Expansion system for expandable tubulars
First Claim
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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 coupled to a support member and disposed in the launcher portion of the resilient launcher, wherein the support member and expansion cone include a conduit for supplying fluid to the launcher portion of the resilient launcher;
an expandable tubular disposed around the sleeve portion and above the launcher portion of the resilient launcher;
a port disposed in the launcher portion of the resilient launcher, wherein the port is closed so that fluid supplied through the support member and the expansion cone drives the expansion cone through the sleeve portion or the resilient launcher so as to radially expand the expandable tubular; and
an expansion cone catcher disposed in the sleeve portion above the expandable tubular and operable to prevent upward movement of the expansion cone relative to the resilient launcher.
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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.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming an expandable tubular member, comprising:
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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 coupled to a support member and disposed in the launcher portion of the resilient launcher, wherein the support member and expansion cone include a conduit for supplying fluid to the launcher portion of the resilient launcher; an expandable tubular disposed around the sleeve portion and above the launcher portion of the resilient launcher; a port disposed in the launcher portion of the resilient launcher, wherein the port is closed so that fluid supplied through the support member and the expansion cone drives the expansion cone through the sleeve portion or the resilient launcher so as to radially expand the expandable tubular; and an expansion cone catcher disposed in the sleeve portion above the expandable tubular and operable to prevent upward movement of the expansion cone relative to the resilient launcher. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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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; 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. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method comprising:
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disposing an expansion cone within a resilient launcher that is coupled to an expandable tubular to form an expansion apparatus; coupling a work string to the expansion cone so as to support the expansion apparatus; positioning the expansion apparatus a wellbore; closing a port disposed at a lower end of the resilient launcher; pumping fluid through the work string and into the resilient launcher so as to axially move the expansion cone, wherein axial movement of the expansion cone through a sleeve portion of the resilient launcher radially expands the expandable tubular; pulling the work string from the wellbore so as to remove the expansion cone and the resilient launcher from the expandable tubular, the removal of the resilient launcher from the wellbore being allowed for by engagement of the expansion cone with a cone catcher coupled to an upper end of the resilient launcher. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification