellbores and of lining the wellbores with wellbore-lining tubing in a single trip, the method comprising the steps of:

locating a first guide pipe and at least a second guide pipe in a seabed;

deploying a string of wellbore-lining tubing from surface;

mating the wellbore-lining tubing with the first guide pipe;

drilling a first wellbore through the first guide pipe using the wellbore-lining tubing;

separating a first part of the wellbore-lining tubing located in the first wellbore from a remainder of the tubing, leaving the first part of the tubing in the wellbore;

mating the wellbore-lining tubing with the second guide pipe;

drilling a second wellbore through the second guide pipe using the wellbore-lining tubing; and

separating a second part of the wellbore-lining tubing located in the second wellbore from a remainder of the tubing, leaving the second part of the tubing in the wellbore. The invention provides the ability to drill and line a plurality of wellbores without requiring recovery of the wellbore lining tubing to surface in between drilling and lining of each well. This is because the wellbore lining tubing can be sequentially mated with the first and second (and optionally further) guide pipes, and used to drill and line the wellbores, without being recovered to surface. This addresses the problems with prior techniques discussed above. Reference is made herein to the drilling and lining of a plurality of wellbores in a single trip. It will be understood that references to a single trip are to a single deployment of wellbore lining tubing from surface and which, during the time that the tubing is deployed from the vessel, can be used to drill and line a plurality of wells without requiring recovery of the tubing to surface between drilling and lining of the wells.

Reference is made herein to a seabed. It will be understood that this encompasses the floors of bodies of water in both fresh and seawater environments.

The invention defined above sets out a number of method steps which are common in the drilling of first and second (and optionally further) wellbores. A number of further features of the method will be defined in the following paragraphs. It will be understood that references to the 'mating', 'drilling' and 'separating' steps apply to both the first and second (and optionally further) wellbores. The method may comprise deploying the wellbore-lining tubing from a floating surface vessel, and translating the wellbore-lining tubing (in a lateral plane) to move it between the guide pipes by moving the vessel. The method may comprise deploying the wellbore- lining tubing from a derrick on a surface structure (which may be a floating rig, or a permanent structure such as a gravity base platform or jack-up rig which is supported by the seabed), and translating the wellbore-lining tubing to move it between the guide pipes by skidding the derrick between the wells.

The method may comprise locating at least one further guide pipe in the seabed; mating the wellbore-lining tubing with the further guide pipe; drilling a further wellbore through the further guide pipe using the wellbore-lining tubing; and separating a further part of the wellbore-lining tubing located in the further wellbore from a remainder of the tubing, leaving the further part of the tubing in the wellbore. The method may comprise drilling and lining any desired number of wellbores in a single trip.

The method may comprise drilling and lining the first and second wellbores using the wellbore-lining tubing (which may be a first wellbore lining tubing); retrieving the wellbore lining tubing to surface; locating at least one further guide pipe in the seabed; deploying a second wellbore-lining tubing from surface; mating the second wellbore-lining tubing with the further guide pipe; drilling a further wellbore through the further guide pipe using the second wellbore-lining tubing; and separating a first part of the second wellbore- lining tubing located in the further wellbore from a remainder of the second tubing, leaving the further part of the second tubing in the wellbore. The second tubing may have at least one parameter which is different from a corresponding parameter of the first tubing. The parameter may be selected from the group comprising: a diameter, which may be an external and/or internal diameter; a wall thickness; and a material property such as yield strength. A still further wellbore may be drilled and lined using the second tubing, following the steps outlined above in relation to the first tubing.

The guide pipe may be a conductor pipe, which is a pipe that is set in a seabed to support surface formations. The conductor pipe may be provided as part of a conductor assembly comprising the pipe and a wellhead. Other configurations use a stand alone suction anchor that is integral to the conductor and the wellhead. Such assemblies are known in the industry as a 'Conductor Anchor Node' (CAN) and are commercially available from NeoDrill AS in Norway. Other methods may comprise providing the first and second guide pipes in a template and driving the template into the seabed. In this way, multiple guide pipes can be located in the seabed together. Alternatively, the guide pipe may be located in the seabed and a wellhead subsequently connected to the pipe. Multiple guide pipes may be driven into the seabed by means of suction anchors, optionally located at the corners of the template. The suction anchors may do this by generating a negative pressure differential between an inside of the pipe and the outside of the pipe.

Following drilling and lining of the wellbores with the wellbore lining tubing, which may be a first or surface string of wellbore lining tubing, a second string of wellbore lining tubing may be deployed from surface, the second string of tubing being of a smaller diameter than the first string of tubing. The method may comprise mating the second wellbore lining tubing with the first wellbore lining tubing; drilling an extension of the wellbore using the second wellbore lining tubing; and separating a first part of the second wellbore lining tubing from a remainder of the tubing, leaving the first part of the tubing in the wellbore. It will be understood that the second string of tubing may be employed to extend the first and/or second wellbores, with part of the tubing left in the wellbore, in a similar way to the first tubing. Further strings of sequentially smaller diameter wellbore lining tubing may be deployed from surface and mated, an extension of the wellbore drilled, and the tubing separated, in a similar fashion.

The step of mating the wellbore-lining tubing with the guide pipe may comprise locating the guide pipe in the seabed and then mating the tubing to the pipe. Alternatively, the step of mating the wellbore-lining tubing with the guide pipe may comprise mating the tubing with the guide pipe prior to locating the pipe in the seabed. The wellbore-lining tubing may be used to deploy the guide pipe and locate it in the seabed.

The step of mating the wellbore lining tubing to the guide pipe may comprise connecting a wellhead to the guide pipe (the wellhead either being part of a CAN or a separate item connected to the pipe), and may further comprise releasably coupling a retrievable running tool to the wellhead. The retrievable running tool may be suspended from the wellbore lining tubing, and may be releasably secured to the tubing by a tubing gripping device of the tool. The method may comprise actuating a plurality of tubing gripping elements (which may be balls or like components) of the tubing gripping device from retracted to deployed positions, to grip the tubing and secure the retrievable running tool to the tubing. The method may comprise suspending the tubing from the retrievable running tool following coupling of the tool to the wellhead. In this way, the string of tubing can be 'slacked-off at surface, as it is now suspended from the running tool. The method may comprise translating the tubing gripping elements axially to exert an axial force on the tubing. This may facilitate tensioning of the tubing, which may in turn facilitate separation of the part of the tubing which is to be left in the wellbore from the remainder of the tubing. The step of mating the wellbore lining tubing with the guide pipe may comprise actuating at least one annular seal to close an annular region defined between an internal wall of a housing of the wellhead and an external wall of the tubing. The method may comprise locating the annular seal in the wellhead housing prior to connecting the wellhead to the conductor pipe. The method may comprise positioning the annular seal in the wellhead housing following location of the guide pipe in the seabed, and where appropriate following connection of the wellhead to the pipe. The annular seal may be positioned in the wellhead housing using a cutting(or other) device employed to separate the part of the wellbore lining tubing which is to be left in the wellbore from the remainder of the tubing. The method may comprise releasably securing the annular seal to the cutting (or other) device, deploying the cutting device into the wellhead housing around the wellbore lining tubing, and releasing the annular seal from the cutting device leaving the seal in the wellhead housing.

The retrievable running tool may be coupled to the wellhead by an articulating connection which allows bending movement of the wellbore lining tubing relative to the wellhead whilst supporting the tubing. The method may comprise coupling a wellhead connector of the running tool to the wellhead, moveably mounting the articulating connection to the wellhead connector, and locating the wellbore lining tubing in the articulating connection. In this way, the articulating connection may support the tubing, and may facilitate bending of the tubing relative to the wellhead housing in any direction. The method may comprise securing a wellbore lining tubing guide of the articulating connection to the wellhead connector via a mounting arrangement which permits translation and/or rotation of the guide relative to the connector. The guide may house the wellbore lining tubing gripping device.

The step of separating the part of the wellbore lining tubing located in the wellbore from the remainder of the tubing may comprise severing the tubing at a point along its length. The tubing may be severed using a cutting device. The cutting device may be deployed down the inside of the tubing, for example by wireline, to a position where the tubing is to be cut, secured relative to the tubing and then actuated to cut the tubing. The tubing may be placed in tension prior to commencement of a cutting operation, which may facilitate the formation of a clean cut. The tubing may be placed in tension by a tubing gripping device, which may be the tubing gripping device of the retrievable running tool.

The cutting device may be positioned around the outside of the tubing, and may be moved axially relative to the tubing from a retracted, stored position to a deployed, cutting position. The cutting device may be coupled to the retrievable running tool. In the retracted position, the cutting device may reside outside the wellhead connected to the guide pipe, and in the deployed position the cutting device may reside at least partly within the wellhead. This provides the advantage that the cut can be made at a precise level in the wellhead. This is to enable subsequent smaller diameter tubing to be located and suspended at a precise position within the wellhead above the first tubing. Additionally, the cut can be made without requiring deployment of a cutting device from surface down the inside of the tubing. The cutting device may be moved between the retracted and deployed positions using the tubing gripping device. The step of separating the part of the wellbore tubing from the remainder of the tubing may comprise detecting the presence of at least one marker using the (optionally internal wireline deployed) cutting device, the marker providing an indication that the device is at the correct position for performing the cut. The marker may be positioned within the wellhead connected to the guide pipe. The method may comprise actuating at least one internal gripping element on the cutting device to engage a wall of the wellbore lining tubing to thereby retain the device in the desired position. The method may comprise performing a more precise or secondary alignment of the cutting device relative to the at least one marker by operating an adjustment mechanism which translates the cutting device relative to the wellbore lining tubing.

The step of separating the part of the wellbore lining tubing may comprise separating said part immediately below an external collar of the tubing, which collar connects two tubing sections of the tubing string together end-to-end. The method may comprise subsequently pulling the remainder of the tubing upwardly until the collar meets the tubing gripping device, which may be the gripping device of the retrievable running tool, and then releasing the tool from the wellhead housing. This provides the advantage of reducing a risk of damage to the wellbore lining tubing during transfer to a further conductor pipe.

The step of separating the part of the wellbore lining tubing may comprise unscrewing a joint in the string of wellbore lining tubing. Wellbore lining tubing typically comprises a number of tubing sections coupled together end-to-end, usually by means of an external collar, but sometimes by means of threaded male and female joints between the tubing sections. The method may comprise gripping a section of the tubing (or a collar) above a joint which is to be separated, and rotating the tubing section to unscrew the joint. The tubing section may be rotated by the tubing gripping device, which may be the gripping device of the retrievable running tool. The tubing may be gripped using a tubing gripping device in the wellhead (which may be a lower tubing gripping device), which provides a torsional grip of the tubing. The tubing may be rotated by the tubing gripping device of the retrievable running tool (which may be an upper tubing gripping device), which may unscrew the section of tubing (or collar) whilst simultaneously moving upwards

(optionally on mounting cylinders) to allow a thread of the joint to part. There is typically 50-100mm of thread engagement in a joint, requiring a corresponding movement of the tubing. The tubing may be subject to dynamic loads, due to tension from a moving vessel and water current, and so there may be a requirement that cylinders which move the gripped pipe upwards have a precise position indicator, so the joint thread can be unscrewed without reference to the dynamic "riser" loads. The torque applied may be monitored to enable feedback to a surface vessel.

The step of drilling the wellbore may comprise running a drilling assembly (or Bottom Hole Assembly - BHA) down the inside of the wellbore lining tubing and releasably coupling the drilling assembly to the tubing. The drilling assembly may comprise a drill bit and an expandable underreamer so that the assembly can drill a wellbore which is of a larger diameter than the tubing. The method may comprise releasably coupling the drilling assembly to the tubing using a releasable locking device comprising a plurality of locking elements. The method may comprise moving the locking elements from retracted positions where they do not contact a wall of the tubing, to deployed positions where they contact and grip the wall of the tubing. The method may comprise urging the locking elements to their deployed positions by operating an actuating member of the device so that the actuating member exerts a force on the locking elements. The activating member may be translated axially relative to the locking element to urge the locking elements radially outwardly. The activating member may have one or more profiles which cooperate with the locking elements to urge them to their deployed positions when the activating member is translated. The activating member may be fluid operated and may be or may comprise a piston. The profile may define a ramp or abutment surface which is inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the locking device. The locking elements may comprise corresponding surfaces which cooperate with the profile, optionally with the ramp. The method may comprise moving locking elements of first and second axially spaced arrays of locking elements to their deployed positions. The locking elements in the arrays may be deployed by translating corresponding first and second activating members in opposite axial directions. This may provide the advantage that the locking device holds the drilling assembly against movement under axially directed loads in both uphole and downhole directions. Where fluid operated, the method may comprise supplying fluid to a region between opposed piston faces of the activating members, to move the activating members in their opposite directions.

Current methods call for a locking receptacle to be pre-installed in a tubing string to provide a structurally robust connection capable of withstanding the shock and fatigue loads during drilling. The above system allows for the connection to be made at any location along the length of the tubing. A key design factor may be to ensure the distribution of the cyclic axial and torsional load over an appropriate internal length of the tubing.

Other methods of releasably coupling the drilling assembly to the tubing may include using an inflatable packer, that may be made of sufficient length to ensure the transfer of axial and torsional drilling forces from the bit and drilling assembly into the tubing without creating a point load. A combination of inflatable packer and releasable locking device described above may combine to provide the benefits of both systems. The step of drilling the wellbore may comprise performing a casing-drilling procedure where the drilling assembly is advanced using the wellbore lining tubing, so that the tubing lines the drilled wellbore as the wellbore is advanced.

The step of drilling the wellbore may comprise releasing the drilling assembly from the part of the wellbore lining tubing located in the wellbore following completion of the drilling procedure. The drilling assembly can then be retrieved and used to drill a further wellbore.

The step of drilling the wellbore may comprise sealing the wellhead using a temporary sealing element (such as a diaphragm or rupture disc), and puncturing or rupturing the sealing element using the wellbore lining tubing. The method may comprise sealing the wellbore lining tubing relative to the wellhead following puncture of the temporary sealing element using a wiping seal which seals an annular region between the tubing and the wellhead. The wellbore-lining tubing may be rotated within the wiping seal during drilling, the wiping seal permitting such rotation of the tubing whilst maintaining a seal with the tubing. The method may comprise mounting the wiping seal relative to the wellhead in such a way that displacement of the wellbore lining tubing laterally (that is, in a radial direction) can be accommodated whilst maintaining a seal with the tubing. The method may comprise mounting the wiping seal for movement in a plane perpendicular to the main axis of the wellhead housing.

The step of drilling the wellbore may comprise assembling a drill string carrying a drill bit and underreamer at surface, deploying the drill string through the wellbore-lining tubing to drill the wellbore, installing the casing in the drilled wellbore, recovering the drill string to surface, and then separating said part of the wellbore-lining tubing. The drill string may be of a conventional type. The method may comprise deploying a wear bushing into the wellhead to protect an internal surface or surfaces of the wellhead/wellhead components. The wear bushing may be deployed into the wellhead separately such as by an ROV. The wear bushing may be deployed into the wellhead using the retrievable running tool. The wear bushing may be located on a dummy wellhead receptacle so that it can be picked up by the running tool and deployed into the wellhead.

The method may comprise hanging the part of the wellbore tubing from a gripping device provided in the wellhead. The method may comprise moving a plurality of tubing gripping elements (which may be balls or like components) of the gripping device from retracted to deployed positions to grip the part of the tubing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a subsea assembly for use in the drilling and lining of a subsea wellbore, the assembly comprising:

a wellhead which can be connected to a guide pipe that can be located in a seabed; a wellhead connector which can be releasably coupled to the wellhead;

a first tubing gripping device coupled to the wellhead connector, for releasably gripping a string of wellbore-lining tubing so that the wellhead connector can be deployed from surface and coupled to the wellhead using the tubing, in which the tubing gripping device is selectively activatable so that, following coupling of the wellhead connector to the wellhead, the tubing gripping device can be deactivated and the wellbore-lining tubing deployed through the wellhead connector and into the wellhead;

a drilling assembly which can be deployed down the inside of the wellbore lining tubing from surface;

a tubing separating device which can be selectively activated to separate a part of the wellbore-lining tubing from the string of tubing leaving said part of the tubing in the drilled wellbore; and

a second tubing gripping device provided in the wellhead, for gripping the part of the wellbore-lining tubing residing in the drilled wellbore;

wherein, following deployment of the wellbore-lining tubing through the wellhead connector, the first tubing gripping device can be reactivated to regrip the wellbore-lining tubing, so that a remainder of the wellbore-lining tubing can be retracted from the wellhead following separation of said part from the string of tubing.

The drilling assembly may be releasably couplable to the wellbore lining tubing so that the tubing can be used to drill and line the subsea wellbore.

