Claims
- 1. An apparatus for expanding a tubular in a wellbore, comprising:
a tubular run-in string to transport the apparatus into the wellbore and to provide fluid thereto; and an expander tool, disposable in the tubular, the expander tool rotatable and having a plurality of elements radially therefrom, the elements extendable with the application of pressurized fluid.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the run-in string is coiled tubing.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the coiled tubing is supplied from a reel at the surface of the wellbore.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the well is a live well and the coiled tubing is runable through a device for maintaining pressure integrity.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further including a mud motor disposed on the coiled tubing, the mud motor providing rotational force to the expander tool.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5, further including a tractor disposed on the coil tubing, the tractor providing axial movement of the apparatus within the wellbore.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the tractor includes radially extendable members to grip the tubular, the members being extendable with the application of pressurized fluid.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the mud motor further provides rotational force to the tractor.
- 9. An apparatus for expanding a tubular, the apparatus comprising:
a tubular run-in string; a rotatable expander tool disposed on the run-in string and locatable in the tubular, the expander tool including:
a body with at least one opening formed in a wall thereof; and at least one roller assembly disposed within the body, the assembly including at least one radially extendible roller arranged to extend from the opening with the application of a pressurized fluid to contact the inside wall of the tubular therearound; and a mud motor disposed on the run-in string and operable with the pressurized fluid for providing rotation to the expander tool.
- 10. A method of supporting a junction between a first and second wellbores, comprising:
inserting an apparatus in the first wellbore, the wellbore extending from the surface of the well and the apparatus including an expander tool with extendable members; inserting the apparatus into the second wellbore, the wellbore having a tubular member disposed therein and an annular area between the tubular member and an aperture formed in the first wellbore from which the second wellbore extends; positioning the apparatus adjacent the annular area; actuating the expander tool whereby the extendable members contact the inside wall of the tubular; and expanding, through the use of the extendable members, the wall of the tubular into substantial contact with the aperture formed in the first wellbore, thereby structurally supporting the junction therebetween.
- 11. The method of claim 10, whereby the junction is sealed.
- 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first wellbore is lined with a tubular and the aperture in the first wellbore is formed in the tubular.
- 13. An apparatus for expanding a tubular in a wellbore, the apparatus comprising:
a rotatable expander tool having a body with at least one opening formed in a wall thereof and at least one roller assembly disposed within the body, the tool including at least one hydraulically actuatable, radially extendible roller arranged to contact the inside wall of the tubular therearound; a housing disposed above the expander tool, the housing including: a hydraulically actuatable slip assembly disposed therein and having slip members extendable radially from the housing to engage the wall of a tubular therearound;
at least one pump therein for actuating the slip assembly and the expander tool; at least one source of pressurisable fluid in communication with the expander tool, the slip assembly and the at least one pump;
at least one motor for operating the at least one pump and for providing rotation to the expander tool.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one motor is an electric motor.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 13, further including a tractor for using the apparatus in an axial direction within the wellbore.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the slip members prevent rotational movement of the housing but to permit axial movement of the housing within the wellbore.
- 17. A method of expanding a second tubular into a window in a wall of a first tubular comprising:
locating a portion of the second tubular in the window; locating an expansion tool in the second tubular proximate the window; energizing the expansion tool and causing extendable members therein to extend radially to contact an inner wall of the second tubular; and expanding the second tubular into substantial contact with the window.
- 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the expansion tool is a rotatable expansion tool.
- 19. The method of claim 17, further including:
moving the energized expander tool axially within the second tubular to produce a longitudinal portion of expanded tubular.
- 20. An apparatus for sealing a junction between a central and a lateral wellbores, the apparatus comprising:
a tubular run-in string to transport the apparatus into the wellbore and to provide fluid thereto; and an expander tool, rotatable and having a plurality of radially extendable elements extendable therefrom, the elements extendable with the application of pressurized fluid.
- 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the expander tool is locatable within a tubular in the lateral wellbore adjacent a point at which the tubular exits a window formed in a tubular lining the central wellbore.
- 22. A method for forming helical grooves in a tubular member in a well, comprising:
running a tool having a cone shaped body into an interior of the tubular member; energizing a plurality of rollers in the body whereby the rollers provide a radial force against an inner surface of the tubular member, the rollers having a helical geometry; and rotating and advancing the tool within the tubular member to form the helical grooves.
- 23. The method of claim 21, wherein advancing the tool comprises moving the tool axially within the tubular member.
- 24. The method of claim 21, wherein pressurized fluid energizes the plurality of rollers.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This is a divisional of copending application Ser. No. 09/825,508 filed on Apr. 6, 2001. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/825,508 claims priority to Provisional U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 60/202,335, filed on May 5, 2000 and is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/469,690, filed on Dec. 22, 1999, and is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent Ser. No. 09/469,692, filed on Dec. 22, 1999, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, which is not inconsistent with the disclosure herein.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60202335 |
May 2000 |
US |
Divisions (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09828508 |
Apr 2001 |
US |
Child |
10212304 |
Aug 2002 |
US |
Parent |
09469692 |
Dec 1999 |
US |
Child |
10212304 |
Aug 2002 |
US |
Parent |
09469690 |
Dec 1999 |
US |
Child |
10212304 |
Aug 2002 |
US |