Downhole apparatus and method of forming the same

A method of forming downhole apparatus, the method comprising disposing a plastics material on a reinforcing apparatus to form a body having a bore extending through the body, the reinforcing apparatus providing reinforcement of the plastics material and the thus formed body being configured to provide, when in use, standoff between downhole components, in which the reinforcing apparatus is configured to at least one of contract and expand in order to minimize the likelihood of stresses arising in the downhole apparatus as the plastics material sets.

Downhole apparatus configured to provide, in use, standoff between downhole components, the downhole apparatus comprising a body defining a bore, the body comprising a reinforcing apparatus and a plastics material disposed on the reinforcing apparatus, the reinforcing apparatus providing reinforcement of the plastics material, characterized in that the reinforcing apparatus is configured to at least one of contract and expand in order to minimize the likelihood of stresses arising in the downhole apparatus as the plastics material sets.