Claims
- 1. A method of lubricating the interface between a tubular member and an expansion device comprising an expansion surface during the radial expansion of the tubular member by the expansion device, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the expansion surface of the expansion device includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, comprising:
injecting a lubricating fluid through at least a portion of the expansion device into the trailing edge portion.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lubricating fluid has a viscosity ranging from about 1 to 10,000 centipoise.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the injecting comprises: injecting the lubricating fluid through the expansion surface of the expansion device.
- 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the injecting comprises:
injecting the lubricating fluid into the area around the axial midpoint of the expansion surface of the expansion device.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the expansion device further comprises another portion coupled to the expansion surface; and wherein the injecting comprises: injecting the lubricating fluid into the other portion of the expansion device.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the expansion device further comprises a another portion coupled to the expansion surface; and wherein the injecting comprises:
injecting the lubricating fluid through the expansion surface and the other portion of the expansion device.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the injecting comprises:
injecting the lubricating fluid into the interior of the expansion device.
- 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the injecting comprises: injecting the lubricating fluid through the expansion surface of the expansion device.
- 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the injecting comprises:
injecting the lubricating fluid into a plurality of discrete locations along the trailing edge portion.
- 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the lubricating fluid comprises:
drilling mud.
- 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the lubricating fluid further includes:
TorqTrim III; EP Mudlib; and DrillN-Slid.
- 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the lubricating fluid comprises:
TorqTrim III; EP Mudlib; and DrillN-Slid.
- 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the tubular member comprises a wellbore casing.
- 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the tubular member comprises a pipeline.
- 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the tubular member comprises a structural support.
- 16. A system for lubricating the interface between a tubular member and an expansion device comprising an expansion surface during the radial expansion of the tubular member by the expansion device, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the expansion surface of the expansion device includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, comprising:
means for injecting a lubricating fluid through at least a portion of the expansion device into the trailing edge portion.
- 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the lubricating fluid has a viscosity ranging from about 1 to 10,000 centipoise.
- 18. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for injecting comprises:
means for injecting the lubricating fluid through the expansion surface of the expansion device.
- 19. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for injecting comprises:
means for injecting the lubricating fluid into the area around the axial midpoint of the expansion surface of the expansion device.
- 20. The system of claim 16, wherein the expansion device further comprises another portion coupled to the expansion surface; and wherein the means for injecting comprises:
means for injecting the lubricating fluid into the other portion of the expansion device.
- 21. The system of claim 16, wherein the expansion device further comprises another portion coupled to the expansion surface; and wherein the means for injecting comprises:
means for injecting the lubricating fluid through the expansion surface and the other portion of the expansion device.
- 22. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for injecting comprises:
means for injecting the lubricating fluid into the interior of the expansion device.
- 23. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for injecting comprises:
means for injecting the lubricating fluid through the expansion surface of the expansion device.
- 24. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for injecting comprises:
means for injecting the lubricating fluid into a plurality of discrete locations along the trailing edge portion.
- 25. The system of claim 16, wherein the lubricating fluid comprises:
drilling mud.
- 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the lubricating fluid further includes:
TorqTrim III; EP Mudlib; and DrillN-Slid.
- 27. The system of claim 16, wherein the lubricating fluid comprises:
TorqTrim III; EP Mudlib; and DrillN-Slid.
- 28. The system of claim 16, wherein the tubular member comprises a wellbore casing.
- 29. The system of claim 16, wherein the tubular member comprises a pipeline.
- 30. The system of claim 16, wherein the tubular member comprises a structural support.
- 31. A method of lubricating the interface between a tubular member and an expansion device comprising an expansion surface during the radial expansion of the tubular member by the expansion device, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the expansion surface of the expansion device includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, comprising:
injecting a lubricating fluid into the expansion device through a plurality of passages; and exhausting the lubricating fluid from the passages through the expansion surface of the expansion device into a plurality of discrete locations along the trailing edge portion.
- 32. A method of lubricating the interface between a tubular member and an expansion device comprising an expansion surface during the radial expansion of the tubular member by the expansion device, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the expansion surface of the expansion device includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, comprising:
injecting a lubricating fluid through the expansion device through a plurality of grooves formed in the expansion surface in the expansion device; and exhausting the lubricating fluid from the grooves into a plurality of discrete locations along the trailing edge portion.
- 33. A method of lubricating the interface between a tubular member and an expansion device comprising an expansion surface during the radial expansion of the tubular member by the expansion device, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the expansion surface of the expansion device includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, comprising:
injecting a lubricating fluid into the expansion device through a plurality of passages; and exhausting the lubricating fluid from the passages through the expansion surface into a plurality of discrete locations along the trailing edge portion.
- 34. A method of lubricating the interface between a tubular member and an expansion device comprising an expansion surface during the radial expansion of the tubular member by the expansion device, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the expansion surface of the expansion device includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, comprising:
injecting a lubricating fluid through the expansion device through a plurality of supply grooves; and exhausting the lubricating fluid from the supply grooves through a plurality of lubricating grooves into a plurality of discrete locations along the trailing edge portion.
- 35. A method of lubricating the interface between a tubular member and an expansion device comprising an expansion surface during the radial expansion of the tubular member by the expansion device, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the expansion surface of the expansion device includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, comprising:
injecting a lubricating fluid into the interior of the expansion device; and injecting the lubricating fluid into the trailing edge portion.
- 36. A method of lubricating the interface between a tubular member and an expansion device comprising an expansion surface during the radial expansion of the tubular member by the expansion device, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the expansion surface of the expansion device includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, comprising:
injecting a lubricating fluid through the expansion surface of the expansion device; and injecting the lubricating fluid into the trailing edge portion.
