Tubing expansion
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorsAndrew Michael Duggan, Simon John Harrall, Paul David Metcalfe, David John Hillis, Wayne Rudd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There are disclosed methods and apparatus for expanding downhole tubing. In one embodiment, there is disclosed a method of expanding tubing comprising providing an assembly 40 comprising a section of expandable tubing (42) and an expansion device in the form of an expansion mandrel (44) located at least partially externally of the tubing (42), running the assembly (40) into a bore, translating the expansion mandrel (44) relative to the tubing (42) to expand an end section of the tubing (42), and further translating the expansion mandrel (44) relative to the tubing (42) to expand a further section of the tubing (42).
Claims71
A method of expanding tubing comprising:
- a. providing an assembly comprising a section of expandable tubing and an expansion device located at least partially externally of the tubing;
- b. running the assembly into a bore;
- c. translating the expansion device relative to the tubing with a first translation arrangement to advance the expansion device through, and expand, an end section of the tubing disposed ahead of the expansion device prior to the translating;
- and
- d. further translating the expansion device relative to the tubing with a second translation arrangement to advance the expansion device through, and expand, a further section at the tubing disposed ahead of the expansion device prior to the further translating.
A method of expanding tubing, comprising:
- a. providing an assembly comprising a section of expandable tubing and an expansion device located at least partially externally of the tubing;
- b. running the assembly into a bore;
- c. translating the expansion device relative to the tubing to expand an end section of the tubing by pulling the expansion device from an anchor which is fixed relative to the tubing;
- and
- d. further translating the expansion device relative to the tubing to expand a further section of the tubing.
A method of expanding tubing comprising:
- a. providing an assembly comprising a section of expandable tubing and an expansion device located at least partially externally of the tubing;
- b. running the assembly into a bore;
- c. (i) translating the expansion device relative to the tubing to expand an end section of the tubing;
- (II) pressurising at least a portion within the tubing defined by an inside diameter of said end section of the tubing that is expanded to create a fluid pressure force which applies a translating force to the expansion device;
- and then
- d. further translating the expansion device under the influence of said translating force relative to the tubing to expand a further section of the tubing.
Apparatus for expanding tubing comprising:
- an expansion device adapted to be located at least partially externally of tubing to be expanded;
- a first translation arrangement adapted for initially translating the expansion device into the tubing to provide an initial expansion;
- and
- a second translation arrangement adapted for subsequently translating the expansion device through the tubing by isolating a volume of fluid within the tubing to permit pressurising of said volume to create a fluid pressure force to translate the expansion device.
Apparatus for expanding tubing downhole, the apparatus comprising:
- an expansion device adapted to be translated through tubing to expand the tubing to a larger diameter;
- a first translation arrangement adapted for translating the expansion device into the tubing to expand at least an end portion of the tubing, wherein the first translation arranagment is adapted to be initially fixed relative to the tubing and then subsequently released from the tubing;
- and
- a second translation arrangement adapted for translating the expansion device through a further portion of the tubing.
Apparatus for expanding tubing comprising:
- an expansion device;
- a first translating arrangement adapted for initially translating the expansion device through tubing to be expanded to provide an initial expansion;
- a second translating arrangement adapted for subsequently translating the expansion device through the tubing;
- and
- an anchor adapted to couple the first translation arrangement relative to the tubing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.