# US 8,770,302 B2 · Pipe anchoring and expanding unit for producing a slim well and method for producing a slim well using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,302 B2 - Document ID: US8770302B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/747,316 - Filed: 2008-11-28 - Published: 2010-12-16 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2007-12-10 - Assignees: ENI S.p.A. - Applicants: Michele Spallini - Inventors: Michele Spallini - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770302B2 ## CPC - E21B 43/105: {Expanding tools specially adapted therefor} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract An anchoring and expanding unit comprising an anchoring device (20, 20′) and an expanding device (30, 30′), reciprocally removably constrained, the anchoring device (20, 20′) being of the expandable type, wherein the expanding device (30, 30′) includes a series of expanding means (33a, 33b) which can be extracted and blocked in at least two different operative positions, wherein the expanding means (33a, 33b) protrude radially from the expanding device (30, 30′). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An anchoring and expanding unit, comprising: an anchoring device and an expanding device, which are reciprocally and removably constrained, wherein the anchoring device is expandable; the expanding device comprises a series of expanding elements, each of the expanding elements is stoppable in at least two different operative positions each of which is radially extracted with respect to the expanding device, the at least two different operative positions are each radially extracted from an initial position of the expanding elements, each of the expanding elements is stopped in a first of the at least two different operative positions by a stopping device, and when the stopping device is sheared, each of the expanding elements is movable to a second of the at least two different operative positions; the expanding elements protrude radially from the expanding device; and the anchoring and expanding unit is suitable for drilling a well. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The anchoring and expanding unit according to claim 1, wherein the expanding elements comprise a pair of off-line rolls. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The anchoring and expanding unit according to claim 2, wherein the pair of off-line rolls comprises a first cylindrical roll and a second conical roll. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The anchoring and expanding unit according to claim 2, wherein the pair of off-line rolls is housed on a pad that is slidable along a pair of tilted guides, and at least a first guide of the pair of tilted guides is translatable towards a second guide of the pair of tilted guides. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The anchoring and expanding unit according to claim 4, further comprising a hydraulic actuation device that is configured to translate the first guide in a main development direction of the expanding device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The anchoring and expanding unit according to claim 5, wherein the hydraulic actuation device comprises a wedge-shaped body connected to a rod supported by an annular body equipped with a narrowing ring, and the first guide is on a tilted wall of the wedge-shaped body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The anchoring and expanding unit according to claim 5, wherein the expanding device is equipped with a first removable stopping device, to stop a run of the hydraulic actuation device in a first position corresponding to a first of the at least two different operative positions of the expanding elements. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The anchoring and expanding unit according to claim 1, wherein the expanding device is equipped with a hydraulic fixing device, to removably constrain the expanding device to the anchoring device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The anchoring and expanding unit according to claim 8, wherein the hydraulic fixing device is a series of radially movable dogs, kept in a protruding position with respect to the expanding device by a first sleeve that is translatable along a main development direction of the expanding device to prevent the dogs from withdrawing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The anchoring and expanding unit according to claim 9, wherein the dogs are engaged with corresponding recesses situated in the anchoring device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The anchoring and expanding unit according to claim 1, further comprising a suspension element to constrain the anchoring device to the well. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The anchoring and expanding unit according to claim 11, wherein the suspension element has a radial expansion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The anchoring and expanding unit according to claim 11, wherein the suspension element is on the anchoring device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The anchoring and expanding unit according to claim 13, wherein the suspension element comprises a series of leaf springs actuatable by a hydraulic piston, thereby arching the leaf springs. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The anchoring and expanding unit according to claim 14, wherein the leaf springs comprise a series of first protuberances on a radially most external surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The anchoring and expanding unit according to claim 11, wherein the suspension element is on the expanding device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The anchoring and expanding unit according to claim 16, wherein the suspension element comprises a series of parallelograms on a cylindrical body, and the unit further comprises hydraulic pistons configured to drive the parallelograms in expansion and an elastic device configured to bring the parallelograms back. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A method for drilling a well, the method comprising: running and installing a conductor pipe, a surface column, and an intermediate column, thereby widening the intermediate column downwards to a first diameter; lowering the intermediate column with the anchoring and expanding unit of claim 1; positioning the anchoring and expanding unit in correspondence with the base of a last column previously installed; raising the expanding device for a length substantially equal to an overlapping tract between two subsequent columns; and widening a lower tract of the intermediate column downwards to a second greater diameter with respect to the first diameter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising fixing the anchoring device of the anchoring and expanding unit to the base of the last column previously installed. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method for drilling a well according to claim 19, further comprising permanently connecting the last column previously installed and the intermediate column to be installed through an expansion of the anchoring device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method for drilling a well according to claim 18, further comprising, before the widening to a first diameter and widening to a second greater diameter, cementing the intermediate column to be installed by the introduction of a gripping material, whereby the widening to a first diameter and widening to a second greater diameter are before the gripping material solidifies. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the surface column comprises a lower bell portion configured to house the anchoring and expanding unit.