The assembly may be for the drilling and lining of a plurality of subsea wellbores, in which the wellbore lining tubing retracted from the wellhead is used to drill and line at least a second subsea wellbore.

The wellhead connector, first tubing gripping device and optionally also the tubing separating device may be provided as a retrievable running tool. The first tubing gripping device may comprise tubing gripping elements (which may be balls or like components) that can be moved from retracted to deployed positions, to grip the tubing and secure the retrievable running tool to the tubing. The tubing gripping elements may be axially movable so that an axial force can be exerted on the tubing.

The assembly may comprise at least one annular seal which can be actuated to close an annular region defined between an internal wall of a housing of the wellhead and an external wall of the wellbore lining tubing. The annular seal may be located in the wellhead. The annular seal may be deployable into the wellhead following location of the guide pipe in the seabed. The annular seal may be positioned in the wellhead housing using a cutting device employed to separate the part of the wellbore lining tubing which is to be left in the wellbore from the remainder of the tubing. The annular seal may be releasably secured to the cutting device so that, following deployment into the wellhead around the wellbore lining tubing, the annular seal can be released from the cutting device leaving the seal in the wellhead.

The assembly may comprise an articulating connection which allows bending movement of the wellbore lining tubing relative to the wellhead whilst supporting the tubing. The articulating connection may be movably mounted to the wellhead connector and adapted to receive the wellbore lining tubing. The articulating connection may comprise a wellbore lining tubing guide secured to the wellhead connector via a mounting arrangement which permits translation and/or rotation of the guide relative to the connector. The guide may house the first tubing gripping device. The tubing separating device may be adapted to sever the tubing, and may be a tubing cutting device.

The cutting device may be deployable down the inside of the tubing to a position where the tubing is to be cut, securable relative to the tubing, and selectively actuatable to cut the tubing when at the required position. The assembly may be adapted to place the tubing in tension prior to commencement of a cutting operation, which may facilitate the formation of a clean cut. The tubing may be tensionable using the first tubing gripping device.

The cutting device may be positionable around the outside of the tubing, and may be movable axially relative to the tubing from a retracted, stored position to a deployed, cutting position. The cutting device may be coupled to the wellhead connector. In the retracted position, the cutting device may reside outside the wellhead, and in the deployed position the cutting device may reside at least partly within the wellhead. The assembly may at least one marker which can be detected by the cutting device, the marker providing an indication that the device is at the correct position for performing the cut. The marker may be positioned within the wellhead. The cutting device may comprise at least one gripping element which can be actuated to engage a wall of the wellbore lining tubing to thereby retain the device in the desired position. The assembly may comprise an adjustment mechanism for performing a more precise or secondary alignment of the cutting device relative to the at least one marker, the adjustment mechanism being actuable to translate the cutting device relative to the wellbore lining tubing.

The tubing separating device may be actuable to unscrew a joint in the string of wellbore lining tubing. The device may comprise at least one gripping element for gripping a section of the tubing (or a collar) above a joint which is to be separated, and rotating the tubing section to unscrew the joint. The first tubing gripping device may comprise or define the tubing separating device, and may be rotatable to unscrew the joint.

The drilling assembly may be releasably coupleable to the tubing using a releasable locking device comprising a plurality of locking elements. The locking elements may be movable from retracted positions where they do not contact a wall of the tubing, to deployed positions where they contact and grip the wall of the tubing. The locking elements may be urged to their deployed positions by an actuating member of the device which exerts a force on the locking elements. The activating member may be translatable axially and/or rotatable relative to the locking elements to urge the locking elements radially outwardly. The activating member may have one or more profiles which cooperate with the locking elements to urge them to their deployed positions when the activating member is translated. The activating member may be fluid operated and may be or may comprise a piston. The profile may define a ramp or abutment surface which is inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the locking device. The locking elements may comprise corresponding surfaces which cooperate with the profile, optionally with the ramp. The locking device may comprise first and second axially spaced arrays of locking elements. The locking elements in the arrays may be deployed by translating

corresponding first and second activating members in opposite axial directions. The activating members may have opposed piston faces which open on to a region in the device that can be supplied with fluid to move the activating members in their opposite directions.

The drilling assembly may be releasably coupleable to the tubing using an inflatable packer, which may be made of sufficient length to ensure the transfer of axial and torsional drilling forces from the bit and drilling assembly into the tubing without creating a point load. A combination of inflatable packer and releasable locking device described above may combine to provide the benefits of both systems.

The assembly may comprise a temporary sealing element (such as a diaphragm or rupture disc) for sealing the wellhead, and which can be punctured or ruptured by the wellbore lining tubing. The assembly may comprise a wiping seal for sealing the wellbore lining tubing relative to the wellhead following puncture of the temporary sealing element, the wiping seal sealing an annular region between the tubing and the wellhead. The wiping seal may permit rotation of the wellbore-lining tubing whilst maintaining a seal with the tubing. The wiping seal may be mounted relative to the wellhead in such a way that displacement of the wellbore lining tubing laterally can be accommodated whilst maintaining a seal with the tubing. The wiping seal may be for movement in a plane perpendicular to the main axis of the wellhead.

The second tubing gripping device may comprise moving a plurality of tubing gripping elements (which may be balls or like components) that can be moved from retracted to deployed positions to grip said part of the tubing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a subsea assembly for use in the drilling and lining of a subsea wellbore, the assembly comprising:

a wellhead connector which can be releasably coupled to a wellhead of a guide pipe located in a seabed;

a tubing gripping device for releasably gripping a wellbore-lining tubing that is used to deploy the assembly from surface, the tubing gripping device being selectively activatable so that, following coupling of the wellhead connector to the wellhead, the tubing gripping device can be deactivated and the wellbore-lining tubing deployed through the wellhead connector and used to drill and line a wellbore; and

a tubing cutting device which is movable axially from a retracted position where it resides outside of the wellhead, to a deployed position where the cutting device extends from the wellhead connector and into the wellhead, the tubing cutting device being selectively activatable so that, following movement to the deployed position, the device can be used to cut the wellbore-lining tubing;

wherein, following deployment of the wellbore-lining tubing through the wellhead connector, the gripping device can be reactivated to regrip the wellbore-lining tubing so that the portion of the wellbore-lining tubing above the cut can be retracted.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a subsea assembly for use in the drilling and lining of a subsea wellbore, the assembly comprising: a wellhead connector which can be releasably coupled to a wellhead of a guide pipe located in a seabed;

a tubing cutting device which is deployable down the inside of the wellbore-lining tubing to a position inside the tubing where a cut is to be made, the tubing cutting device comprising at least one tubing gripping element which can be activated to grip the wellbore-lining tubing and being selectively activatable to cut the wellbore-lining tubing; wherein, following deployment of the wellbore-lining tubing through the wellhead connector, the gripping device can be reactivated to regrip the wellbore-lining tubing so that the portion of the wellbore-lining tubing above the cut can be retracted.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a subsea assembly for use in the drilling and lining of a subsea wellbore, the assembly comprising:

a tubing separating device which is actuable to unscrew a joint in the string of wellbore lining tubing;

wherein, following deployment of the wellbore-lining tubing through the wellhead connector, the gripping device can be reactivated to regrip the wellbore-lining tubing so that the portion of the wellbore-lining tubing above the cut can be retracted. Further features of the components of the assemblies of the third to fifth aspects of the invention may be derived from the text set out above relating to the second aspect of the invention. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking device for releasably locking a downhole assembly at any desired position within a downhole tubing, the locking device comprising:

a plurality of locking elements which are movable from retracted positions where they do not contact a wall of the tubing, to deployed positions where they contact and grip the wall of the tubing;

an actuating member which is movable relative to the locking elements and having at least one profile which cooperates with the locking elements to urge them to their deployed positions when the activating member is moved. The locking elements may have surfaces which can engage the wall of the downhole tubing so that the device can be located at any desired position in the tubing. In this way, the locking elements do not require to latch into a locking profile such as a recess in the wall of the tubing. This means that the locking device can be positioned at any desired depth within a well containing the tubing, which position can be determined during performance of a downhole operation and which does not need to be predetermined prior to deployment of the locking device into the tubing.

The downhole assembly may be any suitable assembly that it is desired to position downhole. However, the locking device may have a particular utility in the positioning of a drilling assembly within a wellbore-lining tubing such as a casing, in a casing drilling operation.

