In situ expandable tubulars

A method for using an expandable tube member in geologic structures wherein said expandable tube member can be used as a 1) liner, 2) screen, 3) pipe section, 4) plug, 5) patch, 6) packer, 7) device to control lost circulation or fluid inflow during drilling operations, 8) device to repair or seal a leak, 9) device to enhance fluid flow, 10) device to provide sand screening, 11) device to repair damaged pipes, casings, or liners, and/or 12) device to stabilize a wellbore, said method comprises:

• a. providing said expandable tube member, said expandable tube member formed of a body having an outer surface and an internal cavity that extends a longitudinal length of said tube member, said body at least partially formed of an expandable composite material, said expandable composite material includes a polymer matrix and a plurality of expandable filler particles in said polymer matrix, said composite material prior to being expanded having a strength exceeding 5000 psig and stiffness exceeding 200,000 psig, said expandable composite material is formulated to expand when said expandable filler particles are partially or fully activated by one or more activation mechanisms selected from the group consisting of a) change in temperature about said expandable tube member and/or said expandable filler from the surface of a ground cavity to a particular location in said ground cavity, b) exposure of said expandable tube member and/or said expandable filler to a certain temperature or temperature range, c) change in pH about said expandable tube member and/or said expandable filler, d) exposure of said expandable tube member and/or said expandable filler to a certain pH or pH range, e) change in salinity about said expandable tube member and/or said expandable filler, f) exposure of said expandable tube member and/or said expandable filler to a certain salinity or salinity range, g) exposure of said expandable tube member and/or said expandable filler to an activation element or compound, h) change in pressure about said expandable tube member and/or said expandable filler from the surface of a ground cavity to a particular location in said ground cavity, i) exposure of said expandable tube member and/or said expandable filler to a certain pressure or pressure range, j) electrical stimulation of said expandable tube member and/or said expandable filler, k) exposure of said expandable tube member and/or said expandable filler to a certain sound frequency, and l) exposure of said expandable tube member and/or said expandable filler to a certain electromagnetic frequency;
• b. inserting said expandable tube member into a desired location in a wellbore, a pipe or a tube prior to said expandable tube member being fully expanded;
• c. activating said expandable filler particles in said expandable tube member prior to or after said expandable tube member is positioned in said desired location in a wellbore, a pipe or a tube;
• and,
• d. maintaining said expandable tube member in said desired location in a wellbore, a pipe or a tube until said expandable tube member has sufficient expanded to perform its desired use.