Claims
- 1. A method of forming a wellhead, comprising:drilling a wellbore; positioning an outer casing at least partially within an upper portion of the wellbore; positioning a first tubular member within the outer casing; expanding at least a portion of the first tubular member into contact with an interior surface of the outer casing; positioning a second tubular member within the outer casing and the first tubular member; and expanding at least a portion of the second tubular member into contact with an interior portion of the outer casing; wherein, after expanding the portions of the first and second tubular members into contact with the interior portion of the outer casing, at least a portion of the second tubular member is positioned within the first tubular member; and wherein, after expanding the portions of the first and second tubular members into contact with the interior portion of the outer casing, the first tubular member and the second tubular member define an annular passage there between.
- 2. The method of claim 1, further including pressurizing at least a portion of the interiors of the first and second tubular members.
- 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the pressurizing of the portion of the interior region of the first and second tubular members is provided at reduced operating pressures during a latter portion of the expansions.
- 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:sealing the contact between the first and second tubular members and the outer casing.
- 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:supporting the expanded first and second tubular members using their contacts with the outer casing.
- 6. The method of claim 1, further including extruding the first and second tubular members off of a mandrel.
- 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:injecting fluidic material beyond the mandrel.
- 8. The method of claim 6, wherein a region of the first and second tubular members beyond the mandrel is pressurized.
- 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:fluidicly isolating an interior region of the first tubular member from an exterior region of the first tubular member.
- 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:fluidicly isolating an interior region of the second tubular member from an exterior region of the second tubular member.
- 11. The method of claim 1, wherein, after expanding the portions of the first and second tubular members into contact with the interior portion of the outer casing, the first tubular member, the second tubular member, and the outer casing are positioned substantially concentrically with respect to one another.
- 12. A wellbore casing, comprising:a first tubular member; and a second tubular member coupled to the first tubular member in an overlapping relationship by a process comprising: positioning the second tubular member within the first tubular member with at least a portion of the second tubular member overlapping with a portion of the first tubular member; and radially expanding the overlapping portions of the first and second tubular members; wherein the inner diameter of the radially unexpanded portion of the first tubular member is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the radially expanded portion of the second tubular member.
- 13. The wellbore casing of claim 12, wherein the first tubular member includes a first thin wall section, wherein the second tubular member includes a second thin wall section, and wherein the process for coupling the first and second tubular members in an overlapping relationship further comprises:overlapping the first thin wall section of the first tubular member with the second thin wall section of the second tubular member; and radially expanding the first and second thin wall sections of the first and second tubular members.
- 14. The wellbore casing of claim 13, wherein the first tubular member includes a first compressible member coupled to the first thin wall section, and wherein the second tubular member includes a second compressible member coupled to the second thin wall section.
- 15. The wellbore casing of claim 14, wherein the process for coupling the first and second tubular members in an overlapping relationship further comprises:radially expanding the first thin wall section and the first compressible member and the second thin wall section and the second compressible member.
- 16. The wellbore casing of claim 12, wherein the inner diameter of the radially unexpanded portion of the first tubular member is substantially constant.
- 17. The wellbore casing of claim 12, wherein the inner diameter of the radially expanded portion of the second tubular member is substantially constant.
- 18. The wellbore casing of claim 12, wherein the inner diameter of the radially unexpanded portion of the first tubular member is substantially constant; and wherein the inner diameter of the radially expanded portion of the second tubular member is substantially constant.
- 19. A wellbore casing, comprising:a first tubular member having a first inside diameter; and a second tubular member having a second inside diameter substantially equal to the first inside diameter coupled to the first tubular member in an overlapping relationship; wherein the first and second tubular members are coupled by a process comprising deforming the overlapping portions of the first and second tubular members; and wherein the second tubular member is radially expanded by the process comprising: supporting the second tubular member and a mandrel within the wellbore using a support member; injecting a fluidic material into the wellbore; pressurizing an interior region of the mandrel; and displacing a portion of the mandrel relative to the support member.
- 20. The wellbore casing of claim 19, wherein the second tubular member is deformed by the process of:placing the first and second tubular members in an overlapping relationship; radially expanding at least a portion of the first tubular member; and radially expanding the second tubular member.
- 21. The wellbore casing of claim 19, wherein the injecting includes:injecting hardenable fluidic sealing material into an annular region located between the borehole and the exterior of the second liner; and injecting non hardenable fluidic material into an interior region of the mandrel.
- 22. The wellbore casing of claim 21, further comprising:fluidicly isolating the annular region from the interior region of the mandrel before injecting the non hardenable fluidic material into the interior region of the mandrel.
- 23. The wellbore casing of claim 21, wherein the injecting of the non hardenable fluidic material is provided at reduced operating pressures and flow rates during an end portion of the radial expansion.
- 24. The wellbore casing of claim 19, wherein the fluidic material is injected into one or more annular pressure chambers defined within the mandrel.
