Procedures and equipment for profiling and jointing of pipes

A method for conjoining two pipes or other hollow tubular articles, comprising:

• locating at least a portion of a first pipe within and longitudinally overlapping at least a portion of a second pipe;
• applying a roller system to an inner surface of the first pipe at a location where the first and second pipes are to be conjoined, wherein the roller system comprises:
• an annular body having a longitudinal bore disposed there-through;
• one or more recesses formed in an outer surface of the body;
• and
• one or more rollers each mounted on one or more slideable pistons,
• wherein the pistons are sealably disposed within the one or more recesses;
• translating the roller system across the bore of the first pipe in a direction including a circumferential component while applying a radially outwardly directed force to the rollers;
• and
• continually applying and translating until the first pipe is plastically deformed into permanent contact with the second pipe and is thereby conjoined thereto.

An apparatus for expanding a tubular article, comprising:

• an annular body having a longitudinal bore disposed there-through;
• one or more recesses formed in an outer surface of the body;
• and
• one or more rollers each mounted on one or more slideable pistons, wherein the pistons are sealably disposed within the one or more recesses.

An apparatus for expanding a tubular article, comprising:

• an annular body having a longitudinal bore disposed there-through;
• one or more recesses formed in an outer surface of the body;
• and
• one or more roller assemblies, each comprising a roller mounted on a slideable piston, wherein each roller assembly is sealably disposed within each one or more recesses.

An apparatus for profiling tubular articles comprising:

• roller means;
• and
• radial urging means selectively operable to urge the roller means radially outwards of a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, the radial urging means causing or allowing the roller means to more radially inwards towards the longitudinal axis of the apparatus when the radial urging means is not operated;
• wherein the radial urging means comprises a respective piston on which each said roller is individually rotatably mounted, each said piston being slidably sealed in a respective radially extending bore formed in a body of the apparatus, a radially inner end of each said bore being in fluid communication with fluid pressure supply means selectively pressurisable to operate said radial urging means;
• and
• wherein the roller means comprises a plurality of individual rollers each mounted for rotation about a respective rotation axis which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus, the rotation axes of the individual rollers being circumferentially distributed around the apparatus and each said rotation axis being radially offset from the longitudinal axis of the apparatus, the apparatus being selectively rotatable around its longitudinal axis to translate the roller means across the bore of a pipe against which the roller means is being radially urged.

A method for profiling a pipe or other hollow tubular article comprising:

• applying a roller system to a part of a pipe bore selected to be profiled, wherein the roller system comprises:
• an annular body having a longitudinal bore disposed there-through;
• one or more recesses formed in an outer surface of the body;
• and
• one or more rollers each mounted on one or more slideable pistons,
• wherein the pistons are operable in a compliant manner;
• translating the roller system across the bore in a direction including a circumferential component while applying a force to the roller system in a radially outwards direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the pipe, and
• continually applying and translating until the pipe is plastically deformed substantially into the intended profile.

A method for conjoining two pipes or other hollow tubular articles, comprising:

• locating at least a portion of a first pipe within and longitudinally overlapping at least a portion of a second pipe;
• applying a roller system to an inner surface of the first pipe at a location where the first and second pipes are to be conjoined, wherein the roller system comprises:
• an annular body having a longitudinal bore disposed there-through;
• one or more recesses formed in an outer surface of the body;
• and
• one or more compliant rollers each mounted on one or more slideable pistons;
• translating the roller system across the bore of the first pipe in a direction including a circumferential component while applying a radially outwardly directed force to the rollers;
• and
• continually applying and translating until the first pipe is plastically deformed into permanent contact with the second pipe and is thereby conjoined thereto.

A method for conjoining two pipes or other hollow tubular articles, comprising:

• locating at least a portion of a first pipe within and longitudinally overlapping at least a portion of a second pipe;
• applying a compliant roller system to an inner surface of the first pipe at a location where the first and second pipes are to be conjoined, wherein the roller system comprises:
• an annular body having a longitudinal bore disposed there-through;
• one or more recesses formed in an outer surface of the body;
• and
• one or more rollers each mounted on one or more slideable pistons;
• translating the roller system across the bore of the first pipe in a direction including a circumferential component while applying a compliant, radially outwardly directed force to the rollers;
• and
• continually applying and translating until the first pipe is plastically deformed into permanent contact with the second pipe and is thereby conjoined thereto.

An apparatus for compliantly expanding a tubular article, comprising:

• an annular body having a longitudinal bore disposed there-through;
• one or more recesses formed in an outer surface of the body;
• and
• one or more compliant rollers each mounted on one or more slideable members that are radially extendable from the one or more recesses.

An apparatus for expanding an inner and outer diameter of a wellbore tubular, comprising:

• an annular body having a longitudinal bore disposed there-through;
• one or more roller assemblies, each comprising an independently extendable roller mounted on a slideable member;
• and
• wherein the members are slideable with fluid pressure applied thereto.