Technique for expanding tubular structures
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsJoel McClurkin, Dennis L. Mills, Craig D. Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for expanding tubular structures. The system comprises a mandrel that is moved through the center of a tubular structure to increase the diameter of the tubular structure via deformation. The system utilizes an expansion device having a mandrel with multiple segments moved between a contracted state and an expanded state. In one embodiment, the mandrel segments are spring biased to permit a degree of independent movement of each mandrel segment with respect to the other mandrel segments.
Claims53
A device for expanding a tubular structure, comprising:
- a framework;
- an expandable mandrel mounted to the framework;
- and
- an actuator to selectively move the expandable mandrel between a contracted state and an expanded state, wherein the mandrel is compliant when in the expanded state.
A system for placing an expandable component at a desired location within a wellbore, comprising:
- an expandable tubular;
- and
- an expansion device having a compliant mandrel to cause radial expansion of the expandable tubular during movement of the compliant mandrel therethrough, the compliant mandrel being adaptable to variations in cross-section of the expandable tubular.
A method of expanding a tubular component in a wellbore, comprising:
- locating the tubular component at a desired location in the wellbore;
- providing an expansion device able to conform to various cross-sectional configurations of the tubular component;
- and
- moving the expansion device through the tubular.
A system of expanding a tubular component in a wellbore, comprising:
- means for expanding the expansion device;
- means for accommodating cross-sectional variations in the tubular component;
- and
- means for moving the expansion device through the tubular.
A device for expanding a tubular structure, comprising:
- a framework;
- a plurality of independent fingers;
- an actuator to move the plurality of independent fingers between a contracted state and an expanded state;
- and
- a compliance mechanism coupled to the plurality of independent fingers to maintain the plurality of independent fingers in the expanded state while permitting at least some radially inward movement of individual independent fingers.
A method of expanding a tubular, comprising:
- drawing an expansion device through a tubular to expand the tubular;
- and
- accommodating deviations from uniform expansion of the tubular.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.