- 25. The wellbore casing of claim 19, further comprising:fluidicly isolating an interior region of the mandrel from an exterior region of the mandrel.
- 26. The wellbore casing of claim 19, further comprising:sealing the overlap between the first and second tubular members.
- 27. The wellbore casing of claim 19, further comprising:supporting the second tubular member using the overlap with the first tubular member.
- 28. The wellbore casing of claim 19, wherein the mandrel reciprocates relative to the support member.
- 29. The wellbore casing of claim 19, wherein the mandrel is displaced in a first direction during the pressurization of the interior region of the mandrel; and wherein the mandrel is displaced in a second direction during a de-pressurization of the interior region of the mandrel.
- 30. The wellbore casing of claim 19, wherein the second tubular liner is maintained in a substantially stationary position by the support member during the pressurization of the interior region of the mandrel.
- 31. The wellbore casing of claim 30, wherein the second tubular liner is supported by the mandrel during a de-pressurization of the interior region of the mandrel.
- 32. The wellbore casing of claim 19, wherein the first inside diameter of the first tubular member is substantially constant.
- 33. The wellbore casing of claim 19, wherein the second inside diameter of the second tubular member is substantially constant.
- 34. The wellbore casing of claim 19, wherein the first inside diameter of the first tubular member is substantially constant; and wherein the second inside diameter of the second tubular member is substantially constant.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/124,042, filed on Mar. 11, 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,913, filed Feb. 23, 2000 which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/121,702, filed on Feb. 25, 1999, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/502,350, filed on Feb. 10, 2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/119,611, filed on Feb. 11, 1999, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/454,139, filed on Dec. 3, 1999, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/111,293, filed on Dec. 7, 1998.
This application is related to the following U.S. patent applications: (1) patent application Ser. No. 09/440,338, filed on Nov. 16, 1999, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of provisional patent application No. 60/108,558, filed on Nov. 16, 1998; (2) patent application Ser. No. 09/454,139, filed on Dec. 3, 1999, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of provisional patent application No. 60/111,293, filed on Dec. 7, 1998; (3) patent application Ser. No. 09/502,350, filed on Feb. 10, 2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of provisional patent application No. 60/119,611, filed on Feb. 11, 1999; (4) provisional patent application No. 60/121,702, filed on Feb. 25, 1999; (5) provisional patent application No. 60/121,841, filed on Feb. 26, 1999; (6) provisional patent application No. 60/121,907, filed on Feb. 26, 1999; (7) provisional patent application No. 60/124,042, filed on Mar. 11, 1999; (8) provisional patent (9) provisional patent application No. 60/137,998, filed on Jun. 7, 1999; (10) provisional patent application No. 60/143,039, filed on Jul. 9, 1999; (11) provisional patent application No. 60/146,203, filed on Jul. 29, 1999; (12) provisional patent application No. 60/154,047, filed on Sep. 16, 1999; (13) provisional patent application No. 60/159,082, filed on Oct. 12, 1999; (14) provisional patent application No. 60/159,039, filed on Oct. 12, 1999; (13) provisional patent application No. 60/159,033, filed on Oct. 12, 1999; and (15) provisional patent application No. 60/162,671, filed on Nov. 1, 1999.
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JP |
107870 |
Apr 2000 |
JP |
162192 |
Jun 2000 |
JP |
9001081 |
Dec 1991 |
NL |
113267 |
May 1998 |
RO |
