Expandable devices and method

• US 20040026079A1
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Johnson, Craig D., Hackworth, Matthew R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,086,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/297
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/103 of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/108 Expandable screens or perforated liners

Abstract

The present system and method comprises an expandable device for use in wellbores. In one embodiment, the present device comprises a plurality of slots disposed within the device. The slots define expansion compensation portions, wherein the compensation portions facilitate radial expansion of the device while concurrently maintaining essentially constant the axial length of the device. The present technique also comprises a method of forming the device in accordance therewith.

Claims

1. An expandable device for use in a wellbore, comprising:

a tubular having a plurality of slots therein, the plurality of slots being configured to enable expansion of the tubular from a first diameter to a second diameter, wherein the tubular comprises a plurality of expansion compensation portions adapted to substantially retard axial contraction of the tubular during radial expansion of the tubular from the first diameter to the second diameter.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device comprises a sand-screen.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the tubular is configured to receive control lines.

4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of slots comprise a first slot pattern and a second slot pattern., wherein the slot patterns define the expansion compensation portions.

5. The device as recited in claim 4, wherein the expansion compensation portion defines a rotational element.

6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the slots define thick and thin struts respectively.

7. The device as recited in claim 4, wherein the expansion compensation portion defines a spring portion.

8. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the slots generally present a parallelogramic shape.

9. An expandable device, comprising:

an expansion section having a plurality of slots disposed therein, wherein each slot defines a plurality of first members coupled to a plurality of second members;

wherein at least one of the first and second members is adapted to substantially retard axial contraction of the device upon radial expansion of the device.

10. The expandable device as recited in claim 9, further comprising at least one hinge portion coupling the plurality of first members and the plurality of second members.

11. The expandable device as recited in claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and the second members comprises a plastically deformable portion, wherein the plastically deformable portion axially deforms, thereby substantially retarding axial contraction of the device during radial expansion thereof.

12. The expandable device as recited in claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and the second members comprises a spring portion.

13. The expandable device as recited in claim 9, where at least one of the first and the second members comprises a rotational element.

14. The expandable device as recited in claim 9, wherein the first members are thicker than the second members.

15. The expandable device as recited in claim 9, wherein the plurality of slots comprises a first slot pattern and a second slot pattern.

16. A system for production of wellbore fluids, comprising:

a wellbore;

a device having a plurality of slots disposed therein, the device further having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the diameter of the device in the collapsed configuration is less than the diameter of the wellbore;

an expansion compensation member integrally disposed with respect to the device, the expansion compensation member being adapted to retard axial contraction of the device upon radial expansion of the device from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration; and

an expansion mechanism, wherein the expansion mechanism biases the device from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the device comprises a sand-screen.

19. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the expansion compensation member comprises a spring portion.

20. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the expansion compensation member comprises a rotatable portion.

2210. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the expansion compensation member undergoes plastic deformation during expansion.

22. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the expansion compensation member is adapted to elastically deform.

23. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the expansion mechanism comprises a cone.

18. The system as recited in clam 16, wherein the device comprises a plurality of slots arranged in a generally parallelogramic shape.

24. A method for deploying an expandable device in a wellbore, comprising:

inserting an expandable device into a wellbore, the device being in a collapsed configuration;

expanding the device to an expanded configuration from the collapsed configuration such that he axial length of the device remains substantially constant.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein expanding comprises elastically deforming an expansion portion of the device.

26. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein expanding comprises plastically deforming an expansion portion of the device.

27. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein expanding comprises rotating a segment of the device.

28. A method of forming an expandable device, comprising:

cutting an expansion compensation portion into a wellbore device, the compensation portion being adapted to substantially retard axial contraction of the wellbore device during radial expansion of the device.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein cutting comprises cutting via a water jet.

30. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein cutting comprises cutting via a laser jet.

31. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein cutting comprises stamping.