Tubular expander with detachable expansion ring
AssigneeTIW Corporation
InventorsPeter T. Bogardus, Carmine Righter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates generally to downhole tubulars, and more particularly, to tubular expanders for downhole tubulars that have a detachable expansion ring, which can be detached from the tubular expander in the event that full expansion cannot be achieved or the tubular expander should get stuck in the downhole tubular being expanded. The detachable expansion ring may be attached to an end of an expansion cone that is disposed within a main body of the tubular expander. Tubing hangers are one exemplary downhole tubular device which can be expanded using the tubular expander in accordance with the present invention.
Claims20
A tubular expander, comprising:
- a. a main tubular body;
- b. an inner tubular expansion cone disposed within the main tubular body;
- and
- c. an expansion ring longitudinally detachable from a distal end of the inner tubular expansion cone, wherein the expansion ring is detachably connected to the inner tubular expansion cone by an interference fit of the expansion ring over the distal end of the inner tubular expansion cone.
A method of expanding a tubular member, comprising:
- a. deploying a tubular expander having a main tubular body, an inner tubular expansion cone disposed within the main tubular body, and an expansion ring longitudinally detachable from a distal end of the inner tubular expansion cone into an inner surface of the tubular member;
- b. running the tubular expander along the inner surface of the tubular member such that the expansion ring causes the diameter of the tubular member to expand as it runs along the inner surface of the tubular member;
- and
- c. detaching the expansion ring from the inner tubular expansion cone, wherein the expansion ring detaches from the inner tubular expansion cone by overcoming a frictional force created by an interference fit formed between the expansion ring and the inner tubular expansion cone.
A tubular expander, comprising:
- a. a main tubular body;
- b. an inner tubular expansion cone disposed within the main tubular body;
- and
- c. an expansion ring longitudinally detachable from a distal end of the inner tubular expansion cone, wherein the expansion ring is detachably connected to the inner tubular expansion cone via a threaded connection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.