Tools and methods for use with expandable tubulars

An apparatus for performing a downhole operation from the surface of a well, comprising:

• a tubular body forming a wall, said wall having an interior which defines a passage therein and an exterior which, when placed in the wellbore, defines an annular space therewith;
• a ring member disposed around the body, the ring member includes a plurality of slips and is held in frictional contact with an inner surface of an outer casing by a spring;
• and
• a locking member mounted to the wall of the tool to selectively prevent motion of said ring until said locking member is unlocked responsive to expansion of the wall of the tubular body.

An apparatus for performing a downhole operation from the surface of a well, comprising:

• a tubular body forming a wall, said wall having an interior which defines a passage therein and an exterior which, when placed in the wellbore, defines an annular space therewith;
• a cone formed on the outside surface of the body;
• a ring member disposed about the body;
• at least one slip disposed around the body;
• a groove formed on an inner surface of the ring;
• and
• an outwardly extending profile disposed about the wall of the body and within the groove, wherein the tool is set by expanding the profile through a radial force applied to the wall in the direction of the cone, thereby forcing the slip onto the cone.

An apparatus for performing a downhole operation from the surface of a well, comprising:

• a tubular body forming a wall, said wall having an interior which defines a passage therein and an exterior which, when placed in the wellbore, defines an annular space therewith;
• a ring member disposed around the body, the ring member having a plurality of slips and held in frictional contact with an inner surface of an outer casing by a spring;
• a locking member mounted to the wall of the tool to selectively prevent motion of said ring until said locking member is unlocked responsive to expansion of the wall of the tubular body;
• means for expanding the wall of the tubular body to unlock the tool and form a cone shape in the wall, wherein the cone shape is formed to receive the slips.

A method of changing the state of a down hole tool in a well comprising the steps of:

• providing a tool at a predetermined location in a well, wherein the tool comprises:
• a tubular body with a cone formed thereon,
• a ring disposed around the body with a plurality of slips extending therefrom,
• a setting mechanism to urge the slips up the cone and
• a locking mechanism on the body of the tool to prevent premature setting of the tool;
• placing a n expansion apparatus in the body of the tool, the expansion apparatus including at least one energizable member capable of placing a radial force upon the inside wall of the tool body;
• and
• energizing the member at a location in the tool opposite the locking mechanism, thereby causing the setting mechanism to urge the slips up the cone.

A method of changing the state of a tool in a well, comprising the steps of:

• providing a tool in a first state having:
• a body,
• a state-changing mechanism,
• a locking mechanism to keep the tool in the first state;
• providing an expansion apparatus with an expansion mechanism within the tool;
• and
• energizing the expansion mechanism of the expansion apparatus thereby exerting a radial force on the body of the tool and unlocking the locking mechanism, and thereby causing the tool to advance to a second state.