The actuating member may be translatable axially relative to the locking elements to urge the locking elements to their deployed positions. The actuating member may be rotatable relative to the locking elements to urge the locking elements to their deployed positions. The locking elements may be radially outwardly movable to their deployed positions. The activating member may be fluid operated and may be or may comprise a piston. The profile may define a ramp or abutment surface. The ramp or abutment surface may be inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the locking device. The ramp or abutment surface may be describe an external diameter, which diameter may change in a direction around a perimeter of the device. The locking elements may comprise corresponding surfaces which cooperate with the profile, optionally with the ramp. The locking device may comprise first and second axially spaced arrays of locking elements. The locking elements in the arrays may be deployed by moving corresponding first and second activating members in opposite directions, which may be opposite axial directions or opposite rotational directions. The activating members may have opposed piston faces which open on to a region in the device that can be supplied with fluid to move the activating members in their opposite directions.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wiping seal assembly for sealing an annular region between a rotatable downhole tubing and a downhole component, the wiping seal assembly comprising:

a housing which can be coupled to the downhole component; and

a wiping seal element defining a sealing surface for sealing abutment with the downhole tubing, the wiping seal element being mounted for movement relative to the housing in a plane which is perpendicular to a main axis of the housing so that lateral displacement of the downhole tubing can be accommodated whilst maintaining a seal with the tubing.

The wiping seal assembly may comprise a secondary seal for sealing the housing relative to the wiping seal element. The wiping seal assembly may comprise a mounting member coupled to the wiping seal element, the mounting member being movable relative to the housing in said plane. The mounting member may be an annular member. The mounting member may be located in a groove, recess or channel defined by the housing. The mounting member may be sealed relative to the housing by said secondary seal. The wiping seal element may self-seal relative to the mounting member.

The wiping seal assembly may have a utility in sealing any type of downhole tubing which is rotated, including but not limited to wellbore-lining tubing (such as casing or liner), drill pipe, and tubing used to run a downhole tool into a well. The wiping seal assembly may have a particular utility, however, in sealing around a casing in a casing drilling operation.

Further features of the above described aspects of the invention may be derived from one or more of the other aspects set out in this document. Further aspects of the invention may combine one or more feature of one or more of the above described aspects.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective, partially sectioned view illustrating a step in a method of drilling a plurality of subsea wellbores, and a subsea assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 2 to 5 are longitudinal sectional views of the assembly shown in Figure 1, illustrating various steps in the method;

Figured 5A and 5B are perspective and longitudinal sectional views of a locking device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, which has a utility in the method and assembly of Figure 1 ;

Figures 5C, 5D and 5E are end, longitudinal sectional and enlarged detail views of a wiping seal assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and which has a utility in the method and assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view illustrating a further step in the method;

Figures 7 and 8 are enlarged partially sectioned perspective, and partial longitudinal sectional views of cementing components employed in the method;

Figures 9 A to 9D are views illustrating further steps in the method, involving locating a drilling assembly in a wellbore-lining tubing; Figure 1 OA is a perspective view of a template comprising a plurality of subsea conductors, employed in a method of drilling a plurality of subsea wellbores, and a subsea assembly, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 1 OB is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the template of Figure 10A;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a step in a method of drilling a plurality of subsea wellbores, and a subsea assembly, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 12 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a cutting device forming part of the assembly of Figure 11 ; Figure 13 is an enlarged perspective view of actuation equipment for the cutting device of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 11, showing a step in the method involving actuating the cutting device of Figure 12;

Figures 15A and 15B are views showing further steps in the method involving actuating the cutting device of Figure 12;

Figure 16 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a step in a method of drilling a plurality of subsea wellbores, and a subsea assembly, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 17A and 17B are enlarged views showing steps in the method of Figure 16, involving separating part of a wellbore-lining tubing from a remainder of the tubing, leaving said part in the drilled wellbore; Figures 18 A and 18B are longitudinal sectional views of a device for separating part of a wellbore-lining tubing from a remainder of the tubing, leaving said part in the drilled wellbore, having a utility in a method of drilling a plurality of subsea wellbores, and a subsea assembly, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 19 is a view showing a step in the method involving the deployment of the separating device of Figures 18A and 18B; and

Figures 20A and 20B are schematic views showing further steps in the method.

A method of drilling a plurality of subsea wellbores and of lining the wellbores with wellbore-lining tubing in a single trip is described. The method generally comprises the steps of: locating a first guide pipe and at least a second guide pipe in a seabed; deploying a string of wellbore-lining tubing from surface; mating the wellbore-lining tubing with the first guide pipe; drilling a first wellbore through the first guide pipe using the wellbore- lining tubing; separating a first part of the wellbore-lining tubing located in the first wellbore from a remainder of the tubing, leaving the first part of the tubing in the wellbore; mating the wellbore-lining tubing with the second guide pipe; drilling a second wellbore through the second guide pipe using the wellbore-lining tubing; and separating a second part of the wellbore-lining tubing located in the second wellbore from a remainder of the tubing, leaving the second part of the tubing in the wellbore.

A subsea assembly for use in the drilling and lining of a subsea wellbore is also described, the assembly generally comprising: a wellhead which can be connected to a guide pipe that can be located in a seabed; a wellhead connector which can be releasably coupled to the wellhead; a first tubing gripping device coupled to the wellhead connector, for releasably gripping a string of wellbore-lining tubing so that the wellhead connector can be deployed from surface and coupled to the wellhead using the tubing, in which the tubing gripping device is selectively activatable so that, following coupling of the wellhead connector to the wellhead, the tubing gripping device can be deactivated and the wellbore-lining tubing deployed through the wellhead connector and into the wellhead; a drilling assembly which can be deployed down the inside of the wellbore lining tubing from surface (and which can optionally be releasably coupled to the wellbore lining tubing so that the tubing can be used to drill and line a subsea wellbore); a tubing separating device which can be selectively activated to separate a part of the wellbore-lining tubing from the string of tubing leaving said part of the tubing in the drilled wellbore; and a second tubing gripping device provided in the wellhead, for gripping the part of the wellbore-lining tubing residing in the drilled wellbore; wherein, following deployment of the wellbore-lining tubing through the wellhead connector, the first tubing gripping device can be reactivated to regrip the wellbore-lining tubing, so that a remainder of the wellbore-lining tubing can be retracted from the wellhead following separation of said part from the string of tubing.

The method and subsea assembly, as well as further features of the present invention, will now be described in more detail with reference to the Figures.

Figure 1 shows a general arrangement showing the essential features of a first embodiment of a system/assembly and method of the present invention. A template or suction anchor 1 in the form of a CAN can be pre-installed from a vessel at surface (not shown), or run as part of an assembly such as that described by one of the present inventors in WO- 2006/010906, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by way of reference. The system utilises a drill-in wellhead system similar to that described in WO-2006/010906. A significant difference is that the permanently installed wellhead equipment comprises a High Pressure wellhead housing 2, with an industry standard connection profile, with dual annular seals 3 that can be remotely set generally using a hydraulic cylinder 3 a provided in the assembly. A tubing gripping device comprising casing hanger grippers 4 is used to hang wellbore-lining tubing (which takes the form of a casing) 5, and a low pressure annular seal (or wiping seal assembly) 72 and diaphragm 6 prevents cuttings from entering the wellhead housing 2. A flow path or flow ports 7 enables the drilled cuttings and cement returns to by-pass the wellhead housing 2 and conductor 8 to the seafloor. The wellhead 2 is locked into the conductor 8 before deployment. The suction anchor 1 is integral to the conductor 8 and wellhead 2. The casing 5 and associated equipment is suspended from a structure at sea surface, which may for example be a floating vessel such as semi-submersible rig, or a permanent structure such as a gravity base platform or jack- up rig which is supported by the seabed. The flow ports 7 may be connected to a subsea mud pump 7b and a flexible flowline 7c to surface. The subsea mud pump may be powered by the torque tool of an ROV which will be shown and described below. A retrievable running tool 9 is used to connect wellbore- lining tubing in the form of a drill-in casing 5 string to the wellhead 2. It comprises an industry standard wellhead connector 10 suitably modified to enable orientation and connection of stab-in hydraulic couplings 11. These provide power fluid to operate the wellhead functions on the retrievable running tool 9 through an ROV stab plate 12. A further tubing gripping device comprising a set of running grippers 13 is connected to the wellhead connector 10 via an articulating connection having operating cylinders 13c that provide an extension force between it and the wellhead connector 10. The connection between the wellhead connector 10 and the grippers 13 may enable a degree of

articulation, to provide a more compliant connection to accommodate vessel offset and thus minimise the bending stresses caused by the marine environment. This articulation could be provided by spring energised bolts 13a equipped with load sensors. Additionally a funnel guide 13b is placed above the grippers 13 to provide support for the casing 5 in bending. In order to apply tension to the casing 5 as required for separating part of the casing (for example in a casing cutting operation which will be described below), hydraulic cylinders 13c provide an extension force between the grippers 13 and the wellhead connector 10. This is illustrated in Figure 2

