Expansion System for Expandable Tubulars

• US 20110120700A1
• Filed: 11/20/2009
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enventure Global Technology, LLC (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Enventure Global Technology, LLC (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Noel, Gregory Marshall
• Granted Patent: US 8,695,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/207
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/105 Expanding tools specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49805 Shaping by direct application of fluent pressure

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming an expandable tubular include a resilient launcher. The resilient launcher includes a launcher portion and a sleeve portion. An inner diameter of the sleeve portion is smaller than an inner diameter of the launcher portion. An expansion cone is disposed in the launcher portion of the resilient launcher. The expandable tubular is disposed around the sleeve portion and above the launcher portion of the resilient launcher. The launcher portion comprises a port that is sealable below the expansion cone.

Claims

1. An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming an expandable tubular member, comprising:

a resilient launcher comprising a launcher portion and a sleeve portion, wherein an inner diameter of the sleeve portion is smaller than an inner diameter of the launcher portion;

an expansion cone disposed in the launcher portion of the resilient launcher; and

an expandable tubular disposed around the sleeve portion and above the launcher portion of the resilient launcher,

wherein the launcher portion comprises a port that is sealable below the expansion cone.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an expansion cone catch disposed in the sleeve portion above the expandable tubular.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an expansion sleeve coupled to the sleeve portion; and

a second expandable tubular disposed around the expansion sleeve.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resilient launcher comprises polyurethane.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least the launcher portion of the resilient launcher is reinforced by an internal mesh of a second material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expansion cone is expandable.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the expansion cone expands in response to hydraulic pressure.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable tubular and the sleeve portion of the resilient launcher are bonded together by an adhesive.

9. A method comprising:

locating an expansion apparatus in a wellbore at the end of a work string, wherein the expansion apparatus comprises,

a resilient launcher comprising a launcher portion and a sleeve portion, wherein an inner diameter of the sleeve portion is smaller than an inner diameter of the launcher portion,

an expansion cone disposed in the launcher portion of the resilient launcher, and

an expandable tubular disposed around the sleeve portion and above the launcher portion of the resilient launcher;

closing a port in the launcher portion of the resilient launcher below the expansion cone;

pumping fluid into the launcher portion of the resilient launcher below the expansion cone to drive the expansion cone upward into the sleeve portion of the resilient launcher and expand the expandable tubular.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

catching the expansion cone at an upper end of the expansion apparatus; and

pulling upward on the work string to remove the expansion apparatus from the wellbore without the expandable tubular.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

expanding the expansion cone inside the launcher portion of the resilient launcher.