APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR EXPANDING TUBULAR ELEMENTS
First Claim
1. A method of expanding a tubular element suitable for installation in a well, comprising:
- installing an expander tool in the tubular element, the tubular element having an interior and an inner diameter, the expander tool comprising;
a flexible sleeve having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the tubular element, and being made from a flexible elastic material of predetermined thickness;
a cone expander section on which the sleeve is mounted, the cone expander section including a first cone having a first narrow end that fits inside the sleeve and having a diameter that increases from the first narrow end to a maximum at a base that is greater than the inner diameter of the sleeve but less than the inner diameter of the tubular element; and
a first elongate mandrel extending from an end of the cone expander section on the opposite side to the first narrow end;
positioning the expander tool at a first predetermined location in the tubular element to be expanded;
fixing the position of the flexible sleeve at the first predetermined location;
urging the cone expander section through the flexible sleeve from one end to the other so as to expand the flexible sleeve against the interior of the tubular element and cause the tubular element in turn to expand, the expander tool being urged through the sleeve until it exits the other end of the flexible sleeve;
allowing the flexible sleeve to contract around the first mandrel such that the outer diameter of the sleeve is less than the unexpended inner diameter of the tubular element; and
moving the expander tool with the flexible sleeve located around the first mandrel away from the expanded location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tubular element can be expanded using an expander tool that includes a flexible sleeve having an outer diameter less than or equal to the inner diameter of the tubular element, a cone expander section on which the sleeve is mounted and an elongate mandrel. The cone expander section includes a first cone having a first narrow end that fits inside the sleeve and that increases in diameter from the first narrow end to a maximum at a base that is greater than the inner diameter of the sleeve but less than the inner diameter of the tubular element. The expander tool can be positioned at a predetermined location in the tubular element, fixed in place, and the expander section can be urged through the sleeve to expand the sleeve and thus the tubular element.
19 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of expanding a tubular element suitable for installation in a well, comprising:
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installing an expander tool in the tubular element, the tubular element having an interior and an inner diameter, the expander tool comprising; a flexible sleeve having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the tubular element, and being made from a flexible elastic material of predetermined thickness; a cone expander section on which the sleeve is mounted, the cone expander section including a first cone having a first narrow end that fits inside the sleeve and having a diameter that increases from the first narrow end to a maximum at a base that is greater than the inner diameter of the sleeve but less than the inner diameter of the tubular element; and a first elongate mandrel extending from an end of the cone expander section on the opposite side to the first narrow end; positioning the expander tool at a first predetermined location in the tubular element to be expanded; fixing the position of the flexible sleeve at the first predetermined location; urging the cone expander section through the flexible sleeve from one end to the other so as to expand the flexible sleeve against the interior of the tubular element and cause the tubular element in turn to expand, the expander tool being urged through the sleeve until it exits the other end of the flexible sleeve; allowing the flexible sleeve to contract around the first mandrel such that the outer diameter of the sleeve is less than the unexpended inner diameter of the tubular element; and moving the expander tool with the flexible sleeve located around the first mandrel away from the expanded location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Apparatus for expanding a tubular element in a well, the tubular element having an inner diameter, the apparatus comprising:
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a flexible sleeve having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the outer diameter being less than the inner diameter of the tubular element, and being made from a flexible elastic material of predetermined thickness; a cone expander section on which the flexible sleeve is mounted, the cone expander section including a first cone having a first narrow end that fits inside the flexible sleeve and having a diameter that increases from the first narrow end to a maximum at a base that is greater than the inner diameter of the sleeve but less than the inner diameter of the tubular element; and a first elongate mandrel extending from the of the cone expander section on the opposite side to the first narrow end. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of expanding a tubular element suitable for installation in a well, the tubular element having an inner diameter, the method comprising:
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installing a flexible sleeve at a predetermined location in the tubular element to be expanded, the flexible sleeve having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the tubular element, and being made from a flexible material of predetermined thickness which includes elongate reinforcing members running axially though the flexible sleeve; installing an expander in the tubular element adjacent the flexible sleeve, the expander having one end closest to the flexible sleeve that is smaller than the inner diameter of the flexible sleeve, the expander having an outer diameter, the outer diameter of the expander increasing from the one end to a maximum that is greater than the inner diameter of the flexible sleeve but less than the inner diameter of the tubular element; urging the expander through the flexible sleeve so as to expand the flexible sleeve against the inside of the tubular member and cause the tubular member in turn to expand. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification