Pre-expanded connector for expandable downhole tubulars
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorGhazi J. Hashem
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing an expandable threaded connection between segments of expandable tubulars. Threaded connections are machined into pre-expanded ends of tubulars. Once the threaded connections are machined into the pre-expanded ends, two joints of tubulars are connected using the threads, thus creating a pre-expanded threaded connection. After a tubular string is made up and lowered into a wellbore, the entire length of the string is expanded using known methods for expanding tubulars. During the downhole expansion operation, the pre-expanded threaded connections experience minimal expansion. The minimal downhole expansion of the pre-expanded threaded connections allows the threaded connections to maintain their sealing ability and coupling strength.
Claims6
A method of expanding a tubular connection comprising:
- providing a first tubular segment;
- providing a second tubular segment;
- creating a first tapered end joint having an expanded internal diameter that is greater than the internal diameter of the first tubular segment;
- creating a second tapered end joint having an expanded internal diameter that is greater than the internal diameter of the second tubular segment;
- creating a pin member with thread means on said first tapered end joint;
- creating a box member with thread means in said second tapered end joint, whereby said thread means of said box member are suitable for threadedly engaging said thread means of said pin member of said first tapered end joint;
- connecting said first tapered end joint to the first tubular segment;
- connecting said second tapered end joint to the second tubular segment;
- inserting said pin member of said first tapered end joint into said box member of said second tapered end joint;
- threadably connecting said pin member and said box member together;
- expanding the threaded connection between the first tapered end joint and the second tapered end joint downhole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.