Tubing expansion
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorsDuncan James Trinder, Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson, John Strachan Nicoll, Graham MacKay, Alexander Craig MacKay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There are disclosed tools and apparatus for use in expanding downhole tubing. In one embodiment, there is disclosed a tubing expansion tool comprising a mandrel defining at least one curved support surface, and at least one expansion member defining a curved bearing surface for contact with the support surface and corresponding to the mandrel support surface, the member being movable relative to the mandrel whereby the surfaces are in contact and movable over one another to move the expansion member from a smaller diameter first configuration towards a larger diameter second configuration.
Claims117
A tubing expansion tool, the tool comprising:
- a mandrel defining at least one curved support surface;
- and
- at least one expansion member defining a curved bearing surface for contact with the support surface and corresponding to the mandrel support surface,
- the member being movable relative to the mandrel whereby the surfaces are in contact and movable over one another to move the expansion member from a smaller diameter first configuration towards a larger diameter second configuration.
A method of expanding tubing, the method comprising:
- locating a tubing expansion cone in a smaller diameter first configuration within a length of tubing having an inner diameter;
- and
- moving the cone to a larger diameter second configuration in which the cone describes an external diameter larger than the tubing inner diameter.
A method of expanding tubing, the method comprising:
- locating a tubing expansion cone in a smaller diameter first configuration within a length of tubing having an inner diameter;
- moving the cone and tubing from a first location to a second location;
- at least partially removing the cone from the tubing;
- reconfiguring the cone in a larger diameter second configuration in which the cone describes an external diameter larger than the tubing inner diameter;
- and
- moving the cone through the tubing.
An expandable tubing assembly comprising:
- a length of tubing having an inner diameter;
- and
- a tubing expansion cone, initially in a smaller diameter first configuration, located within the length of tubing,
- the cone being movable to a larger diameter second configuration within the tubing and in which second configuration the cone describes an external diameter larger than the tubing inner diameter, such that the tubing surrounding the cone experiences diametric expansion.
An expansion tool for location in tubing, the tool comprising:
- an expansion member;
- a seal member for contact with an inner wall of tubing to be expanded;
- and
- a treating member for conditioning the inner wall of the tubing.
A tool for translation through tubing, the tool comprising:
- a body;
- a seal member for providing a sealing contact with an inner wall of tubing;
- and
- a treating member for conditioning the inner wall of the tubing ahead of the seal member.
A method of expanding tubing downhole utilizing an expansion cone, the method comprising:
- running a running tool and an expansion cone into a bore;
- locating the cone in tubing;
- releasing the cone from the running tool in the bore and expanding the length of tubing;
- and
- re-coupling the cone with the running tool in the bore.
A method of expanding tubing downhole utilizing an expansion cone, the method comprising:
- coupling an expansion cone to a running tool;
- coupling the running tool to a length of tubing;
- running the tubing into a bore with the running tool and the cone;
- and
- releasing the cone from the running tool in the bore and expanding at least a portion of the length of tubing.
A method of locating first tubing relative to second tubing, the method comprising:
- providing first tubing having an outer diameter;
- providing second tubing, the second tubing having an inner diameter greater than said first tubing outer diameter;
- running the first tubing through the second tubing;
- expanding a first portion of the first tubing to an outer diameter greater than said second tubing inner diameter;
- locating said expanded first portion within the second tubing;
- and expanding a second portion of the first tubing.
A tubing expansion tool, the tool comprising:
- at least one expansion member movable from a smaller diameter first configuration towards a larger diameter second configuration;
- and
- a seal member adapted to form a fluid seal with surrounding tubing.
A tubing expansion tool comprising:
- an expansion member;
- and
- a stabilizing member axially spaced from the expansion member.
A method of expanding tubing comprising:
- translating an expansion member relative to tubing to be expanded while stabilizing the expansion member relative to the tubing.
A method of expanding tubing, the method comprising:
- locating a tubing expansion device in a smaller diameter first configuration within a length of tubing having an inner diameter;
- and
- moving the device to a larger diameter second configuration in which the device describes an expansion diameter larger than the tubing inner diameter while applying a differential pressure across a wall of the tubing.
A method of expanding tubing in a bore, the method comprising:
- running an expansion device and a running tool into a bore;
- releasing the expansion device from the running tool in the bore;
- and
- translating the expansion device relative to tubing in the bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.