Tubing expansion with an apparatus that cycles between different diameter configurations

• US 7,063,149 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2004
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Grant, David H., Simpson, Neil Andrew Abercrombie, Adams, Grant
• Primary Examiner(s): Gay, Jennifer H.
• Application Number:
  US10/770,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20040154808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 166/381, 166/383, 166/384, 166/277, 166/301, 166/299, 166/55, 166/55.1, 166/178, 166/206, 166/207, 166/209, 166/211, 166/212, 166/154, 166/318, 166/239, 166/242.2, 173/112, 173/114, 173/117, 173/118, 173/128, 173/200, 173/201, 173/202
• US Class Current: 166/277
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/20 Flexible or articulated drilling pipes , e.g. flexible or articulated rods, pipes or cables
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 4/10 continuous unidirectional rotary motion of shaft or drilling pipe effecting consecutive impacts
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 4/14 Fluid operated hammers
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/105 Expanding tools specially adapted therefor

Abstract

A method of expanding tubing comprises the steps: providing a length of expandable tubing; locating an expansion tool, such as a cone, in the tubing; and applying impulses to the tool to drive the tool through the tubing and expand the tubing to a larger diameter. The tubing may be located downhole and may have a solid wall or a slotted wall.

Claims

1. Tubing expansion apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

an expansion device for advancement through a length of expandable tubing to expand the tubing from a smaller first diameter to a larger second diameter, the device being adapted to cycle between a smaller diameter first configuration and a larger diameter second configuration;

a pressure responsive member for cycling the device between said configurations at least once a second; and

a force application member for advancing the expansion device through the tubing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a hollow flexible body, the dimensions of the body being variable in response to variations in internal fluid pressure.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the body is elastomeric.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the body carries rigid members for contact with an internal surface of the tubing.

5. A method of expanding tubing, the method comprising:

providing a length of expandable tubing of a first diameter;

locating an expansion device in the tubing;

cycling the expansion device between a smaller diameter first configuration and a larger diameter second configuration, in said second configuration the expansion device describing a greater diameter than said tubing first diameter such that the tubing is expanded to a greater second diameter, wherein the expansion device is cycled at least once a second; and

advancing the expansion device through the tubing.