公开(公告)号：GB2396635B

公开(公告)日：2006-03-01

申请号：GB0329659

申请日：2003-12-22

Applicant: WEATHERFORD LAMB

Inventor： WHANGER KEN ,  VICIC JOHN C ,  CUFFE CHRISTOPHER ,  PLUCHECK CLAYTON ,  MAGUIRE PATRICK G

IPC: E21B43/10 ,  E21B33/12 ,  E21B33/14

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for sealing a wellbore. The sealing apparatus includes an expandable tubular body having one or more sealing elements disposed thereon. In one aspect, the sealing elements include swelling and non-swelling sealing elements. Preferably, the swelling sealing elements are made of a swelling elastomer capable of swelling upon activation by an activating agent. The swelling elements may be covered with a protective layer during the run-in. When the tubular body is expanded, the protective layer breaks, thereby exposing the swelling elements to the activating agent. In turn, the swelling elements swell and contact the wellbore to form a fluid tight seal.

公开(公告)号：GB2396371B

公开(公告)日：2006-02-22

申请号：GB0328868

申请日：2003-12-12

Applicant: WEATHERFORD LAMB

Inventor： TRAN KHAI ,  MAGUIRE PATRICK G ,  LAURITZEN J ERIC ,  PLUCHECK CLAYTON ,  VICKERS CASWELL D III

IPC: E21B43/10 ,  B21D39/08 ,  E21B29/00

Abstract: An improved expansion assembly for an expander tool is provided. The expander tool is used to expand a surrounding tubular body within a wellbore. Accordingly, a method for expanding a surrounding tubular is also provided. The expansion assembly first comprises a piston disposed within a recess of the expander tool. The top surface of the piston closely receives a pad. The pad is held in close proximity to the top surface of the piston such that it does not rotate about a shaft. This arrangement reduces the geometric size of the expansion assembly, affording a larger inner diameter for the hollow bore of the expander tool itself. At least one reinforcement member is disposed on or within the pad to strengthen the pad during an expansion operation. The reinforcement member is fabricated from a durable material, and is arranged along the pad in the area of contact with the surrounding tubular during an expansion operation.

公开(公告)号：GB2395501A

公开(公告)日：2004-05-26

申请号：GB0323678

申请日：2003-10-09

Applicant: WEATHERFORD LAMB

Inventor： SIMPSON NEIL ANDREW ABERCROMBI ,  PLUCHECK CLAYTON ,  COON ROBERT J

IPC: E21B17/04 ,  E21B17/08 ,  E21B19/16 ,  E21B43/10 ,  F16L13/14 ,  F16L13/16 ,  E21B29/00 ,  E21B17/02

Abstract: A method of jointing and running expandable tubulars comprises inserting the end of a first tubular 110 into the end of a second tubular 210, and expanding or plastically deforming one or more of the pipes to form a connection. In a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the first tubular includes a formation 114, and the inner surface of the second tubular 210 includes a second complimentary formation or profile 214. The end of the second tubular may have a higher yield strength than the end of the first tubular, and this may be caused by heat treating or annealing the area. This end may also feature a lower modulus of elasticity than the end of the first tubular. Also disclosed is a method of connecting two tubulars comprising placing a connection assembly within the first tubular 110 and expanding the first tubular into frictional contact with a second tubular, before removing the assembly.

公开(公告)号：DE60008571D1

公开(公告)日：2004-04-01

申请号：DE60008571

申请日：2000-10-05

Applicant: WEATHERFORD LAMB

Inventor： WILSON JAMES ,  WYATT LEWIS ,  SCOTT THAD JOSEPH ,  BROOKS THOMAS ,  PLUCHECK CLAYTON ,  MCCLUNG LAMONT

IPC: E21B23/06 ,  E21B33/12 ,  E21B33/127 ,  E21B33/13

Abstract: An inflatable packer with a packer body, an inflatable bladder mounted around the packer body, a bladder support mounted around the inflatable bladder, the packer body, the inflatable bladder and the bladder support made of drillable material. A method for reclaiming a borehole extending from an earth surface into the earth, part of which is in a lost circulation zone, the method including closing off the borehole to fluid flow above the lost circulation zone by installing a packer system with an inflatable packer element and a valve apparatus in the borehole above the lost circulation zone, inflating the inflatable packer element with cement, and allowing the cement to set so that the inflatable packer and the valve apparatus effectively seal off the borehole to fluid flow.

公开(公告)号：GB2395210B

公开(公告)日：2006-09-06

申请号：GB0326054

申请日：2003-11-07

Applicant: WEATHERFORD LAMB

Inventor： PLUCHECK CLAYTON ,  WILLIAMSON PAT ,  HAUGEN DAVID M ,  DURST DOUG

IPC: E21B43/08 ,  E21B41/00 ,  E21B43/10

Abstract: A method and apparatus for completing a wellbore junction, wherein, in one embodiment, a first leg of a screen is fastened within a first tubular with a preformed window. The first tubular houses a whipstock with a cut-out portion containing a folded second leg of the screen. The first tubular is lowered into a junction of a central and a lateral wellbore. A second tubular is lowered within the first tubular and catches an end of the folded second leg of the screen thereby unfolding and expanding the screen as the second tubular is guided into the lateral wellbore.

公开(公告)号：GB2399371B

公开(公告)日：2006-03-15

申请号：GB0411879

申请日：2002-12-02

Applicant: WEATHERFORD LAMB

Inventor： PLUCHECK CLAYTON ,  LAURITZEN ERIC

IPC: E21B43/10 ,  E21B29/00

Abstract: An apparatus and method for expanding a lower string of casing into frictional contact with an upper string of casing, and thereby hanging the lower string of casing onto the upper string of casing is provided. The apparatus essentially defines a lower string of casing having a separation region formed in the top end thereof. The lower string of casing is run into the wellbore, and positioned so that the top end overlaps with the bottom end of an upper string of casing already cemented into the wellbore. The top end of the lower casing string is expanded below the depth of the separation region into frictional contact with the upper string of casing. At the same time, or shortly thereafter, the top end of the upper string of casing is expanded. As the portion of the lower casing string having the separation region is expanded, the casing severs into upper and lower portions. The upper portion can then be removed from the wellbore, leaving a lower string of casing expanded into physical contact with an upper string of casing. The separation region may be formed by heat treating the tubular at the point of desired severance. In another aspect, the separation region may comprise the connection between two tubulars. This involves connecting two tubulars to form the tubular to be expanded downhole. The tubular formed is then lowered into the wellbore and expanded at the connection to separate the tubular.

公开(公告)号：GB2396371A

公开(公告)日：2004-06-23

申请号：GB0328868

申请日：2003-12-12

Applicant: WEATHERFORD LAMB

Inventor： TRAN KHAI ,  MAGUIRE PATRICK G ,  LAURITZEN J ERIC ,  PLUCHECK CLAYTON ,  VICKERS III CASWELL D

IPC: E21B43/10 ,  E21B29/00

Abstract: A tool for expanding tubing has reinforced pads 216 mounted on the outer surface of radially extendable pistons 220. The pads do not rotate and may be secured by locating members 232 inserted through brackets 230 into recesses 213 in the pad. The pads may be tapered and they incorporate reinforcing members such as discs 214 or strips (figure 7) of tungsten carbide or ceramic or are coated in a hard facing. The profile of the pad and piston combination is minimised in order to maximise the diameter of the internal bore (215, figure 10) of the tool and the pistons are disposed in recesses in the tool in communication with the main bore (figure 10). Fluid pressure in the bore is increased in order to extend the pistons and so expand surrounding tubing (figure 13).

公开(公告)号：CA2452907A1

公开(公告)日：2004-06-12

申请号：CA2452907

申请日：2003-12-12

Applicant: WEATHERFORD LAMB

Inventor： VICKERS CASWELL D III ,  PLUCHECK CLAYTON ,  TRAN KHAI ,  LAURITZEN J ERIC ,  MAGUIRE PATRICK G

IPC: E21B43/10 ,  E21B33/10 ,  E21B29/00 ,  E21B23/04 ,  E21B33/1295

Abstract: An improved expansion assembly for an expander toot is provided. The expander tool is used to expand a surrounding tubular body within a wellbore . Accordingly, a method for expanding a surrounding tubular is also provided. The expansion assembly first comprises a piston disposed within a recess of the expander tool. The top surface of the piston closely receives a pad. The pad is held in close proximity to the top surface of the piston such that it does not rotate about a shaft. This arrangement reduces the geometric size of the expansion assembly , affording a larger inner diameter for the hollow bore of the expander tool itself. At least one reinforcement member is disposed on or within the pad to strengthe n the pad during an expansion operation. The reinforcement member is fabricated fr om a durable material, and is arranged along the pad in the area of contact with the surrounding tubular during an expansion operation.

公开(公告)号：CA2444756A1

公开(公告)日：2004-04-08

申请号：CA2444756

申请日：2003-10-07

Applicant: WEATHERFORD LAMB

Inventor： PLUCHECK CLAYTON ,  TRAN KHAI

IPC: E21B43/10 ,  E21B47/01 ,  E21B47/12 ,  E21B29/10

Abstract: An expander tool for expanding a first tubular into a second surroundin g tubular within a wellbore. The expander tool first comprises a body. Within the body is an expansion member capable of being actuated outwardly from the body whe n expansion of the first tubular is desired. In one aspect, the expander tool is a rotary expander tool, and the expansion members define a plurality of rollers. The expander tool further comprises at least one sensor for sensing a downhole condition during expansion of the tubular. The seniors in one aspect include at least one tool for sensing wall dimensions of the first tubular such as inne r diameter or wall thickness. Examples include sonic logs, caliper logs, and electromagnetic wall thickness tools. A depth gauge may also be included. In one aspect, a data transmission device is provided between a surface server and the sensors downhole. In this way, the operator at the surface can monitor progress of t he expansion operation downhole.

公开(公告)号：GB2395501B

公开(公告)日：2006-07-12

申请号：GB0323678

申请日：2003-10-09

Applicant: WEATHERFORD LAMB

Inventor： SIMPSON NEIL ANDREW ABERCROMBI ,  PLUCHECK CLAYTON ,  COON ROBERT J

IPC: E21B17/02 ,  E21B17/04 ,  E21B17/08 ,  E21B19/16 ,  E21B43/10 ,  F16L13/14 ,  F16L13/16

Abstract: A connector arrangement used for connecting a first tubular to a second tubular. The first tubular member has at least one circumferential ring profile, and the second tubular member has a corresponding number of matching circumferential ring profiles. When the ring profiles of the two tubulars are mated and interlocked, they form separate and independent fluid seals as well as a mechanical lock able to hold the tubulars together during future expansion of the entire tubular and joint. Further, selecting properties of the tubulars such as yield strength and modulus of elasticity or constraining a diameter of one of the tubulars during expansion or compression forms a tight connection due to elastic recovery of the tubulars.