Method and apparatus for hanging tubulars in wells

A method for hanging a first tubular assembly in a second tubular positioned in a well, comprising

• surrounding a portion of the first tubular assembly with a spacer which is substantially incompressible in a radial direction of the first tubular assembly;
• placing the first tubular assembly within the second tubular in an overlapping relationship with the first tubular assembly extending into the well from the second tubular;
• holding the first tubular assembly in place;
• expanding at least a portion of the first tubular assembly surrounded by the spacer and overlapping with the second tubular partially or fully circumferentially past the yield point including expanding the second tubular partially or fully circumferentially through expansion of the first tubular assembly and the surrounding spacer.

A method for hanging a first tubular assembly in a second tubular positioned in a well, comprising

• surrounding a portion of the first tubular assembly with a spacer which is substantially incompressible in a radial direction of the first tubular assembly;
• placing the first tubular assembly within the second tubular in an overlapping relationship with the first tubular assembly extending into the well from the second tubular;
• holding the first tubular assembly in place;
• expanding at least a portion of the first tubular assembly surrounded by the spacer and overlapping with the second tubular with the first tubular assembly in place partially or fully circumferentially past the yield point including expanding the second tubular partially or fully circumferentially through expansion of the first tubular assembly and the surrounding spacer, the expansion being sufficient that elastic recovery for the first tubular assembly is less that elastic recovery for the second tubular.

A method for hanging a liner assembly in cylindrical casing within a well, comprising

• placing the liner assembly within the casing in an overlapping relationship with the liner assembly extending into the well from the casing;
• holding the liner assembly in place;
• expanding at least a portion of the liner assembly overlapping with the casing, which portion is substantially circular in cross section without longitudinal slits therethrough, with the liner assembly in place partially or fully circumferentially past the yield point including drawing a swedge through the portion and expanding the cylindrical casing partially or fully circumferentially through expansion of the liner assembly, the expansion being sufficient that elastic recovery for the liner assembly is than elastic recovery for the casing to retain the first tubular assembly in circumferential compression and the second tubular in circumferential tension;
• removing the swedge from the liner assembly.

A method for hanging a cylindrical liner assembly in cylindrical casing within a well, comprising

• surrounding a portion of the cylindrical liner assembly with a spacer which is substantially incompressible in a radial direction of the cylindrical liner assembly;
• placing the cylindrical liner assembly within the cylindrical casing in an overlapping relationship with the cylindrical liner assembly extending into the well from the cylindrical casing;
• holding the cylindrical liner assembly in place;
• expanding at least a portion of the cylindrical liner assembly surrounded by the spacer and overlapping with the cylindrical casing partially or fully circumferentially past the yield point including expanding the cylindrical casing partially or fully circumferentially through expansion of the cylindrical liner assembly and the surrounding spacer.

A method for hanging a first tubular assembly in a second tubular positioned in a well, comprising

• placing the first tubular assembly within the second tubular in an overlapping relationship with the first tubular assembly extending into the well from the second tubular;
• holding the first tubular assembly in place;
• expanding at least a portion of the first tubular assembly overlapping with the second tubular partially or fully circumferentially past the yield point by drawing a swedge through the portion of the first tubular assembly including expanding the second tubular partially or fully circumferentially through expansion of the first tubular assembly, the expanding being sufficient that elastic recovery for the first tubular assembly is less than elastic recovery for the second tubular;
• releasing the first tubular assembly by drawing the swedge using a hydraulic ram which includes a shoulder and a draw bar into the shoulder of the hydraulic ram.