Figure 3 shows the pre-installed wellhead 2 and suction anchor 1 assembly landed in position on the seabed. Figure 4 shows the retrievable running tool 9 with the casing 5 secured to the running grippers 13 with the industry standard wellhead connector 10 latched onto the wellhead 2 profile. After landing the retrievable running tool 9, the running grippers 13 are released and the casing string 5 lowered downwards, through the low pressure annular seals and diaphragm 6. Seawater or drilling mud can now be circulated down through the casing 5 while lowering it downwards, to create a "rat hole" in the sea floor. This is to provide enough space to accommodate a drilling or Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) 14, which is shown in Figure 5. After creating the "rat hole" the casing 5 is pulled back a sufficient length to accommodate the length of the BHA 14, which is run down and latched into position inside the casing 5. Figure 5 shows the BHA 14 locked into place inside the casing 4 with a locking device in the form of a locking torque tool 15. The locking torque tool 15 is shown in more detail in the enlarged perspective view of Figure 5 A, and the longitudinal sectional view of Figure 5B. The locking torque tool 15 is designed so that it grips the internal surface of the casing 5 at any desired position, and distributes the axial and torsional loads due to drilling over a considerable internal surface area of the casing 5. The locking torque tool 15 comprises a plurality of locking elements 50 which are movable from retracted positions (Figures 5A and 5B) where they do not contact a wall of the casing 5, to deployed positions (Figure 5) where they contact and grip the wall of the casing. An actuating member in the form of a piston 52 is movable relative to the locking elements 50, and has a number of profiles 54 (Figure 5B) which cooperate with the locking elements 50, to urge them to their deployed positions when the activating member is moved. The locking elements 50 have surfaces 56 which can engage the wall of the casing 5, so that the device can be located at any desired position in the tubing.

The actuating piston 52 is translatable axially relative to the locking elements 50 to urge them to their deployed positions. The actuating member may however be rotatable relative to the locking elements to urge them to their deployed positions. The locking elements 50 are radially outwardly movable to their deployed positions. The profiles 54 define ramps or abutment surfaces 57 which are inclined relative to a longitudinal axis 58 of the locking device 15. The ramps 54 describe external diameters, which diameters may change in a direction around a perimeter of the device 15, in the rotating actuation embodiment. The locking elements 50 comprise corresponding surfaces 60 which cooperate with the ramps 54.

The locking device 15 in fact comprises first and second axially spaced arrays 62 and 64 of locking elements 50. The locking elements 50 in the arrays 62 and 64 are deployed by moving corresponding first and second activating pistons 52 and 52' in opposite axial directions (or opposite rotational directions if rotationally actuated). The activating pistons 52, 52' have opposed piston faces 66 and 68 which open on to a region in the form of a chamber 70 in the device that can be supplied with fluid to move the activating pistons 52, 52'.

The locking device may have a utility in the locking of any suitable assembly that it is desired to position downhole. However, the locking device 15 has a particular utility in the positioning of a drilling assembly within a casing, in a casing drilling method and system described herein.

Drilling can start when the running grippers 13 are released and the casing 5 is then free to move downwards. On reaching the desired casing setting depth, a wire-line retrieval tool 16 is deployed which latches into the locking torque tool 15 and the attached BHA 14 is released and recovered to surface. Alternative methods of retrieving the BHA 14, such as by pumping it out, are envisaged. The wiping seal assembly 72 is shown in more detail in the enlarged end view of Figure 5C, the longitudinal cross-sectional view of Figure 5D, and the enlarged detail view of Figure 5E. The seal assembly 72 serves for sealing the annular region between the rotating casing 5 and a downhole component, in this case the wellhead housing 2. The wiping seal assembly 72 comprises a housing 54 which can be coupled to the wellhead housing 2, and a wiping seal element 76 defining a sealing surface 78 for sealing abutment with the casing 5. The wiping seal element 76 is mounted for movement relative to the housing 54 in a plane which is perpendicular to a main axis 80 of the housing, so that lateral displacement of the casing 5 during drilling can be accommodated whilst maintaining a seal with the casing. The wiping seal assembly 52 comprises upper and lower secondary seals 82 and 84, for sealing the housing 54 relative to the wiping seal element 76. The wiping seal assembly 52 also comprises a generally annular mounting member 86 coupled to the wiping seal element 76, the mounting member 86 being movable relative to the housing 54 in said plane. The mounting member 86 is located in a groove 88 defined by the housing 54, which allows for the lateral movement of the casing 5 and thus the wiping seal element 76 and mounting member 86. The wiping seal assembly has a utility in sealing any type of downhole tubing which is rotated, including but not limited to wellbore-lining tubing (such as casing or liner), drill pipe, and tubing used to run a downhole tool into a well (i.e. tool strings). The wiping seal assembly has a particular utility, however, in the method and system described herein.

As shown in Figure 6, before cementing, an ROV 16 with its associated ROV skid 16a is connected to the fixed stab plate 12, to enable the wellhead functions to be operated. These functions include spacing out and supporting the casing 5 from the casing hanger grippers 4 and hydraulically setting the dual annular seals 3, as well as pressure testing between them. Referring to Figures 7 and 8, in order to conduct a successful cementation of the casing 5, it is necessary to run a drillable non-return valve 19 on wire-line using conventional setting techniques, as is well known in the art. The latter will be located at the bottom casing string 5, approximately ten metres from the bottom of the hole. When set inside the casing 5, the drillable non-return valve 19 will allow circulation down through it, and provide a location point for a bottom plug 17 and top plug 18, used in the cementing operation.

After cementing, the part of the casing 5 residing in the drilled borehole can be separated from a remainder of the string. To this end, a specially adapted wire-line deployed, casing cutting tool string 20 is run. This is illustrated in Figures 9A to 9D. The casing cutting tool string 20 includes two sensors that can detect the precise position of upper electronic marker tags 21 and lower electronic marker tags 22. The system provides precise space out by including a tubing gripping device in the form of a gripping element or elements 23 that contact the inner casing wall, enabling the casing cutting tool string 20 to be slacked off at the surface. A linear actuation mechanism, such as a hydraulic cylinder or lead screw within the casing cutting tool string 20, can enable it to slowly and controllably be adjusted in height until there is precise alignment with the upper marker tags 21 and the lower marker tags 22. This slacking off and dual alignment is to ensure that the casing 5 is cut at a precise point within the wellhead 2. There are many embodiments of this mechanism that can ensure the required precision and reliability of cut. One mechanism would use an electronic sensor within the retrievable running tool 9 that, through the ROV 16 and its control system, can provide an independent means of verifying the precise space out. This is distinct from the mechanism described above of the casing cutting tool 20, which is controlled by electric wire-line from the surface. A major advantage of this system over previous systems is that the casing 5 can be centred, and tension applied to it, by means of hydraulic cylinders 39 (Fig. 14) and the running grippers 13, to ensure a clean and controlled cut. There is no need to rely on the variable tension that would be applied from a moving vessel and the elasticity in the casing 5, through what may be several kilometres of water depth. Moreover, the running grippers 13 retain the upper section of the cut casing 5. However it may be advantageous to cut the casing 5 just below a casing coupling or joint 5a, so that the running grippers 13 may be partially opened and the upper section of the cut casing 5 pulled upwards until the shoulder of the coupling 5a meets the lower part of the running grippers 13. This operation is to remove the risk of damaging the casing 5 when connecting to the next well. After cutting the casing 5, the casing cutting tool string 20 is removed on wireline to the surface. The ROV 16 can now disconnect the retrievable running tool 8 via the ROV stab plate 12, enabling the casing 5 to be raised on the vessel enough to clear the wellhead 2, so that it can be moved to the next well. The casing 5 and associated equipment may be deployed from a dynamically positioned vessel, which will move at a suitable speed through the water with the suspended casing 5 to the next well. However, the casing 5 and associated equipment may be deployed from a derrick on a surface structure such as a floating rig, or a permanent structure such as a gravity base platform or jack-up rig supported by the seabed. The casing 5 is then translated to move it between the wells by skidding the derrick, in a known fashion. In order to prevent damage to the casing 5 when landing on the next well, the spring energised bolts 13a will provide some articulation between the industry standard connector 10 and the running grippers 13, acting as a shock absorber. The next well may be incorporated into a multi-well template structure 25, as illustrated in Figures 10A and 10B. The mechanisms for securing the multi-well template into the seabed are well known in the industry. Figures 10A and 10B show the use of piles 26, driven in with a subsea pile driver 27. Template grippers 28 provide an adjustable connection between the pile 26 and the template structure 25, to allow it to be levelled. Pile driving will also ensure the conductors 1 for each well are forced into the surface formation(s) of the seabed to provide a firm foundation. This is to ensure that, when cleaning out the conductor 1, circulation with cuttings up the annulus does not by-pass the flow ports 7 and broach to the sea floor.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 11, and enables the casing 5 to be cut in situ, without the need to mobilise and deploy a casing cutting tool string 20. Here, the retrievable running tool 9 has been modified to include an annular cutting tool 29. This is connected to the running grippers 13 by means of a bearing plate 30. The bearing plate 30 enables the running grippers 13 to remain stationary whilst the annular cutting tool 29 can rotate. The annular cutting tool 29 is illustrated by itself, for clarity, in Figure 12. It comprises a lower bearing 31, preferably sealed, with a plenum section 32 that has a series of pockets to locate cutting pistons 33 that may be elliptical or round in shape. The cutting pistons 33 contain hardened cutting wheels 34 that cause the casing 5 to part when pressure is applied to the cutting pistons 33. Hydraulic oil supply for pressurising the cutting pistons 33 will be "gun drilled" into the wall of the annular cutting tool 29, and the hydraulic pressure contained using an oil gallery 35 across the rotating surfaces of the annular cutting tool 29 and the running grippers 13, as is well known in the art. Figure 13 shows the rotation of the annular cutting tool 29, driven by a motor 36, preferably hydraulically operated, and coupled to a pinion gear 37 by a driving gear plate 37a. Figure 14 shows running grippers 13 that are attached to a travelling bearing plate 41 that moves vertically on a four guide posts 42 by means of four solid linear bearings 43 on each plate. The length of vertical travel is that required to insert the annular cutting tool into the lowest position in the wellhead 2. The vertical travel is enabled by means of two cylinders 39 that connect the travelling bearing plate 41 with the fixed top plate 45. The operation of this embodiment will now be described. When connecting the running tool 9 to the wellhead 2, the cylinders 39 have their piston rods 40 fully retracted. This is illustrated in Figure 15 A. After landing and latching the industry standard connector 10 onto the wellhead 2, the cylinders 39 are extended, causing the annular cutting tool 29 to be pushed inside the wellhead 2 until it bottoms out (Figure 15B). The lower bearing 31 will have an outer, non-damaging surface that provides axial stability and support during rotation, but does not damage the critical sealing surfaces of the wellhead 2. In fact, the insertion of the annular cutting tool 29 provides all the functionality of a "wear bushing", well known in the subsea wellhead industry, to prevent damage during drilling operations. However, a wear bushing (not shown) may be employed, deployed either directly by the ROV 16 into the wellhead 2, or through mating the retrievable running tool 9 to a dummy wellhead receptacle (not shown), so that the wear bushing can be picked up and deployed. After insertion of the annular cutting tool 29, the running grippers 13 are released, to allow rotation and axial movement of the casing 5 so drilling can progress. After drilling reaches the desired casing setting depth, as described, above the casing 5, the ROV is docked onto the stab plate 12. This enables the casing 5 to be hung and the dual annular seals 3 set and tested. The annular cutting tool 29 is now operated. First the running grippers 13 are closed and controlled tension is applied on the casing 5 by means of the cylinders 39. The motor 36 drives the pinion gear 37, while at the same time pressure is applied to the cutting pistons 33 containing the hardened cutting wheels 34, to cause the casing to be severed. After cutting the casing 5, the cutting pistons 33 are retracted. The cylinders 39 now fully extend their piston rods 40, which raises the annular cutting tool 29 out of the wellhead 2 prior to disconnection and moving to the next well.

A further embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 16, involves spacing out the casing connection or coupling 5 a at a precise position in the wellhead, then hanging the weight of the casing 5 using the casing hanger grippers 4. The part of the casing 5 located in the drilled wellbore can then be separated from the remainder of the casing by unscrewing the casing connection or coupling 5 a. For the operation of this mechanism, there is no need for the annular cutting tool 29. However a rotary bearing 46 is required above the running grippers 13. This is so they can rotate and provide the required torque to unscrew the casing 5 when operated by the ROV 16. The rotation of the running grippers 13 with respect to the rest of the running tool 9 is by means of the pinion 37 driving the gear plate 37a, powered by a motor 36 (again, preferably hydraulically driven). The motor 36 is attached to the fixed part of the travelling bearing plate 41 whilst the inner rotating part is driven round on the rotation of the pinion 37. The operation of this embodiment will now be explained with reference also to Figures 17A and 17B. The running tool 9 is landed and connected to the high pressure wellhead housing 2, by means of the industry standard connector 10. The running grippers 13 are opened and drilling proceeds as previously described. Before cementing, the casing connector or coupling 5a is located just above the dual annular seals 3. A set of spring loaded dogs 48, located inside the wellhead 2, are automatically activated from the ROV 16 with its associated ROV skid 16a. The spring loaded dogs 48 provide a positive indication on the surface when the casing string 5 is landed at the precise position in the high pressure wellhead housing 2. Still under the control of the ROV 16 and its associated ROV skid 16a, the weight of the casing 5 string can now be transferred to casing hanger grippers 4. Next the dual annular seals 3 are extruded (e.g. by rotation or setting down weight) to form the seal onto the casing 5. The casing connector or coupling 5a can now be unscrewed. Both the running grippers 13 and the casing hanger grippers 4 are designed so that torque loads are reacted into the housing of said grippers. Rotary torque applied to the running grippers 13 which is clamped onto the casing 5 is reacted by the casing hanger grippers 4. The torque applied to the running grippers 13 is reacted through the guide posts 42, so it is better to start this operation when the running gripper 13 is at it lowest position. If enough torque is applied, this causes the casing connector or coupling 5a to unscrew.

Before unscrewing the casing connection or coupling 5a, it is important that the casing 5 at that point is neither in compression or excessive tension (and so at a neutral point). This can be determined by a load cell 49 (Fig. 16) attached to the running grippers 13, and as the casing connection or coupling 5a unscrews, the cylinders 39 will be activated to ensure the neutral point is always at the casing connector or coupling 5a. The pressure applied to the cylinders 39 will also provide a good indication of tension or compression being applied to the thread and the casing as the connector or coupling 5a unscrews. After disconnecting the casing connector or coupling 5a, the running grippers 13 will be opened to enable the casing 5 to be pulled up slightly to facilitate the move to the next well to be drilled. This is to prevent damage to the casing 5 when making the connection to the next high pressure wellhead housing 2. A further embodiment is illustrated in Figures 18A and 18B. Here, the dual annular seals 3 a are attached to the annular cutting tool 29 in a detachable manner. The dual annular seals are typically, but not exclusively, installed by rotation or more simply by setting down weight. The sequence of operations is similar to previously described embodiments, with the dual annular seals 3a and the annular cutting tool 29 fully engaged down inside the wellhead 2 during drilling operations. However, once the casing setting depth has been reached and the weight of the casing 5 is transferred to the casing hanger grippers 4, the dual annular seal can be weight set in compression by the downward movement of the annular cutting tool and the running grippers 13, which at this point must not be engaged on the casing 5. The compression force required to set the dual annular seals 3a is derived from the cylinders 39, operated through the ROV 16 and the ROV skid 16a. This simultaneously activates the mechanism that releases the annular cutting tool 29 from the dual annular seals 4.

