A ROTATING CONTROL DEVICE

A rotating control device is provided for use in conjunction with a subterranean well. The rotating control device includes a latch assembly having a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration; and an equalization valve having an open configuration in which fluid communication is permitted between an exterior and an interior of the rotating control device through the equalization valve. The latch assembly changes from the latched configuration to the unlatched configuration only when the equalization valve is in the open configuration. The latch assembly can have an inner mandrel and a latch member, the inner mandrel being displaceable in a first longitudinal direction to outwardly extend the latch member, and displaceable in a second, opposite, longitudinal direction to inwardly retract the latch member. The equalization valve changes from the open configuration to a closed configuration in response to displacement of the inner mandrel in the first longitudinal direction, and changes from the closed configuration to the open configuration in response to displacement of the inner mandrel in the second longitudinal direction. The equalization valve may have a closing piston which is displaced by the inner mandrel. The latch assembly may also include a lock ring which permits displacement of the inner mandrel in the longitudinal direction but prevents displacement of the inner mandrel in an opposite longitudinal direction. An inwardly extending annular seal may be secured to the latch assembly. Figure 1 for abstract