WO2002010550A1 - Liner hanger with standoffs - Google Patents

Liner hanger with standoffs Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002010550A1
WO2002010550A1 PCT/US2001/023815 US0123815W WO0210550A1 WO 2002010550 A1 WO2002010550 A1 WO 2002010550A1 US 0123815 W US0123815 W US 0123815W WO 0210550 A1 WO0210550 A1 WO 0210550A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
wellbore
tubular liner
solid tubular
expansion cone
solid
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2001/023815
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert Lance Cook
Lev Ring
Original Assignee
Enventure Global Technology
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Enventure Global Technology filed Critical Enventure Global Technology
Priority to GB0300085A priority Critical patent/GB2382367B/en
Priority to CA002414428A priority patent/CA2414428C/en
Priority to AU8302601A priority patent/AU8302601A/en
Priority to AU2001283026A priority patent/AU2001283026B2/en
Publication of WO2002010550A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002010550A1/en
Priority to US10/322,947 priority patent/US7100684B2/en
Priority to NO20030409A priority patent/NO20030409L/en

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/10—Wear protectors; Centralising devices, e.g. stabilisers
    • E21B17/1042—Elastomer protector or centering means
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
    • E21B43/10—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells
    • E21B43/103—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like

Definitions

  • This invention relates generaUy to weUbore casings, and in particular to weHbore casings that are formed using expandable tubing.
  • a weHbore is created, a number of casings are instaUed in the borehole to prevent coHapse of the borehole waU and to prevent undesired outflow of drilHng fluid into the formation or inflow of fluid from the formation into the borehole.
  • the borehole is drilled in intervals whereby a casing which is to be instaUed in a lower borehole interval is lowered through a previously instaUed casing of an upper borehole interval.
  • the casing of the lower interval is of smaUer diameter than the casing of the upper interval.
  • the casings are in a nested arrangement with casing diameters decreasing in downward direction.
  • Cement annuH are provided between the outer surfaces of the casings and the borehole waU to seal the casings from the borehole waU.
  • a relatively large borehole diameter is required at the upper part of the weUbore.
  • Such a large borehole diameter involves increased costs due to heavy casing handfing equipment, large drill bits and increased volumes of driUing fluid and drill cuttings.
  • the present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the Hmitations of the existing procedures for forming weUbores and wellheads.
  • a method of forming a casing in a weUbore having a cased section and an open hole section includes positioning a tubular finer within the weUbore, overlapping the tubular finer and the cased section, centering the tubular finer within the weUbore, and radiaUy expanding the tubular finer into contact with the cased section.
  • a radiaUy expandable tubular member for repairing an opening in a weUbore casing includes a tubular member, and one or more standoffs coupled to the exterior surface of the tubular member.
  • an apparatus for repairing an opening in a weUbore casing includes a tubular support member including a first passage, an expansion cone coupled to the tubular support member including a second passage fluidicly coupled to the first passage, an expansion cone launcher coupled to the expansion cone including a shoe having an exhaust passage, and an expandable tubular member coupled to the expansion cone launcher including one or more standoffs.
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view iUustrating the introduction of an apparatus for casing the open hole section of the weUbore of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view iUustrating the injection of a fluidic material into the apparatus of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view iUustrating the placement of a plug into the exhaust passage of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view iUustrating the pressurization of the interior portion of the apparatus below the expansion cone of FIG. 4.
  • a weUbore 100 positioned within a subterranean formation 105 includes a preexisting casing 110 and an open hole section 115 that traverses an porous region 120.
  • the operating pressure within the weUbore P BORE i s greater than the operating pressure within the porous region P PORE .
  • fluidic materials will flow from the weUbore 100 into the porous region 120.
  • downhole equipment will tend to adhere to, or at least be drawn toward, the interior surface of the weUbore 100 in the vicinity of the porous region 120. This can have serious and adverse consequences when radiaUy expanding a tubular member in such an operating environment.
  • an apparatus 200 for forming a weUbore casing in the open hole section of the weUbore 100 may then be positioned within the weUbore in an overlapping relationship with the lower portion of the preexisting weUbore casing 110.
  • the apparatus 200 includes a tubular support member 205 having a longitudinal passage 210 and a transverse passage 215 that is coupled to an expansion cone 220 having a longitudinal passage 225 that is fluidicly coupled to the longitudinal passage 210.
  • the expansion cone 220 is at least partiaUy received within an expansion cone launcher 230 that includes a thin-waUed annular member 235 and a shoe 240 having an exhaust passage 245.
  • the apparatus 200 is provided as disclosed in one or more of the foUowing: (1) U.S. patent appHcation serial no. 09/440,338, attorney docket number 25791.9.02, filed on 11/15/1999, which claimed benefit of the fifing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial number 60/108,558, attorney docket number 25791.9, filed on 11/16/1998, (2) U.S. patent application serial no.
  • the standoffs 260a-260h prevent the apparatus 200 from adhering to, or being drawn toward, the interior surface of the weUbore 100 in the vicinity of the porous region 120. In this manner, the apparatus 200 is approximately centered within the weUbore 100. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the transverse passage 215 may then be closed and fluidic materials injected into the apparatus 200 through the longitudinal passage 210. In this manner, any blockages within any of the passages 210, 225, and 245 may be detected by monitoring the operating pressure whereby an increase in operating pressure above nominal, or predetermined, conditions may indicate a blockage of one of the passages. As illustrated in Fig.
  • a plug 270 or other conventional stop member may then be introduced into the fluidic materials injected into the apparatus 200 through the passage 210, and the plug 270 may be positioned within the exhaust passage 245. In this manner, the exhaust passage 245 may be sealed off. Thus, continued injection of fluidic materials into the apparatus 200 through the passage 210 may thereby pressurize a region 275 below the expansion cone 220.
  • the expansion cone 220 to radiaUy expand the expandable tubular member 250 off of the expansion cone.
  • the upper portion of the radiaUy expanded tubular member 250 is coupled to the lower portion of the preexisting weUbore casing 110.
  • the tubular support member 205 is raised out of the weUbore 100.
  • the standoffs 260a-260h prevent the exterior surface of the apparatus 200 from adhering to, or being drawn toward, the interior surface of the weUbore 100 in the vicinity of the porous region 120.
  • the apparatus 200 is preferably substantiaUy centered within the weUbore 100. Furthermore, in this manner, the longitudinal center axis of the expansion cone 220 is preferably maintained in a position that is substantiaUy coincident with the longitudinal center axis of the tubular member 250. In addition, in this manner, the stresses applied to the interior surface of the tubular member 250 by the axial displacement of the expansion cone 220 are substantiaUy even. FinaUy, in this manner, overstressing of the tubular member 250 is prevented thereby efiminating catastrophic failure of the tubular member 250.
  • the shoe 240 may then be removed using a conventional milfing device.
  • the standoffs 260a-260h seal and isolate intervals within the open hole section 115.
  • the standoffs 260 may be provided, for example, by annular members spaced along the length of the expandable tubular member 250 and/or a continuous member that is wrapped around the expandable tubular member 250 in hefical fashion. It is understood that variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention.
  • the apparatus 200 may be used to form and/or repair, for example, a weUbore casing, a pipefine, or a structural support.

Abstract

An apparatus and method for forming or repairing a wellbore casing (110) by radially expending a tubular liner (250) having standoffs (260a-h).

Description

LINER HANGER WITH STANDOFFS Cross Reference To Related Applications
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial number 60/221,645, attorney docket t number 25791.46, filed on 7/28/2000, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
This application is related to the following co-pending applications:
(1) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/440,338, attorney docket number
25791.9.02, filed on 11/15/1999, which claimed benefit of the filing date of
U.S. provisional patent application serial number 60/108,558, attorney docket number 25791.9, filed on 11/16/1998, (2) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/454, 139, attorney docket number 25791.3.02, filed on 12/3/1999, which claimed benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial number 60/111,293, filed on 12/7/1998, (3) U.S. patent application serial number 09/502,350, attorney docket number 25791.8.02, filed on 2/10/2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial number 60/119,611, attorney docket number 25791.8, filed on 2/11/1999, (4) U.S. patent application serial number 09/510,913, attorney docket number 25791.7.02, filed on 2/23/2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial number 60/121,702, attorney docket number 25791.7, filed on 2/25/1999, (5) U.S. patent application serial number 09/511,941, attorney docket number 25791.16.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application number 60/121,907, attorney docket number 25791.16, filed on 2/26/1999, (6) U.S. patent application serial number 09/523,460, attorney docket number 25791.11.02, filed on 3/10/2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial number 60/124,042, attorney docket number 25791.11, filed on 3/11/1999, (7) U.S. patent application serial number 09/559,122, attorney docket number 25791.23.02, filed on 4/26/2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial number 60/131,106, attorney docket number 25791.23, filed on 4/26/1999, (8) U.S. patent appHcation serial number , attorney docket number
25791.17.02, filed on , which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/137,998, attorney docket number 25791.17, filed on 6/7/1999, (9) U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/143,039, attorney docket number 25791.26, filed on 7/9/1999, (10) U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/146,203, attorney docket number 25791.25, filed on 7/29/1999, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference; (11) U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/183,546, attorney docket number 25791.10, filed on 2/18/2000; (12) U.S. patent appHcation serial number 09/512,895, attorney docket number 25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claimed the benefit of the fifing date of U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/121,841, attorney docket number 25791.12, filed on 2/26/1999; (13) U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number , attorney docket number 25791.38, filed on
6/19/2000; (14) U.S. provisional patent application serial number 60/162,671, attorney docket number 25791.27, filed on 11/1/1999; (15) U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/159,039, attorney docket number 25791.36, filed on 10/12/1999; (16) U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/159,033, attorney docket number 25791.37, filed on 10/12/1999; (17) U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/165,228, attorney docket number 25791.39, filed on 11/12/1999; and (18) U.S. provisional patent appHcation number , attorney docket number 25791.45, filed on , the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Background of the Invention This invention relates generaUy to weUbore casings, and in particular to weHbore casings that are formed using expandable tubing. Conventionally, when a weHbore is created, a number of casings are instaUed in the borehole to prevent coHapse of the borehole waU and to prevent undesired outflow of drilHng fluid into the formation or inflow of fluid from the formation into the borehole. The borehole is drilled in intervals whereby a casing which is to be instaUed in a lower borehole interval is lowered through a previously instaUed casing of an upper borehole interval. As a consequence of this procedure the casing of the lower interval is of smaUer diameter than the casing of the upper interval. Thus, the casings are in a nested arrangement with casing diameters decreasing in downward direction. Cement annuH are provided between the outer surfaces of the casings and the borehole waU to seal the casings from the borehole waU. As a consequence of this nested arrangement a relatively large borehole diameter is required at the upper part of the weUbore. Such a large borehole diameter involves increased costs due to heavy casing handfing equipment, large drill bits and increased volumes of driUing fluid and drill cuttings. Moreover, increased drilling rig time is involved due to required cement pumping, cement hardening, required equipment changes due to large variations in hole diameters driUed in the course of the weU, and the large volume of cuttings driUed and removed. The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the Hmitations of the existing procedures for forming weUbores and wellheads. Summary of the Invention
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of forming a casing in a weUbore having a cased section and an open hole section is provided that includes positioning a tubular finer within the weUbore, overlapping the tubular finer and the cased section, centering the tubular finer within the weUbore, and radiaUy expanding the tubular finer into contact with the cased section.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a radiaUy expandable tubular member for repairing an opening in a weUbore casing is provided that includes a tubular member, and one or more standoffs coupled to the exterior surface of the tubular member. According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for repairing an opening in a weUbore casing is provided that includes a tubular support member including a first passage, an expansion cone coupled to the tubular support member including a second passage fluidicly coupled to the first passage, an expansion cone launcher coupled to the expansion cone including a shoe having an exhaust passage, and an expandable tubular member coupled to the expansion cone launcher including one or more standoffs.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided that includes a weUbore including a preexisting casing and an open hole section, and a radiaUy expanded tubular member coupled to the preexisting casing including one or more standoffs.
Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view iUustrating a weUbore including a weUbore casing and an open hole section that traverses a porous subterranean layer.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view iUustrating the introduction of an apparatus for casing the open hole section of the weUbore of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view iUustrating the injection of a fluidic material into the apparatus of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view iUustrating the placement of a plug into the exhaust passage of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view iUustrating the pressurization of the interior portion of the apparatus below the expansion cone of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view iUustrating the completion of the radial expansion of the tubular member of the apparatus of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view iUustrating the removal of the shoe from the apparatus of FIG. 6.
Detailed Description of the IUustrative Embodiments An apparatus and method for casing an open hole section of a weUbore within a subterranean formation is provided. The apparatus and method provides a system for casing an open hole section of a weUbore within a subterranean formation in which a tubular member having a plurality of radiaUy oriented standoffs is radiaUy expanded into contact with the preexisting weUbore casing and the open hole section. The standoffs provided on the exterior surface of the tubular member preferably position the tubular member away from the interior walls of the open hole section during the radial expansion process. In this manner, the tubular member does not adhere to underpressurized sections of the open hole section of the weUbore. In this manner, the process of radial expansion is more refiable.
Referring initiaUy to Fig. 1, a weUbore 100 positioned within a subterranean formation 105 includes a preexisting casing 110 and an open hole section 115 that traverses an porous region 120. When the operating pressure within the weUbore PBORE is greater than the operating pressure within the porous region PPORE, fluidic materials will flow from the weUbore 100 into the porous region 120. As a result of the flow of fluidic materials from the weUbore 100 into the porous region 120, downhole equipment will tend to adhere to, or at least be drawn toward, the interior surface of the weUbore 100 in the vicinity of the porous region 120. This can have serious and adverse consequences when radiaUy expanding a tubular member in such an operating environment.
Referring to Fig. 2, an apparatus 200 for forming a weUbore casing in the open hole section of the weUbore 100 may then be positioned within the weUbore in an overlapping relationship with the lower portion of the preexisting weUbore casing 110. The apparatus 200 includes a tubular support member 205 having a longitudinal passage 210 and a transverse passage 215 that is coupled to an expansion cone 220 having a longitudinal passage 225 that is fluidicly coupled to the longitudinal passage 210. The expansion cone 220 is at least partiaUy received within an expansion cone launcher 230 that includes a thin-waUed annular member 235 and a shoe 240 having an exhaust passage 245. An expandable tubular member 250 extends from the expansion cone launcher 230 that includes a seafing member 255 and a plurafity of standoffs 260a-260h affixed to the exterior surface of the expandable tubular member. In a preferred embodiment, the standoffs
260 are fabricated from a resilient material. A seafing cup 265 is attached to the exterior surface of the tubular support member 205 for preventing foreign materials from entering the interior ofthe expandable tubular member 250. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus 200 is provided as disclosed in one or more of the foUowing: (1) U.S. patent appHcation serial no. 09/440,338, attorney docket number 25791.9.02, filed on 11/15/1999, which claimed benefit of the fifing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial number 60/108,558, attorney docket number 25791.9, filed on 11/16/1998, (2) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/454, 139, attorney docket number 25791.3.02, filed on 12/3/1999, which claimed benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial number 60/111,293, filed on 12/7/1998, (3) U.S. patent application serial number 09/502,350, attorney docket number 25791.8.02, filed on 2/10/2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/119,611, attorney docket number 25791.8, filed on 2/11/1999, (4) U.S. patent appHcation serial number 09/510,913, attorney docket number 25791.7.02, filed on 2/23/2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/121,702, attorney docket number 25791.7, filed on
2/25/1999, (5) U.S. patent appHcation serial number 09/511,941, attorney docket number 25791.16.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claimed the benefit of the fifing date of U.S. provisional patent appHcation number 60/121,907, attorney docket number 25791.16, filed on 2/26/1999, (6) U.S. patent appHcation serial number 09/523,460, attorney docket number 25791.11.02, filed on 3/10/2000, which claimed the benefit of the fifing date of U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/124,042, attorney docket number 25791.11, filed on 3/11/1999, (7) U.S. patent appHcation serial number 09/559,122, attorney docket number 25791.23.02, filed on 4/26/2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/131, 106, attorney docket number 25791.23, filed on 4/26/1999, (8) U.S. patent application serial number , attorney docket number
25791.17.02, filed on , which claimed the benefit of the fifing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial number 60/137,998, attorney docket number 25791.17, filed on 6/7/1999, (9) U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/143,039, attorney docket number 25791.26, filed on 7/9/1999, (10) U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/146,203, attorney docket number 25791.25, filed on 7/29/1999, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference; (11) U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/183,546, attorney docket ' number 25791.10, filed on 2/18/2000; (12) U.S. patent appHcation serial number 09/512,895, attorney docket number 25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial number 60/121,841, attorney docket number 25791.12, filed on 2/26/1999; (13) U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number , attorney docket number 25791.38, filed on
6/19/2000; (14) U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/162,671, attorney docket number 25791.27, filed on 11/1/1999; (15) U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/159,039, attorney docket number 25791.36, filed on 10/12/1999; (16) U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/159,033, attorney docket number 25791.37, filed on 10/12/1999; and (17) U.S. provisional patent appHcation serial number 60/165,228, attorney docket number 25791.39, filed on 11/12/1999, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. As illustrated in Fig. 2, during placement of the apparatus 200 within the weUbore 100, fluidic materials displaced by the apparatus 200 are conveyed through the longitudinal passages 210 and 225 to the transverse passage 215. In this manner, surge pressures during the placement of the apparatus 200 within the weUbore 100 are minimized. Furthermore, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the apparatus 200 is preferably initiaUy positioned with upper portion of the tubular member 250 in opposing relation to the lower portion of the preexisting weUbore casing 110. In this manner, the upper portion of the tubular member 250 may be radiaUy expanded into contact with the lower portion of the preexisting weUbore casing 110. In a preferred embodiment, during the placement of the apparatus 200 within the weUbore 100, the standoffs 260a-260h prevent the apparatus 200 from adhering to, or being drawn toward, the interior surface of the weUbore 100 in the vicinity of the porous region 120. In this manner, the apparatus 200 is approximately centered within the weUbore 100. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the transverse passage 215 may then be closed and fluidic materials injected into the apparatus 200 through the longitudinal passage 210. In this manner, any blockages within any of the passages 210, 225, and 245 may be detected by monitoring the operating pressure whereby an increase in operating pressure above nominal, or predetermined, conditions may indicate a blockage of one of the passages. As illustrated in Fig. 4, a plug 270 or other conventional stop member may then be introduced into the fluidic materials injected into the apparatus 200 through the passage 210, and the plug 270 may be positioned within the exhaust passage 245. In this manner, the exhaust passage 245 may be sealed off. Thus, continued injection of fluidic materials into the apparatus 200 through the passage 210 may thereby pressurize a region 275 below the expansion cone 220.
As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, continued pressurization of the region 275 causes the expansion cone 220 to radiaUy expand the expandable tubular member 250 off of the expansion cone. In this manner, the upper portion of the radiaUy expanded tubular member 250 is coupled to the lower portion of the preexisting weUbore casing 110. In a preferred embodiment, during the radial expansion process, the tubular support member 205 is raised out of the weUbore 100. In a preferred embodiment, throughout the radial expansion process, the standoffs 260a-260h prevent the exterior surface of the apparatus 200 from adhering to, or being drawn toward, the interior surface of the weUbore 100 in the vicinity of the porous region 120. In this manner, the apparatus 200 is preferably substantiaUy centered within the weUbore 100. Furthermore, in this manner, the longitudinal center axis of the expansion cone 220 is preferably maintained in a position that is substantiaUy coincident with the longitudinal center axis of the tubular member 250. In addition, in this manner, the stresses applied to the interior surface of the tubular member 250 by the axial displacement of the expansion cone 220 are substantiaUy even. FinaUy, in this manner, overstressing of the tubular member 250 is prevented thereby efiminating catastrophic failure of the tubular member 250.