- 37. A method of lubricating the interface between a tubular member and an expansion device comprising an expansion surface during the radial expansion of the tubular member by the expansion device, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the expansion surface of the expansion device includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, comprising:
injecting a lubricating fluid into a plurality of discrete locations along the; trailing edge portion; and injecting the lubricating fluid into the trailing edge portion.
- 38. A system for lubricating the interface between a tubular member and an expansion device comprising an expansion surface during the radial expansion of the tubular member by the expansion device, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the expansion surface of the expansion device includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, comprising:
means for injecting a lubricating fluid into the interior of the expansion cone; and means for injecting the lubricating fluid into the trailing edge portion.
- 39. A system for lubricating the interface between a tubular member and an expansion device comprising an expansion surface during the radial expansion of the tubular member by the expansion device, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the expansion surface of the expansion device includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, comprising:
means for injecting a lubricating fluid through the expansion surface of the expansion device; and means for injecting the lubricating fluid into the trailing edge portion.
- 40. A system for lubricating the interface between a tubular member and an expansion device comprising an expansion surface during the radial expansion of the tubular member by the expansion device, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the expansion surface of the expansion device includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, comprising:
means for injecting a lubricating fluid into a plurality of discrete locations along the trailing edge portion; and means for injecting the lubricating fluid into the trailing edge portion.
- 41. A method of radially expanding a tubular member, comprising:
positioning an expansion device comprising an expansion surface for engaging the tubular member; pressurizing a region within the tubular member proximate the expansion device; and lubricating the interface between the tubular member and the expansion device, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the expansion surface of the expansion device includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, by a process comprising:
injecting a lubricating fluid into the interior of the expansion device; and injecting the lubricating fluid into the trailing edge portion.
- 42. A method of radially expanding a tubular member, comprising:
positioning an expansion device comprising an expansion surface at least partially within the tubular member; pressurizing a region within the tubular member proximate the expansion device; and lubricating the interface between the tubular member and the expansion device, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the expansion surface of the expansion device includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, by a process comprising:
injecting a lubricating fluid through the expansion surface of the expansion device; and injecting the lubricating fluid into the trailing edge portion.
- 43. A method of radially expanding a tubular member, comprising:
positioning an expansion device comprising an expansion surface at least partially within the tubular member; pressurizing a region within the tubular member proximate the expansion device; and lubricating the interface between the tubular member and the expansion device, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the expansion surface of the expansion device includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, by a process comprising: injecting a lubricating fluid into a plurality of discrete locations along the trailing edge portion; and injecting the lubricating fluid into the trailing edge portion.
- 44. A system for lubricating the interface between a tubular member and an expansion cone comprising a tapered portion during the radial expansion of the tubular member by the expansion cone, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the tapered portion of the expansion cone includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, comprising:
means for injecting a lubricating fluid through at least a portion of the expansion cone into the trailing edge portion comprising means for injecting the lubricating fluid into the tapered portion of the expansion cone.
- 45. A system for lubricating the interface between a tubular member and an expansion cone comprising a tapered portion during the radial expansion of the tubular member by the expansion cone, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the tapered portion of the expansion cone includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, comprising:
means for injecting a lubricating fluid through at least a portion of the expansion cone into the trailing edge portion comprising means for injecting the lubricating fluid into the area around the axial midpoint of the tapered portion of the expansion cone.
- 46. A system for lubricating the interface between a tubular member and an expansion cone comprising a tapered portion and another portion during the radial expansion of the tubular member by the expansion cone, wherein the interface between the tubular member and the tapered portion of the expansion cone includes a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, comprising:
means for injecting a lubricating fluid through at least a portion of the expansion cone into the trailing edge portion comprising means for injecting the lubricating fluid into the tapered portion and the other portion of the expansion cone.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/588,946, attorney docket number 25791.17.02, which claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/137,998, attorney docket no. 25791.17, filed on Jun. 7, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/559,122, attorney docket number 25791.23.02, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/131,106, filed on Arp. 26, 1999, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/523,460, attorney docket number 25791.11.02, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/124,042, filed on Mar. 11, 1999, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,913, attorney docket number 25791.7.02, 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, attorney docket number 25791.8.02, filed on Feb. 10, 2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/119,611, attorney docket number 25791.8, filed on Feb. 11, 1999, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/454,139, attorney docket number 25791.3.02, 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.
[0002] This application is related to the following co-pending applications: provisional patent application No. 60/108,558, filed Nov. 16, 1998, provisional patent application No. 60/111,293, filed Dec. 7, 1998, provisional patent application No. 60/119,611, filed Feb. 11, 1999, provisional patent application No. 60/121,702, filed Feb. 25, 1999, provisional patent application No. 60/121,907, filed Feb. 26, 1999, provisional patent application No. 60/124,042, filed Mar. 11, 1999, and provisional patent application No. 60/131,106, filed Apr. 26, 1999, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (6)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60137998 |
Jun 1999 |
US |
|
60131106 |
Apr 1999 |
US |
|
60124042 |
Mar 1999 |
US |
|
60121702 |
Feb 1999 |
US |
|
60119611 |
Feb 1999 |
US |
|
60111293 |
Dec 1998 |
US |
Continuations (6)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
09588946 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Child |
10382325 |
Mar 2003 |
US |
Parent |
09559122 |
Apr 2000 |
US |
Child |
10382325 |
Mar 2003 |
US |
Parent |
09523460 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
Child |
10382325 |
Mar 2003 |
US |
Parent |
09510913 |
Feb 2000 |
US |
Child |
10382325 |
Mar 2003 |
US |
Parent |
09502350 |
Feb 2000 |
US |
Child |
10382325 |
Mar 2003 |
US |
Parent |
09454139 |
Dec 1999 |
US |
Child |
10382325 |
Mar 2003 |
US |