Abstract:The drilling fluid circulation mode has always been concerned in offshore drilling. Under the requirements of the marine environmental protection law and HSE, the reasonable selection of drilling fluid circulation technology must be considered by drilling engineers. This paper introduces the development history and present status of drillingfluid circulation technology in shallow and deep ocean drilling including Oil Casing Circulation, Double CasingCirculation, Conductor Circulation, Riser Circulation, Riserless Mud Recovery System, ReelWell Drilling Method, Hydraulic Reverse Circulation and Gas Reverse Circulation technology. Analysis is made of the equipment structure, construction process and working principle of drilling fluid circulation technology. The market and technicalrequirements of coastal engineering, offshore engineering and exploration and development of deep-water oil, gas and mineral resources on different drilling fluid circulation technologies are put forward with the possibility of application of such technologies in ocean scientific drilling.