As illustrated in Fig. 7, the shoe 240 may then be removed using a conventional milfing device. In a preferred embodiment, upon radiaUy expanding the expandable tubular member 250, the standoffs 260a-260h seal and isolate intervals within the open hole section 115. In several alternative embodiments, the standoffs 260 may be provided, for example, by annular members spaced along the length of the expandable tubular member 250 and/or a continuous member that is wrapped around the expandable tubular member 250 in hefical fashion. It is understood that variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the apparatus 200 may be used to form and/or repair, for example, a weUbore casing, a pipefine, or a structural support. Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, changes and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure. In some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is: 1. A method of forming a casing in a weUbore having a cased section and an open hole section, comprising: positioning a tubular finer within the weUbore; overlapping the tubular finer and the cased section; centering the tubular finer within the weUbore; and radiaUy expanding the tubular finer into contact with the cased section.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein centering comprises: preventing the tubular finer from adhering to the open hole section of the weUb ore .
3. A radiaUy expandable tubular member for repairing an opening in a weUbore casing, comprising: a tubular member; and one or more standoffs coupled to the exterior surface of the tubular member.
4. An apparatus for repairing an opening in a weUbore casing, comprising: a tubular support member comprising a first passage; an expansion cone coupled to the tubular support member comprising a second passage fluidicly coupled to the first passage; an expansion cone launcher coupled to the expansion cone comprising a shoe having an exhaust passage; and an expandable tubular member coupled to the expansion cone launcher comprising one or more standoffs.
5. An apparatus, comprising: a weUbore comprising a preexisting casing and an open hole section; and a radiaUy expanded tubular member coupled to the preexisting casing comprising one or more standoffs.
6. A system for forming a casing in a weUbore having a cased section and an open hole section, comprising: means for positioning a tubular finer within the weUbore; means for overlapping the tubular finer and the cased section; means for centering the tubular finer within the weUbore; and means for radiaUy expanding the tubular finer into contact with the cased section.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the means for centering comprises: means for preventing the tubular finer from adhering to the open hole section of the weUbore.
AMENDED CLAIMS
[received by the International Bureau on 16 January 2002 (16.01.02); original claims 1-7 cancelled; claims 8-19 added (7 pages)]
5. [DELETED]
6. [DELETED]
7. [DELETED]
8. In a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation and includes a cased section having a wellbore casing and an uncased section that traverses a porous subterranean zone, wherein the operating pressure of the wellbore is greater than the operating pressure of the porous subterranean zone, a method of coupling a tubular liner to the wellbore casing of the cased section of the wellbore, comprising: positioning a solid tubular liner and an expansion cone within the wellbore with the solid tubular liner overlapping the wellbore casing; during the positioning of the solid tubular liner within the wellbore, preventing the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing from contacting the porous > subterranean zone ofthe uncased section ofthe wellbore; radially expanding the solid tubular liner by injecting a fluidic material into the tubular liner to pressurize the interior ofthe solid tubular liner and displace the expansion cone relative to the solid tubular liner; and preventing the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing from contacting the porous subterranean zone of the uncased section of the wellbore during the radial expansion of the portion ofthe solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: during the positioning of the solid tubular liner within the wellbore, preventing the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing from adhering to the porous subterranean zone of the uncased section ofthe wellbore; and preventing the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing from adhering to the porous subterranean zone of the uncased section of the wellbore during the radial expansion of the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing.