2016345 |
Jul 1994 |
RU |
2039214 |
Jul 1995 |
RU |
2056201 |
Mar 1996 |
RU |
2064357 |
Jul 1996 |
RU |
2068940 |
Nov 1996 |
RU |
2068943 |
Nov 1996 |
RU |
2079633 |
May 1997 |
RU |
2083798 |
Jul 1997 |
RU |
2091655 |
Sep 1997 |
RU |
2095179 |
Nov 1997 |
RU |
2105128 |
Feb 1998 |
RU |
2108445 |
Apr 1998 |
RU |
2144128 |
Jan 2000 |
RU |
350833 |
Sep 1972 |
SU |
607950 |
May 1978 |
SU |
612004 |
May 1978 |
SU |
620582 |
Jul 1978 |
SU |
641070 |
Jan 1979 |
SU |
909114 |
May 1979 |
SU |
874952 |
Jun 1979 |
SU |
832049 |
May 1981 |
SU |
853089 |
Aug 1981 |
SU |
894169 |
Jan 1982 |
SU |
899850 |
Jan 1982 |
SU |
907220 |
Feb 1982 |
SU |
953172 |
Aug 1982 |
SU |
959878 |
Sep 1982 |
SU |
976019 |
Nov 1982 |
SU |
976020 |
Nov 1982 |
SU |
989038 |
Jan 1983 |
SU |
1002514 |
Mar 1983 |
SU |
1041671 |
Sep 1983 |
SU |
1051222 |
Oct 1983 |
SU |
1086118 |
Apr 1984 |
SU |
1158400 |
May 1985 |
SU |
1212575 |
Feb 1986 |
SU |
1250637 |
Aug 1986 |
SU |
1411434 |
Jul 1988 |
SU |
1430498 |
Oct 1988 |
SU |
1432190 |
Oct 1988 |
SU |
1601330 |
Oct 1990 |
SU |
1627663 |
Feb 1991 |
SU |
1659621 |
Jun 1991 |
SU |
1663179 |
Jul 1991 |
SU |
1663180 |
Jul 1991 |
SU |
1677225 |
Sep 1991 |
SU |
1677248 |
Sep 1991 |
SU |
1686123 |
Oct 1991 |
SU |
1686124 |
Oct 1991 |
SU |
1686125 |
Oct 1991 |
SU |
1698413 |
Dec 1991 |
SU |
1710694 |
Feb 1992 |
SU |
1730429 |
Apr 1992 |
SU |
1745873 |
Jul 1992 |
SU |
1747673 |
Jul 1992 |
SU |
1749267 |
Jul 1992 |
SU |
1786241 |
Jan 1993 |
SU |
1804543 |
Mar 1993 |
SU |
1810482 |
Apr 1993 |
SU |
1818459 |
May 1993 |
SU |
1295799 |
Feb 1995 |
SU |
8100132 |
Jan 1981 |
WO |
9005598 |
Mar 1990 |
WO |
9201859 |
Feb 1992 |
WO |
9208875 |
May 1992 |
WO |
9325799 |
Dec 1993 |
WO |
9325800 |
Dec 1993 |
WO |
9421887 |
Sep 1994 |
WO |
9425655 |
Nov 1994 |
WO |
9503476 |
Feb 1995 |
WO |
9601937 |
Jan 1996 |
WO |
9621083 |
Jul 1996 |
WO |
9626350 |
Aug 1996 |
WO |
9637681 |
Nov 1996 |
WO |
9706346 |
Feb 1997 |
WO |
9711306 |
Mar 1997 |
WO |
9717524 |
May 1997 |
WO |
9717526 |
May 1997 |
WO |
9717527 |
May 1997 |
WO |
9720130 |
Jun 1997 |
WO |
9721901 |
Jun 1997 |
WO |
9800626 |
Jan 1998 |
WO |
9807957 |
Feb 1998 |
WO |
9809053 |
Mar 1998 |
WO |
9822690 |
May 1998 |
WO |
9826152 |
Jun 1998 |
WO |
9842947 |
Oct 1998 |
WO |
9849423 |
Nov 1998 |
WO |
9902818 |
Jan 1999 |
WO |
9904135 |
Jan 1999 |
WO |
9906670 |
Feb 1999 |
WO |
9908827 |
Feb 1999 |
WO |
9908828 |
Feb 1999 |
WO |
9918328 |
Apr 1999 |
WO |
9923354 |
May 1999 |
WO |
9925524 |
May 1999 |
WO |
9925951 |
May 1999 |
WO |
9935368 |
Jul 1999 |
WO |
9943923 |
Sep 1999 |
WO |
0001926 |
Jan 2000 |
WO |
0004271 |
Jan 2000 |
WO |
0008301 |
Feb 2000 |
WO |
0026500 |
May 2000 |
WO |
0026501 |
May 2000 |
WO |
0026502 |
May 2000 |
WO |
0031375 |
Jun 2000 |
WO |
0037767 |
Jun 2000 |
WO |
0037768 |
Jun 2000 |
WO |
0037771 |
Jun 2000 |
WO |
0037772 |
Jun 2000 |
WO |
0039432 |
Jul 2000 |
WO |
0046484 |
Aug 2000 |
WO |
0050727 |
Aug 2000 |
WO |
0050732 |
Aug 2000 |
WO |
0050733 |
Aug 2000 |
WO |
0077431 |
Dec 2000 |
WO |
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Entry |
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Search Report to Application No. GB 0004285.3, Claims Searched 2-3, 8-9, 13-16, Jan. 17, 2001. |
Search Report to Application No. GB 0005399.1, Claims Searched 25-29, Feb. 15, 2001. |
Search Report to Application No. GB 9930398.4, Claims Searched 1-35, Jun. 27, 2000. |
International Search Report, Application No. PCT/US00/30022, Oct. 31, 2000. |
International Search Report, Application No. PCT/US01/19014, Jun. 12, 2001. |
Provisional Applications (4)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/124042 |
Mar 1999 |
US |
|
60/121702 |
Feb 1999 |
US |
|
60/119611 |
Feb 1999 |
US |
|
60/111293 |
Dec 1998 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/510913 |
Feb 2000 |
US |
Child |
09/523468 |
|
US |
Parent |
09/502350 |
Feb 2000 |
US |
Child |
09/510913 |
|
US |
Parent |
09/454139 |
Dec 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/502350 |
|
US |