Mono-diameter wellbore casing

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to wellbore casings, and in particular to wellbore casings that are formed using expandable tubing.

Conventionally, when a wellbore is created, a number of casings are installed in the borehole to prevent collapse of the borehole wall and to prevent undesired outflow of drilling 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 installed in a lower borehole interval is lowered through a previously installed casing of an upper borehole interval. As a consequence of this procedure the casing of the lower interval is of smaller diameter than the casing of the upper interval. Thus, the casings are in a nested arrangement with casing diameters decreasing in downward direction. Cement annuli are provided between the outer surfaces of the casings and the borehole wall to seal the casings from the borehole wall. As a consequence of this nested arrangement a relatively large borehole diameter is required at the upper part of the wellbore. Such a large borehole diameter involves increased costs due to heavy casing handling equipment, large drill bits and increased volumes of drilling 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 drilled in the course of the well, and the large volume of cuttings drilled and removed.

The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations of the existing procedures for forming new sections of casing in a wellbore.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for forming a wellbore casing in a borehole located in a subterranean formation including a preexisting wellbore casing is provided that includes a support member including a first fluid passage, an expansion cone coupled to the support member including a second fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage, an expandable tubular liner movably coupled to the expansion cone, and an expandable shoe coupled to the expandable tubular liner. The expansion cone is adjustable to a plurality of stationary positions.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole is provided that includes installing a tubular liner, an adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole, radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by a process comprising: adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a first outside diameter, and injecting a fluidic material into the shoe, and radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner by a process comprising: adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a second outside diameter, and injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the expansion cone.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a system for forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole is provided that includes means for installing a tubular liner, an adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole, means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe comprising: means for adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a first outside diameter, and means for injecting a fluidic material into the shoe, and means for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner comprising: means for adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a second outside diameter, and means for injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the adjustable expansion cone.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a wellbore casing positioned in a borehole within a subterranean formation is provided that includes a first wellbore casing comprising: an upper portion of the first wellbore casing, and a lower portion of the first wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the first wellbore casing, wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the first wellbore casing, and a second wellbore casing comprising: an upper portion of the second wellbore casing that overlaps with and is coupled to the lower portion of the first wellbore casing, and a lower portion of the second wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the second wellbore casing, wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing, and wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is equal to the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing. The second wellbore casing is coupled to the first wellbore casing by the process of: installing the second wellbore casing and an adjustable expansion cone within the borehole, radially expanding at least a portion of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising: adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a first outside diameter, and injecting a fluidic material into the second wellbore casing, and radially expanding at least a portion of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising: adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a second outside diameter, and injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the adjustable expansion cone.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for forming a wellbore casing in a borehole located in a subterranean formation including a preexisting wellbore casing is provided that includes a support member including a first fluid passage, a first adjustable expansion cone coupled to the support member including a second fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage, a second adjustable expansion cone coupled to the support member including a third fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage, an expandable tubular liner movably coupled to the first and second adjustable expansion cones, and an expandable shoe coupled to the expandable tubular liner.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole is provided that includes installing a tubular liner, an upper adjustable expansion cone, a lower adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole, radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by a process comprising: adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter, and injecting a fluidic material into the shoe, and radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner by a process comprising: adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to a reduced outside diameter, adjusting the upper adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter, and injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the lower adjustable expansion cone.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a system for forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole is provided that includes means for installing a tubular liner, an upper adjustable expansion cone, a lower adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole, means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe comprising: means for adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter, and means for injecting a fluidic material into the shoe, and means for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner comprising: means for adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to a reduced outside diameter, means for adjusting the upper adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter, and means for injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the lower adjustable expansion cone.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a wellbore casing positioned in a borehole within a subterranean formation is provided that includes a first wellbore casing comprising: an upper portion of the first wellbore casing, and a lower portion of the first wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the first wellbore casing, wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the first wellbore casing, and a second wellbore casing comprising: an upper portion of the second wellbore casing that overlaps with and is coupled to the lower portion of the first wellbore casing, and a lower portion of the second wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the second wellbore casing, wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing, and wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is equal to the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing. The second wellbore casing is coupled to the first wellbore casing by the process of: installing the second wellbore casing, an upper adjustable expansion cone, a lower adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole, radially expanding at least a portion of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing shoe by a process comprising: adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter, and injecting a fluidic material into the lower portion of the second wellbore casing, and radially expanding at least a portion of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising: adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to a reduced outside diameter, adjusting the upper adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter, and injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the lower adjustable expansion cone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the drilling of a new section of a well borehole.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the placement of an embodiment of an apparatus for creating a mono-diameter wellbore casing within the new section of the well borehole of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2
a is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2
b is a cross-sectional view of another portion of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2
c is a cross-sectional view of another portion of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2
d is a cross-sectional view of another portion of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2
e is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 2c.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the injection of a hardenable fluidic sealing material through the apparatus and into the new section of the well borehole of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3
a is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3
b is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 3a.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the injection of a fluidic material into the apparatus of FIG. 3 in order to fluidicly isolate the interior of the shoe.

FIG. 4
a is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4
b is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 4a.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the radial expansion of the shoe of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the lowering of the expandable expansion cone into the radially expanded shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the expansion of the expandable expansion cone of the apparatus of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the injection of fluidic material into the radially expanded shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the completion of the radial expansion of the expandable tubular member of the apparatus of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the removal of the bottom portion of the radially expanded shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the formation of a mono-diameter wellbore casing that includes a plurality of overlapping mono-diameter wellbore casings.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the placement of an alternative embodiment of an apparatus for creating a mono-diameter wellbore casing within the wellbore of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12
a is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 12.

