Expandable Device for Use in a Well Bore

• US 20110214855A1
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Schetky, L. McD., Hart, Barrie, Besselink, Peter, Johnson, Craig D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,230,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/242.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/06 for setting packers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1208 characterised by the construction of the sealing or packing means E21B33/1277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/124 Units with longitudinally-spaced plugs for isolating the intermediate space
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/1277 characterised by the construction or fixation of the sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/02 in situ inhibition of corrosion in boreholes or wells
• 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 43/106 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/108 Expandable screens or perforated liners
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/164 Injecting CO2 or carbonated water in combination with organic material C09K8/594

Abstract

An expandable device comprising a plurality of expandable cells. The cells may be bistable cells or other types of cells that are expanded from a contracted position towards an expanded position. Additionally, the cells may be combined with locking mechanisms to hold the structure in an expanded position.

Claims

1. An expandable device for use in a well comprising:

a well device comprising an expansion member having a plurality of cells that are expandable from a closed position to an open position, each cell having a thin strut pivotably coupled to a thick strut, wherein the expansion member is readily moved along a wellbore when the plurality of cells are in the closed position, further wherein the expansion member is expandable by transitioning the plurality of cells to the open position at a desired location in the wellbore.

2. The expandable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the expansion member comprises a tubular member that undergoes radial expansion during expansion of the plurality of cells.

3. The expandable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the expansion member comprises an expandable tubular member sized to exert an external radial force on a well bore surface.

4. The expandable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the expansion member comprises an expandable tubular member sized to support an open hole formation in the well.

5. The expandable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the expansion member comprises a well bore liner.

6. The expandable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the expansion member comprises an expandable sand screen.

7. The expandable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device comprises one or more locking mechanisms and/or ratchets.

8. The expandable device as recited in claim 7, wherein the locking devices and/or the ratchets are distributed along the length of the device and are configured to block any substantial movement towards the contracted position of the device.

9. An expandable device for use in a well comprising:

a well device comprising a tubular member having a plurality of cells that are expandable from a closed position to an open position when the tubular member is radially expanded, each cell having a thin strut coupled to a thick strut for pivotal motion relative to the thick strut, wherein the thickness ratio of the thick strut to the thin strut determines the force required to transition the plurality of cells to the open position.

10. The expandable device as recited in claim 9, wherein the tubular member is an expandable sand screen.

11. The expandable device as recited in claim 9, wherein the thickness ratio is at least 2 to 1.

12. The expandable device as recited in claim 9, wherein the thickness ratio is at least 3 to 1.

13. The expandable device as recited in claim 9, wherein the tubular member is sized to support an open hole formation in the well.

14. The expandable device as recited in claim 9, wherein the device comprises one or more locking mechanisms and/or ratchets.

15. The expandable device as recited in claim 14, wherein the locking devices and/or the ratchets are distributed along the length of the device and are configured to block any substantial movement towards the contracted position of the device.

16. An expandable device for use in supporting or stabilizing a desired region of the wall within a well bore hole comprising:

a downhole well device comprising a substantially tubular expansion member having a plurality of cells that are expandable from a closed position to an open position, each cell having a thin strut coupled to a thick strut, wherein the tubular expansion member is in a contracted state when the cells are in the closed position and the tubular expansion member is in an expanded state when the cells are in the open position;

wherein the tubular expansion member when in the contracted state is readily moved along the well bore; and

wherein the tubular expansion member when in the expanded state can engage the wall of the well bore to provide support or stabilization of the desired region of the wall of the well bore.

17. The expandable device as recited in claim 16, wherein the device comprises one or more locking mechanisms and/or ratchets.

18. The expandable device as recited in claim 17, wherein the locking devices and/or the ratchets are distributed along the length of the device and are configured to block any substantial movement towards the contracted position of the device.

19. An expandable device for use in a well comprising:

a well device comprising an expansion member having a plurality of bi-stable cells that are expandable from a closed position to an open position, each cell having a thin strut pivotably coupled to a thick strut, when the expansion member is readily moved along a wellbore when the plurality of cells are in the closed position, further wherein the expansion member is expandable by transitioning the plurality of cells to the open position at a desired location in the wellbore, wherein the device is configured as a packer, a hanger, casing patch and/or other device requiring expansion.

20. An expandable device for use in a well comprising:

a well device comprising an expansion member having a plurality of bi-stable cells that are expandable from a closed position to an open position, each cell having a thin strut pivotably coupled to a thick strut, wherein the expansion member is readily moved along a wellbore when the plurality of cells are in the closed position, further wherein the expansion member is expandable by transitioning the plurality of cells to the open position at a desired location in the wellbore, wherein the expandable device is configured to be operated and deployed by downhole stored mechanical power supplied by a spring mechanism.

21. A device for expanding a tubular structure in a well comprising:

a conveyance device that brings the tubular structure into the well;

a deployment device with an expansion mandrel attached thereto;

wherein the deployment device is configured to draw power from one or a combination of sources such as electrical power supplied either from the surface or stored in a battery arrangement along with the deployment device, hydraulic power provided by surface of downhole pumps, turbines or a fluid accumulator, and mechanical power supplied through an appropriate linkage actuated by movement applied at the surface or stored downhole such as in a spring mechanism.