10. In a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation, the wellbore including a cased section having a wellbore casing and an uncased section, a method of coupling a tubular liner to the wellbore casing of the cased section of the wellbore, comprising: positioning a solid tubular liner and an expansion cone within the wellbore with the solid tubular liner overlapping the wellbore casing; during the positioning of the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing within the wellbore, maintaining the longitudinal center line of the expansion cone in a position that is substantially coincident with the longitudinal center line of the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing; radially expanding the solid tubular liner by injecting a fluidic material into the tubular liner to pressurize the interior of the solid tubular liner and displace the expansion cone relative to the solid tubular liner; and maintaining the longitudinal center line ofthe expansion cone in a position that is substantially coincident with the longitudinal center line of the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing during the radial expansion of the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing.
11. In a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation, the wellbore including a cased section having a wellbore casing and an uncased section, a method of coupling a tubular liner to the wellbore casing of the cased section of the wellbore, comprising: positioning a solid tubular liner and an expansion cone within the wellbore; overlapping a portion of the solid tubular liner with the wellbore casing; radially expanding the solid tubular liner by injecting a fluidic material into the tubular liner to pressurize the interior of the solid tubular liner and displace the expansion cone relative to the solid tubular liner; and during the radial expansion of the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing, applying substantially equal stresses to the interior surface ofthe portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing using the expansion cone.
12. In a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation and includes a cased section having a wellbore casing and an uncased section that traverses a porous subterranean zone, wherein the operating pressure ofthe wellbore is greater than the operating pressure of the porous subterranean zone, a system for coupling a tubular liner to the wellbore casing of the cased section of the wellbore, comprising: means for positioning a solid tubular liner and an expansion cone within the wellbore with the solid tubular liner overlapping the wellbore casing; means for during the positioning of the solid tubular liner within the wellbore, preventing the portion ofthe solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing from contacting the porous subterranean zone of the uncased section of the wellbore; means for radially expanding the solid tubular liner by injecting a fluidic material into the tubular liner to pressurize the interior of the solid tubular liner and displace the expansion cone relative to the solid tubular liner; and means for preventing the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing from contacting the porous subterranean zone of the uncased section of the wellbore during the radial expansion ofthe portion of he solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing.
13. The system of claim 12, further comprising: means for during the positioning of the solid tubular liner within the wellbore, preventing the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing from adhering to the porous subterranean zone ofthe uncased section of the wellbore; and means for preventing the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing from adhering to the porous subterranean zone of the uncased section of the wellbore during the radial expansion of the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing.
14. In a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation, the wellbore including a cased section having a wellbore casing and an uncased section, a system for coupling a tubular liner to the wellbore casing of the cased section of the wellbore, comprising: means for positioning a solid tubular liner and an expansion cone within the wellbore with the solid tubular liner overlapping the wellbore casing; means for during the positioning of the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing within the wellbore, maintaining the longitudinal center line of the expansion cone in a position that is substantially coincident with the longitudinal center line ofthe portion ofthe solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing; means for radially expanding the solid tubular liner by injecting a fluidic material into the tubular liner to pressurize the interior of the solid tubular liner and displace the expansion cone relative to the solid tubular liner; and means for maintaining the longitudinal center line of the expansion cone in a position that is substantially coincident with the longitudinal center line of the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing during the radial expansion ofthe portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing.
15. In a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation, the wellbore including a cased section having a wellbore casing and an uncased section, a system for coupling a tubular liner to the wellbore casing of the cased section of the wellbore, comprising: positioning a solid tubular liner and an expansion cone within the wellbore; overlapping a portion of the solid tubular liner with the wellbore casing; radially expanding the solid tubular liner by injecting a fluidic material into the tubular liner to pressurize the interior of the solid tubular liner and displace the expansion cone relative to the solid tubular liner; and during the radial expansion of the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing, applying substantially equal stresses to the interior surface of the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing using the expansion cone.
