Expandable tubing and method

• US 20030079885A1
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Kentucky Oil Technology, N.V.
• Inventors: Johnson, Craig D., Hackworth, Matthew R., Schetky, L. McD., Bixenman, Patrick W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,398,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/380
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/00 Flexible luggage; Handbags collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/00 Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/084 Screens comprising woven materials, e.g. mesh or cloth
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/086 Screens with preformed openings, e.g. slotted liners comprising porous materials E21B43/082
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/103 of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/105 Expanding tools specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/108 Expandable screens or perforated liners

Abstract

An apparatus suitable for use in a wellbore comprises an expandable bistable device. An exemplary device has a plurality of bistable cells formed into a tubular shape. Each bistable cell comprises at least two elongated members that are connected to each other at their ends. The device is stable in a first configuration and a second configuration.

Claims

1. An expandable system, comprising:

a tubular member configured for use in a wellbore, the tubular member having longitudinal structures extending the length of the tubular member and openings oriented between the longitudinal structure such that expansion of the tubular member expands the plurality of openings without deforming the longitudinal structures.

2. The expandable system as recited in claim 1, wherein the tubular member comprises a sandscreen.

3. The expandable system as recited in claim 1, wherein the tubular member comprises a liner.

4. The expandable system as recited in claim 1, wherein the tubular member comprises a plurality of pivotal links connecting adjacent longitudinal structures.

5. The expandable system as recited in claim 4, wherein the plurality of pivotal links are arranged to undergo plastic deformation during expansion of the tubular member.

6. The expandable system as recited in claim 2, further comprising a communication line routed along the tubular member.

7. The expandable system as recited in claim 2, wherein the tubular member comprises a passageway in which the communication line is received.

8. The expandable system as recited in claim 2, further comprising a device coupled to the communication line.

9. The expandable system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a deformable material surrounding an outer surface of the tubular member.

10. The expandable system as recited in claim 9, wherein the deformable material comprises an elastomer.

11. The expandable system as recited in claim 1, wherein the tubular member comprises a plurality of different diameters in its expanded state.

12. A method of utilizing a tubular within a wellbore, comprising:

radially expanding the tubular within a wellbore; and

maintaining substantially constant the axial length of the tubular.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein radially expanding further comprises creating expanded openings in a wall of the tubular.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein maintaining comprises arranging expandable cells such that radial expansion can occur without axial shortening of the tubular.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein maintaining comprises linking a plurality of longitudinal bars with flexible links.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein radially expanding comprises expanding a sandscreen.

17. An expandable device for use in a wellbore, comprising:

a wellbore conduit having a plurality of expandable cells, each cell having a thick strut and a compliant link, wherein radial expansion of the wellbore conduit results when the compliant link is transitioned from a contracted position to an expanded position.

18. The expandable device as recited in claim 17, wherein the compliant link is arcuate.

19. The expandable device as recited in claim 17, wherein the axial length of the wellbore conduit remains substantially constant during radial expansion of the wellbore conduit.

20. The expandable device as recited in claim 17, wherein the thick strut has a thickness at least two times greater than the thickness of the compliant link.

21. The expandable device as recited in claim 17, wherein the wellbore conduit comprises a passageway in which a communication line is deployed.

22. The expandable device as recited in claim 17, wherein the wellbore conduit comprises a sandscreen.

23. A method of forming an expandable conduit, comprising:

forming a conduit wall with a plurality of expandable cells; and

structuring each expandable cell with at least one undeformed longitudinal section and at least one thin strut that can be transitioned to move the conduit wall between a contracted state and an expanded state.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising determining a force deflection characteristic of the conduit wall by selecting a thickness ratio of the at least one undeformed longitudinal section to the at least one thin strut.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein selecting comprises selecting a thickness ratio of at least 2:

1.

26. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein selecting comprises selecting a thickness ratio of at least 3:

1.

27. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein selecting comprises selecting a thickness ratio of at least 6:

1.

28. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising determining a force deflection characteristic by selecting a cell shape.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein selecting comprises selecting a curvature of the thin strut while the conduit wall is in the contracted state.