Pre-expanded connector for expandable downhole tubulars
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorGhazi J. Hashem
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims15
A method of connecting expandable tubulars comprising:
- expanding an end of a first tubular segment;
- expanding an end of a second tubular segment;
- creating a pin member with interengageable thread means on said expanded end of said first tubular segment;
- creating a pin member with interengageable thread means on said expanded end of said second tubular segment;
- providing a coupling with interengageable thread means suitable for threadedly engaging said pin member of said first tubular segment and said pin member of said second tubular segment;
- connecting said first tubular segment and said second tubular segment with said coupling;
- and
- expanding downhole the first tubular segment, the second tubular segment, and the coupling.
A method of connecting expandable tubulars comprising:
- expanding an end of a first tubular segment;
- expanding an end of a second tubular segment;
- creating a pin member with interengageable thread means on said expanded end of said first tubular segment;
- creating a box member with interengageable thread means in said expanded end of said second tubular segment;
- providing a coupling with interengageable thread means suitable for threadedly engaging said pin member of said first tubular segment and said box member of said second tubular segment;
- connecting said first tubular segment and said second tubular segment with said coupling;
- and
- expanding downhole the first tubular segment, the second tubular segment, and the coupling.
A method of connecting expandable tubulars comprising:
- expanding an end of a first tubular segment;
- expanding an end of a second tubular segment;
- creating a pin member with interengageable thread means on said expanded end of said first tubular segment;
- creating a pin member with interengageable thread means on said expanded end of said second tubular segment;
- providing a coupling with interengageable thread means suitable for threadedly engaging said pin member of said first tubular segment and said pin member of said second tabular segment;
- connecting said first tubular segment and said second tubular segment with said coupling;
- and
- expanding downhole the first tubular segment, the second tubular segment, and the coupling until each contacts an inner wall of a host string.
A method of connecting expandable tubulars comprising:
- expanding an end of a first tubular segment;
- expanding an end of a second tubular segment;
- creating a pin member with interengageable thread means on said expanded end of said first tubular segment;
- creating a pin member with interengageable thread means on said expanded end of said second tubular segment;
- providing a coupling with interengageable thread means suitable for threadedly engaging said pin member of said first tubular segment and said pin member of said second tubular segment;
- connecting said first tubular segment and said second tubular segment with said coupling;
- and
- expanding downhole the first tubular segment, the second tubular segment, and the coupling, wherein the coupling, the pin member of the first tubular segment, and the pin member of the second tubular segment are expanded downhole less than the first tubular segment and the second tubular segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.