System and method for anchoring an expandable tubular to a borehole wall

A system for anchoring an expandable tubular to a borehole wall, comprising:

• a support member fixed relative to the outside of the expandable tubular and having a ramp surface;
• and
• an anchor member having a first anchor end fixed relative to the outside of the expandable tubular and a second anchor end extending toward the ramp surface of the support member, wherein the first anchor end is disposed at an initial separation distance from the support member;
• wherein the initial separation distance is selected such that expansion of the portion of the expandable tubular between the support member and the first anchor end causes the initial separation distance to shorten to a final separation distance, wherein the difference between the initial separation distance and the final separation distance is sufficient to cause the second anchor end to engage the ramp surface and move radially outward so as to engage the borehole wall while the first anchor end remains fixed relative to the outside of the expandable tubular.

A method for anchoring an expandable tubular to a borehole wall comprising:

• fixably coupling a support member to an expandable tubular;
• fixably coupling a first end of an anchor member to the expandable tubular at a separation distance from the support member, wherein the anchor member has a second end that extends toward a ramp surface of the support member;
• disposing the expandable tubular in a borehole having a borehole wall;
• and
• radially expanding the expandable tubular so as to reduce the separation distance, wherein as the separation distance is reduced, the second end of the anchor member is deflected outward and into engagement with the borehole wall while the first end of the anchor member remains fixably coupled to the expandable tubular, wherein the second end of the anchor member is deflected outward as a result of the anchor member moving axially along the ramp surface as the separation distance is reduced.