16. An apparatus for coupling a tubular liner to a wellbore casing within a wellbore that traverses a porous subterranean formation, comprising: a tubular support member defining a first internal passage; an expansion cone coupled to the tubular support member defining a second internal passage fluidicly coupled to the first internal passage; a tubular expansion cone launcher movably coupled to and mating with the expansion cone; a solid tubular liner coupled to an end of the tubular expansion cone launcher; and a shoe coupled to another end of the tubular expansion cone launcher including a valveable passage; means for during a positioning of the solid tubular liner within the wellbore, preventing a portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing from contacting the porous subterranean zone of the wellbore; and means for preventing the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing from contacting the porous subterranean zone of the wellbore during a radial expansion of the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising: means for during the positioning ofthe solid tubular liner within the wellbore, preventing the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing from adhering to the porous subterranean zone of the wellbore; and means for preventing the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing from adhering to the porous subterranean zone of the wellbore during the radial expansion of the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing.
18. An apparatus for coupling a tubular liner to a wellbore casing within a wellbore, comprising: a tubular support member defining a first internal passage; an expansion cone coupled to the tubular support member defining a second internal passage fluidicly coupled to the first internal passage; a tubular expansion cone launcher movably coupled to and mating with the expansion cone; a tubular liner coupled to an end of the tubular expansion cone launcher; and a shoe coupled to another end of the tubular expansion cone launcher including a valveable passage; and means for during a positioning of a portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing within the wellbore, maintaining a longitudinal center line of the expansion cone in a position that is substantially coincident with a longitudinal center line of the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing; means for maintaining the longitudinal center line of the expansion cone in a position that is substantially coincident with the longitudinal center line of the solid tubular liner during a longitudinal displacement of the expansion cone relate to the tubular liner.
19. An apparatus for coupling a tubular liner to a wellbore casing within a wellbore, comprising: a tubular support member defining a first internal passage; an expansion cone coupled to the tubular support member defining a second internal passage fluidicly coupled to the first internal passage; a tubular expansion cone launcher movably coupled to and mating with the expansion cone; a tubular liner coupled to an end of the tubular expansion cone launcher; and a shoe coupled to another end of the tubular expansion cone launcher including a valveable passage; and means for during a radial expansion of a portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing, applying substantially equal stresses to the interior surface of the portion of the solid tubular liner that does not overlap with the wellbore casing using the expansion cone.
PCT/US2001/023815 2000-07-28 2001-07-27 Liner hanger with standoffs WO2002010550A1 (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0300085A GB2382367B (en) 2000-07-28 2001-07-27 Coupling an expandable liner to a wellbore casing
CA002414428A CA2414428C (en) 2000-07-28 2001-07-27 Liner hanger with standoffs
AU8302601A AU8302601A (en) 2000-07-28 2001-07-27 Liner hanger with standoffs
AU2001283026A AU2001283026B2 (en) 2000-07-28 2001-07-27 Liner hanger with standoffs
US10/322,947 US7100684B2 (en) 2000-07-28 2002-12-18 Liner hanger with standoffs
NO20030409A NO20030409L (en) 2000-07-28 2003-01-27 Feeding tube hanger with spacers

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US22164500P 2000-07-28 2000-07-28
US60/221,645 2000-07-28

Related Child Applications (1)

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US10/322,947 Continuation US7100684B2 (en) 2000-07-28 2002-12-18 Liner hanger with standoffs

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WO2002010550A1 true WO2002010550A1 (en) 2002-02-07

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PCT/US2001/023815 WO2002010550A1 (en) 2000-07-28 2001-07-27 Liner hanger with standoffs

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AU (2) AU8302601A (en)
CA (1) CA2414428C (en)
GB (1) GB2382367B (en)
NO (1) NO20030409L (en)
WO (1) WO2002010550A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO20030409D0 (en) 2003-01-27
NO20030409L (en) 2003-01-27
GB0300085D0 (en) 2003-02-05
CA2414428C (en) 2007-11-27
CA2414428A1 (en) 2002-02-07
GB2382367B (en) 2004-09-22
AU2001283026B2 (en) 2006-02-16
AU8302601A (en) 2002-02-13
GB2382367A (en) 2003-05-28

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