The annular cutting tool 29 may now be operated as described in the previous embodiment to cut the casing 5 precisely above the dual annular seals 3 a. The cylinders 44 are now fully retracted, which removes the annular cutting tool 29 and running grippers 13 from inside the wellhead 2. Figure 19 shows this position, with the upper portion of the cut casing 5 omitted for clarity. The industry standard wellhead connector 10 can now be released, enabling the running tool 9 with the casing 5 inside the closed running grippers to be moved to a parking slot 49, shown in Figure 20A. This is known as a "dummy wellhead". Prior to this, the ROV 16 will have installed new dual annular seals 3a' inside the parking slot 49. Once the running tool 9 is engaged and locked onto the parking slot 49, it will enable the cylinders 44 to be operated so that downward motion will

automatically connect the dual annular seals 3 a' to the annular cutting tool 29, ready for the next well. This is illustrated in Figure 20B. Once the running tool 9 has engaged and attached the dual annular seals 3a' to the annular cutting tool 29, it can be disconnected from the parking slot and moved to the next well to resume drilling operations. Other embodiments can be envisaged where the dual annular seals 4 are releasably attached directly to the running grippers 13, which can be designed to rotate on a bearing so that the casing 5 may be unscrewed instead of being cut. Various modifications may be made to the foregoing without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. For example, other methods of releasably coupling the drilling assembly to the tubing may include using an inflatable packer, that may be made of sufficient length to ensure the transfer of axial and torsional drilling forces from the bit and drilling assembly into the tubing without creating a point load. A combination of inflatable packer and releasable locking device described above may combine to provide the benefits of both systems.

The step of drilling the wellbores may comprise assembling a drill string carrying a drill bit and underreamer at surface, deploying the drill string through the wellbore-lining tubing to drill the wellbore, installing the casing in the drilled wellbore, recovering the drill string to surface, and then separating said part of the wellbore-lining tubing. The drill string may be of a conventional type.

The method may comprise drilling and lining the first and second wellbores using the wellbore-lining tubing (which may be a first wellbore lining tubing); retrieving the wellbore lining tubing to surface; locating at least one further guide pipe in the seabed; deploying a second wellbore-lining tubing from surface; mating the second wellbore-lining tubing with the further guide pipe; drilling a further wellbore through the further guide pipe using the second wellbore-lining tubing; and separating a first part of the second wellbore- lining tubing located in the further wellbore from a remainder of the second tubing, leaving the further part of the second tubing in the wellbore. The second tubing may have at least one parameter which is different from a corresponding parameter of the first tubing. The parameter may be selected from the group comprising: a diameter which may be an external (and/or internal) diameter; a wall thickness; and a material property such as yield strength. For example, the first and second wellbores may be drilled and lined with a tubing of a first diameter. A third wellbore may then be drilled using a tubing of a second diameter, which may be less than or greater than the first diameter. The diameter of the tubing which is selected for a particular wellbore will depend upon factors including the depth and deviation of the wellbore and physical parameters of the rock formations to be drilled. A still further wellbore may be drilled and lined using the second tubing, following the steps outlined above in relation to the first tubing. Whilst reference is made herein to a method of drilling a plurality of subsea wellbores and of lining the wellbores with wellbore-lining tubing in a single trip (and associated equipment), the method comprising locating a guide pipes in a seabed, it will be understood that the principles underlying the invention may have a utility in

methods/equipment which do not require the installation of guide pipes in the seabed, and so in alternative well construction techniques.

Claims

1. A method of drilling a plurality of subsea wellbores and of lining the wellbores with wellbore-lining tubing in a single trip, the method comprising the steps of:

locating a first guide pipe and at least a second guide pipe in a seabed;

deploying a string of wellbore-lining tubing from surface;

mating the wellbore-lining tubing with the first guide pipe;

mating the wellbore-lining tubing with the second guide pipe;

separating a second part of the wellbore-lining tubing located in the second wellbore from a remainder of the tubing, leaving the second part of the tubing in the wellbore.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising locating at least one further guide pipe in the seabed; mating the wellbore-lining tubing with the further guide pipe; drilling a further wellbore through the further guide pipe using the wellbore-lining tubing; and separating a further part of the wellbore-lining tubing located in the further wellbore from a remainder of the tubing, leaving the further part of the tubing in the wellbore.

3. A method as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, comprising drilling and lining the first and second wellbores using the wellbore-lining tubing; retrieving the wellbore lining tubing to surface; locating at least one further guide pipe in the seabed; deploying a second wellbore-lining tubing from surface; mating the second wellbore-lining tubing with the further guide pipe; drilling a further wellbore through the further guide pipe using the second wellbore-lining tubing; and separating a first part of the second wellbore-lining tubing located in the further wellbore from a remainder of the second tubing, leaving the further part of the second tubing in the wellbore.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, in which the second tubing has at least one parameter which is different from a corresponding parameter of the first tubing.

5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the guide pipes are conductor pipes which are set in the seabed to support surface formations.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, in which the conductor pipes are provided as part of a conductor assembly comprising the pipe and a wellhead.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, in which the conductor pipes and associated wellheads are provided integrally with suction anchors which are employed to locate the conductor pipes in the seabed.

8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the first and second guide pipes are provided in a template, and the method involves driving the template into the seabed to locate the guide pipes.

9. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which, following drilling and lining of the wellbores with the wellbore lining tubing, which forms a first string of wellbore lining tubing, a second string of wellbore lining tubing is deployed from surface, the second string of tubing being of a smaller diameter than the first string of tubing, and in which the method comprises:

mating the second wellbore lining tubing with the first wellbore lining tubing of at least one of the wellbores;

drilling an extension of said wellbore using the second wellbore lining tubing; and separating a first part of the second wellbore lining tubing from a remainder of the tubing, leaving the first part of the tubing in the wellbore.

10. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the steps of mating the wellbore-lining tubing with the guide pipes comprises locating the guide pipes in the seabed and then mating the tubing to the pipes.

11. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the step of mating the wellbore-lining tubing with the guide pipes comprises mating the tubing with the guide pipes prior to locating the pipes in the seabed, and using the wellbore-lining tubing to deploy the guide pipes and locate them in the seabed.

12. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the step of mating the wellbore lining tubing to the guide pipes comprises connecting a wellhead to the guide pipe, and releasably coupling a retrievable running tool to the wellhead.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, in which the retrievable running tool is suspended from the wellbore lining tubing by a tubing gripping device of the tool, by actuating a plurality of tubing gripping elements of the tubing gripping device from retracted to deployed positions, to grip the tubing and secure the retrievable running tool to the tubing.

14. A method as claimed in either of claims 12 or 13, comprising suspending the tubing from the retrievable running tool following coupling of the tool to the wellhead.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13, or claim 14 when dependent on claim 13, comprising translating the tubing gripping elements axially to exert an axial force on the tubing, to tension the tubing and facilitate separation of the part of the tubing which is to be left in the wellbore from the remainder of the tubing.

16. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the step of mating the wellbore lining tubing with the guide pipe comprises actuating at least one annular seal to close an annular region defined between an internal wall of a housing of the wellhead and an external wall of the tubing.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, comprising locating the annular seal in the wellhead housing prior to connecting the wellhead to the conductor pipe.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16, comprising positioning the annular seal in the wellhead housing following location of the guide pipe in the seabed, and optionally following connection of the wellhead to the pipe.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, comprising positioning the annular seal in the wellhead housing using a cutting device employed to separate the part of the wellbore lining tubing which is to be left in the wellbore from the remainder of the tubing.

20. A method as claimed in claim 12, or any one of claims 12 to 19 when dependent on claim 12, comprising coupling the retrievable running tool to the wellhead by an articulating connection which allows bending movement of the wellbore lining tubing relative to the wellhead whilst supporting the tubing.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, comprising coupling a wellhead connector of the running tool to the wellhead, moveably mounting the articulating connection to the wellhead connector, and locating the wellbore lining tubing in the articulating connection.

22. A method as claimed in either of claims 20 or 21, comprising securing a wellbore lining tubing guide of the articulating connection to the wellhead connector via a mounting arrangement which permits translation and/or rotation of the guide relative to the connector.

23. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the step of separating the part of the wellbore lining tubing located in the wellbore from the remainder of the tubing comprises severing the tubing at a point along its length using a cutting device which is deployed down the inside of the tubing to a position where the tubing is to be cut, secured relative to the tubing and then actuated to cut the tubing.

24. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, in which the step of separating the part of the wellbore lining tubing located in the wellbore from the remainder of the tubing comprises severing the tubing at a point along its length using a cutting device which is positioned around the outside of the tubing, and moved axially relative to the tubing from a retracted, stored position to a deployed, cutting position.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, in which, in the retracted position, the cutting device reside outside the wellhead connected to the guide pipe, and in the deployed position the cutting device resides at least partly within the wellhead.

26. A method as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 25, in which the step of separating the part of the wellbore tubing from the remainder of the tubing comprises detecting the presence of at least one marker using the cutting device, the marker providing an indication that the device is at the correct position for performing the cut.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26, comprising:

actuating at least one internal gripping element on the cutting device to engage a wall of the wellbore lining tubing, to retain the device in the desired position; and then performing a more precise or secondary alignment of the cutting device relative to the at least one marker, by operating an adjustment mechanism which translates the cutting device relative to the wellbore lining tubing.

28. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the step of separating the part of the wellbore lining tubing comprises separating said part immediately below an external collar of the tubing, which collar connects two tubing sections of the tubing string together end-to-end.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, when dependent on claim 13, in which the method comprises subsequently pulling the remainder of the tubing upwardly until the collar meets the tubing gripping device, and then releasing the running tool from the wellhead housing.

30. A method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 22, in which the step of separating the part of the wellbore lining tubing comprises unscrewing a joint in the string of wellbore lining tubing.

31. A method as claimed in claim 30, comprising gripping a section of the tubing or a collar above a joint which is to be separated, and rotating the tubing section to unscrew the joint.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31, when dependent on claim 13, in which the tubing section is rotated by the tubing gripping device of the retrievable running tool.

33. A method as claimed in claim 31, in which the tubing is gripped using a tubing gripping device in the wellhead, which provides a torsional grip of the tubing.

34. A method as claimed in claim 32, in which the tubing is rotated by the tubing gripping device to unscrew the section of tubing or collar whilst simultaneously moving upwards to allow a thread of the joint to part.

35. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the step of drilling the wellbore comprises running a drilling assembly down the inside of the wellbore lining tubing, and releasably coupling the drilling assembly to the tubing at any desired location along the length of the tubing using a releasable locking device comprising a plurality of locking elements.

36. A method as claimed in claim 35, in which the step of drilling the wellbore comprises performing a casing-drilling procedure where the drilling assembly is advanced using the wellbore lining tubing, so that the tubing lines the drilled wellbore as the wellbore is advanced.

37. A method as claimed in either of claims 35 or 36, in which the step of drilling the wellbore comprises releasing the drilling assembly from the part of the wellbore lining tubing located in the wellbore following completion of the drilling procedure, retrieving the drilling assembly and then using the assembly to drill a further wellbore.

38. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the step of drilling the wellbore comprises sealing a wellhead associated with the wellbore using a temporary sealing element, puncturing the temporary sealing element using the wellbore lining tubing, and sealing the wellbore lining tubing relative to the wellhead following puncture of the temporary sealing element using a wiping seal which seals an annular region between the tubing and the wellhead.

39. A method as claimed in claim 38, comprising mounting the wiping seal relative to the wellhead in such a way that displacement of the wellbore lining tubing laterally can be accommodated whilst maintaining a seal with the tubing.

40. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising deploying a wear bushing into the wellhead to protect an internal surface of a wellhead associated with the wellbore prior to commencement of drilling.

41. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising hanging the part of the wellbore tubing from a gripping device provided in the wellhead.

42. A subsea assembly for use in the drilling and lining of a subsea wellbore, the assembly comprising:

a drilling assembly which can be deployed down the inside of the wellbore lining tubing from surface; a tubing separating device which can be selectively activated to separate a part of the wellbore-lining tubing from the string of tubing leaving said part of the tubing in the drilled wellbore; and

43. A subsea assembly as claimed in claim 42, in which the drilling assembly is releasably couplable to the wellbore lining tubing so that the tubing can be used to drill and line the subsea wellbore.

44. A subsea assembly as claimed in either of claims 42 or 43, in which the assembly is for the drilling and lining of a plurality of subsea wellbores, in which the wellbore lining tubing retracted from the wellhead is used to drill and line at least a second subsea wellbore.

45. A subsea assembly as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 44, in which the wellhead connector, first tubing gripping device and tubing separating device are provided as a retrievable running tool.

46. A subsea assembly as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 45, in which the first tubing gripping device comprises tubing gripping elements that can be moved from retracted to deployed positions, to grip the tubing and secure the retrievable running tool to the tubing, and in which the tubing gripping elements are axially movable so that an axial force can be exerted on the tubing.

A subsea assembly as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 46, comprising at least annular seal which can be actuated to close an annular region defined between an intemal wall of a housing of the wellhead and an external wall of the wellbore lining tubing, the annular seal located in the wellhead.

48. A subsea assembly as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 46, comprising at least one annular seal which can be actuated to close an annular region defined between an internal wall of a housing of the wellhead and an external wall of the wellbore lining tubing, the annular seal being deployable into the wellhead following location of the guide pipe in the seabed.

49. A subsea assembly as claimed in claim 48, in which the annular seal is positionable in the wellhead housing using a cutting device employed to separate the part of the wellbore lining tubing which is to be left in the wellbore from the remainder of the tubing, the annular seal being releasably secured to the cutting device so that, following deployment into the wellhead around the wellbore lining tubing, the annular seal can be released from the cutting device leaving the seal in the wellhead.

50. A subsea assembly as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 49, comprising an articulating connection which allows bending movement of the wellbore lining tubing relative to the wellhead whilst supporting the tubing, the articulating connection being movably mounted to the wellhead connector and adapted to receive the wellbore lining tubing.

51. A subsea assembly as claimed in claim 50, in which the articulating connection comprises a wellbore lining tubing guide secured to the wellhead connector via a mounting arrangement which permits translation and/or rotation of the guide relative to the connector.

52. A subsea assembly as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 51, in which the tubing separating device is adapted to sever the tubing, and takes the form of a tubing cutting device which is:

deployable down the inside of the tubing to a position where the tubing is to be cut; securable relative to the tubing; and

selectively actuatable to cut the tubing when at the required position.

53. A subsea assembly as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 51, in which the tubing separating device is adapted to sever the tubing, and takes the form of a tubing cutting device which is:

positionable around the outside of the tubing; and

movable axially relative to the tubing from a retracted, stored position to a deployed, cutting position;

in which, the cutting device is coupled to the wellhead connector so that, in the retracted position, the cutting device resides outside the wellhead, and in the deployed position the cutting device resides at least partly within the wellhead.

54. A subsea assembly as claimed in either of claims 52 or 53, in which the tubing is tensionable using the first tubing gripping device, so that the tubing can be placed in tension prior to commencement of a cutting operation, to facilitate the formation of a clean cut.

55. A subsea assembly as claimed in any one of claims 52 to 54, comprising at least one marker which can be detected by the cutting device, the marker providing an indication that the device is at the correct position for performing the cut.

56. A subsea assembly as claimed in claim 55, comprising an adjustment mechanism for performing a more precise or secondary alignment of the cutting device relative to the at least one marker, the adjustment mechanism being actuable to translate the cutting device relative to the wellbore lining tubing.

57. A subsea assembly as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 51 , in which the tubing separating device is actuable to unscrew a joint in the string of wellbore lining tubing, the device comprising at least one gripping element for gripping a section of the tubing or a collar above a joint which is to be separated, and for rotating the tubing section to unscrew the joint.

58. A subsea assembly as claimed in claim 57, in which the first tubing gripping device defines the tubing separating device, and is rotatable to unscrew the joint.

59. A subsea assembly as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 58, in which the drilling assembly is releasably coupleable to the tubing at any desired location using a releasable locking device comprising a plurality of locking elements which are movable from retracted positions where they do not contact a wall of the tubing, to deployed positions where they contact and grip the wall of the tubing.

60. A subsea assembly as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 59, comprising a temporary sealing element for sealing the wellhead, and which can be punctured or ruptured by the wellbore lining tubing, and a wiping seal for sealing the wellbore lining tubing relative to the wellhead following puncture of the temporary sealing element, the wiping seal sealing an annular region between the tubing and the wellhead.

61. A subsea assembly as claimed in claim 60, in which the wiping seal permits rotation of the wellbore-lining tubing whilst maintaining a seal with the tubing, the wiping seal mounted relative to the wellhead in such a way that displacement of the wellbore lining tubing laterally can be accommodated whilst maintaining a seal with the tubing.

62. A subsea assembly as claimed in claim 61, in which the wiping seal is mounted for movement in a plane perpendicular to the main axis of the wellhead.

63. A subsea assembly for use in the drilling and lining of a subsea wellbore, the assembly comprising:

64. A subsea assembly for use in the drilling and lining of a subsea wellbore, the assembly comprising:

65. A subsea assembly for use in the drilling and lining of a subsea wellbore, the assembly comprising:

a wellhead connector which can be releasably coupled to a wellhead of a guide pipe located in a seabed; a tubing gripping device for releasably gripping a wellbore-lining tubing that is used to deploy the assembly from surface, the tubing gripping device being selectively activatable so that, following coupling of the wellhead connector to the wellhead, the tubing gripping device can be deactivated and the wellbore-lining tubing deployed through the wellhead connector and used to drill and line a wellbore; and