Expandable tubing and method

• US 6,799,637 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Johnson, Craig D., Hackworth, Matthew R., Schetky, L. McD., Bixenman, Patrick W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEUDER, WILLIAM P
• Application Number:
  US09/973,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20020046840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 166/380, 166/384, 166/207, 166/228, 166/230
• US Class Current: 166/384
• 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 apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising:

an expandable bistable device configured for deployment proximate a wellbore wall, the expandable bistable device having a plurality of bistable cells arranged in a generally tubular shape, the plurality of bistable cells being stable in a collapsed configuration and in an expanded configuration,

wherein each cell comprises a first member and a second member, the first member and the second member each comprising a mid-point and two ends, and

further wherein the first member is more flexible than the second member.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first member has two stable positions, the first stable position being where the first member mid-point is adjacent to the second member mid-point, the second stable position being where the first member mid-point is displaced from the second member mid-point to form a gap between the first member mid-point and the second member mid-point.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second member has a greater thickness than the first member.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the thickness ratio of the second member to the first member is greater than approximately 3:

1.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the thickness ratio of the second member to the first member is greater than approximately 6:

1.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the first and second members are mechanically connected such that the second member hinders deformation of the first member.

7. An apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising:

an expandable bistable device configured for deployment proximate a wellbore wall, the expandable bistable device having a plurality of bistable cells arranged in a generally tubular shape, the plurality of bistable cells being stable in a collapsed configuration and in an expanded configuration,

wherein the bistable device further comprises a wrapping attached to the outer surface of the bistable device.

8. A The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the wrapping comprises an expandable screen.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the wrapping comprises a deformable material.

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

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the elastomer is selected to be resistant to crude oils, brines, and acids encountered in oil and gas wells.

12. An apparatus for use in a wellbore, comprising:

an expandable bistable device configured for deployment proximate a wellbore wall, the expandable bistable device having a plurality of bistable cells arranged in a generally tubular shape, the plurality of bistable cells being stable in a collapsed configuration and in an expanded configuration,

wherein the bistable device in its second generally tubular configuration comprises a plurality of diameters.

13. A method of stabilizing an uncased section of a wellbore in an underground formation, comprising:

providing an expandable bistable device having a generally tubular shape that comprises a plurality of bistable cells;

placing the bistable device at a position in the wellbore while in a first stable state;

radially expanding the bistable device to a second stable state having a generally tubular configuration without substantially reducing axial length; and

attaching a wrapping to the outer surface of the bistable device.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein attaching comprises attaching an expandable screen.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising applying a deformable material to the outer surface of the bistable device.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein applying comprises applying an elastomeric material.

17. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein radially expanding comprises expanding the bistable device to a plurality of final diameters.

18. A method for installing liners within a tubular located in a wellbore, comprising:

forming an expandable bistable device with a plurality of bistable cells, the expandable bistable device having a generally tubular shape;

surrounding the expandable bistable device with an expandable liner element attached to an outer surface of the bistable device;

placing the expandable bistable device at a position within a tubular while in a first stable state; and

expanding the expandable bistable device into a second stable state to hold the liner element against an inner diameter of the tubular.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising locating multiple bistable devices in the wellbore such that the ends of the adjacent bistable devices overlap and form a continuation of the liner element against the inner diameter of the tubular.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising creating each bistable cell with a thin strut connected to a thick strut.

21. A method for facilitating use of a wellbore, comprising:

inhibiting sand influx into a wellbore, wherein inhibiting comprises;

placing a bistable device at a desired position in a wellbore; and

expanding the bistable device at least partially through a nonstable range towards a stable state until the bistable device is able to exert hoop stress forces against the wellbore.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising attaching a wrapping to an outer surface of the bistable member.

23. The method as recited claim 22, wherein attaching comprises attaching an expandable screen.

24. A system for facilitating communication along a wellbore, comprising:

an expandable tubing formed of a plurality of bi-stable cells, the expandable tubing having a communication line passageway,

wherein the communication line passageway is defined by a thinned portion along the expandable tubing.

25. A method of routing a communication line in a well, comprising:

deploying an expandable tubing in a well, wherein deploying comprises running an expandable tubing formed of bistable cells into a well;

routing at least a portion of a communication line adjacent at least a portion of the expandable tubing;

expanding the expandable tubing; and

forming the communication line along a thick strut formed between a plurality of bistable cells.