Flush mounted tubular patch
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsPerry D. Baycroft, Elmer R. Peterson, Steve Rosenblatt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Casing or other well tubulars that have failed are repaired in a manner that doesn't reduce the final inside diameter and doesn't further propagate the failure. The tubular needing repair is first expanded on at least one zone above and below the damaged area. This expansion in an undamaged area arrests failure propagation when the damaged area is then expanded. After the damaged area is expanded, the patch coupled preferably with exterior seals is positioned in the expanded zone of the damaged tubular and expanded. The procedure can also be accomplished in a single trip into the well.
Claims14
A method of sealing a tubular located downhole without reduction of its internal diameter, comprising:
- initially expanding the tubular located downhole in an undamaged zone;
- subsequently expanding the damaged zone of the tubular;
- subsequently to expanding the damaged zone of the tubular, expanding a patch into the previously expanded damaged zone of the tubular located downhole.
A method of sealing a tubular located downhole without reduction of its internal diameter, comprising:
- initially expanding the tubular located downhole;
- subsequently expanding a patch into the previously expanded tubular located downhole;
- initially expanding the tubular located downhole in an undamaged zone;
- subsequently expanding the tubular located downhole in a damaged zone;
- performing said initially expanding in at least one undamaged zone of the zones above and below said damaged zone;
- performing said initial and subsequent expansions in opposite directions.
A method of sealing a tubular located downhole without reduction of its internal diameter, comprising:
- initially expanding the tubular located downhole;
- subsequently expanding a patch into the previously expanded tubular located downhole;
- performing both said expansions in a single trip into the wellbore;
- using at least one swage to perform said expansions;
- delivering said swage and said patch on a running string;
- repositioning said patch after said initially expanding;
- using said swage to subsequently expand said patch after said repositioning.
A method of sealing a tubular located downhole without reduction of its internal diameter, comprising:
- initially expanding the tubular located downhole;
- subsequently expanding a patch into the previously expanded tubular located downhole;
- preventing aggravation of damage to the tubular located downhole before expanding it;
- arresting crack propagation in the tubular mounted downhole by initially expanding it adjacent an undamaged portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.