Expander for expanding a tubular element
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorsWilhelmus Christianus Maria Lohbeck, Antonius Leonardus Maria Wubben
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An expander for radially expanding a tubular element by axial movement of the expander through the tubular element is provided. The expander comprising an expander member having a front part of a first cross-sectional size; a rear part of a second cross-sectional size larger than the first cross-sectional size; and an intermediate part arranged between said front part; and, rear part and having a cross-sectional size varying between said first and second cross-sectional sizes. The expander member is provided with fluid supply means for supplying pressurized fluid to the inner surface of the tubular element at a location opposite the intermediate part when the expander member is arranged in the tubular element.
Claims15
An expander for radially expanding a tubular element by axial movement of the expander through the tubular element, the expander comprising an expander member having a front part of a first cross-sectional size, a rear part of a second cross-sectional size larger than the first cross-sectional size, and an intermediate part arranged between said front part and rear part and having a cross-sectional size varying between said first and second cross-sectional sizes, wherein the expander member is provided with fluid supply means for supplying pressurized fluid to the inner surface of the tubular element at a location opposite said intermediate part when the expander member is arranged in the tubular element.
A method of radially expanding a tubular element, comprising
- a) moving an expander in axial direction through the tubular element, the expander including an expander member having a front part of a first cross-sectional size, a rear part of a second cross-sectional size larger than the first cross-sectional size, and an intermediate part arranged between said front part and rear part and having a cross-sectional size varying between said first and second cross-sectional sizes;
- and
- b) simultaneously with step a), supplying pressurized fluid to the inner surface of the tubular element at a location opposite said intermediate part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.