Method of creating a wellbore in an underground formation

Abstract

A method of creating a wellbore in an underground formation is provided. A borehole is drilled in the underground formation, whereafter a casing of a ductile material is lowered into the borehole. The casing is selected to have a smaller elastic radial deformation than the surrounding formation when the casing is radially expanded against the borehole wall by application of a radial force to the casing. Said radial force is applied to the casing so as to radially expand the casing against the borehole wall thereby inducing a plastic radial deformation of the casing and an elastic radial deformation of the surrounding underground formation, whereafter the radial force is removed from the casing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.