FIG. 12
b is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 12.

FIG. 12
c is a cross-sectional view of another portion of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 12.

FIG. 12
d is a cross-sectional view of another portion of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 12.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the injection of a hardenable fluidic sealing material through the apparatus and into the new section of the well borehole of FIG. 12.

FIG. 13
a is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 13.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the injection of a fluidic material into the apparatus of FIG. 13 in order to fluidicly isolate the interior of the shoe.

FIG. 14
a is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 14.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the radial expansion of the shoe of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the lowering of the expandable expansion cone into the radially expanded shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the expansion of the expandable expansion cone of the apparatus of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the injection of fluidic material into the radially expanded shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the completion of the radial expansion of the expandable tubular member of the apparatus of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the removal of the bottom portion of the radially expanded shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the lowering of the expandable expansion cone of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus for forming a wellbore casing into the radially expanded shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 6.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the expansion of the expandable expansion cone of the apparatus of FIG. 21 to a first outside diameter.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the injection of fluidic material into the radially expanded shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the expansion of the expandable expansion cone of the apparatus of FIG. 23 to a second outside diameter.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the injection of fluidic material into the radially expanded shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the completion of the radial expansion of the expandable tubular member of the apparatus of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the removal of the bottom portion of the radially expanded shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the formation of a mono-diameter wellbore casing that includes a plurality of overlapping mono-diameter wellbore casings.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the lowering of the expandable expansion cones of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus for forming a wellbore casing into the radially expanded shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 21.

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the expansion of the lower expandable expansion cone of the apparatus of FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the injection of fluidic material into the radially expanded shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the expansion of the upper expandable expansion cone and the retraction of the lower expansion cone of the apparatus of FIG. 31.

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the injection of fluidic material into the radially expanded shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 32.

FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the completion of the radial expansion of the expandable tubular member of the apparatus of FIG. 33.

FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the removal of the bottom portion of the radially expanded shoe of the apparatus of FIG. 34.

FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the formation of a mono-diameter wellbore casing that includes a plurality of overlapping mono-diameter wellbore casings

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIGS. 1, 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 3, 3a, 3b, 4, 4a, 4b, and 5-10, an embodiment of an apparatus and method for forming a mono-diameter wellbore casing within a subterranean formation will now be described. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a wellbore 100 is positioned in a subterranean formation 105. The wellbore 100 includes a pre-existing cased section 110 having a tubular casing 115 and an annular outer layer 120 of a fluidic sealing material such as, for example, cement. The wellbore 100 may be positioned in any orientation from vertical to horizontal. In several alternative embodiments, the pre-existing cased section 110 does not include the annular outer layer 120.

In order to extend the wellbore 100 into the subterranean formation 105, a drill string 125 is used in a well known manner to drill out material from the subterranean formation 105 to form a new wellbore section 130. In a preferred embodiment, the inside diameter of the new wellbore section 130 is greater than the inside diameter of the preexisting wellbore casing 115.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, and 2e, an apparatus 200 for forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation is then positioned in the new section 130 of the wellbore 100. The apparatus 200 preferably includes an expansion cone 205 having a fluid passage 205a that supports a tubular member 210 that includes a lower portion 210c, an intermediate portion 210b, an upper portion 210c, and an upper end portion 210d.

The expansion cone 205 may be any number of conventional commercially available expansion cones. In several alternative embodiments, the expansion cone 205 may be controllably expandable in the radial direction, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,348,095, and/or 6,012,523, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The tubular member 210 may be fabricated from any number of conventional commercially available materials such as, for example, Oilfield Country Tubular Goods (OCTG), 13 chromium steel tubing/casing, or plastic tubing/casing. In a preferred embodiment, the tubular member 210 is fabricated from OCTG in order to maximize strength after expansion. In several alternative embodiments, the tubular member 210 may be solid and/or slotted. For typical tubular member 210 materials, the length of the tubular member 210 is preferably limited to between about 40 to 20,000 feet in length.

The lower portion 210a of the tubular member 210 preferably has a larger inside diameter than the upper portion 210c of the tubular member. In a preferred embodiment, the wall thickness of the intermediate portion 210b of the tubular member 201 is less than the wall thickness of the upper portion 210c of the tubular member in order to faciliate the initiation of the radial expansion process. In a preferred embodiment, the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210 is slotted, perforated, or otherwise modified to catch or slow down the expansion cone 205 when it completes the extrusion of tubular member 210. In a preferred embodiment, wall thickness of the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210 is gradually tapered in order to gradually reduce the required radial expansion forces during the latter stages of the radial expansion process. In this manner, shock loading conditions during the latter stages of the radial expansion process are at least minimized.

A shoe 215 is coupled to the lower portion 210a of the tubular member. The shoe 215 includes an upper portion 215a, an intermediate portion 215b, and lower portion 215c having a valveable fluid passage 220 that is preferably adapted to receive a plug, dart, or other similar element for controllably sealing the fluid passage 220. In this manner, the fluid passage 220 may be optimally sealed off by introducing a plug, dart and/or ball sealing elements into the fluid passage 220.

The upper and lower portions, 215a and 215c, of the shoe 215 are preferably substantially tubular, and the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe is preferably at least partially folded inwardly. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, when the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 is unfolded by the application of fluid pressure to the interior region 230 of the shoe, the inside and outside diameters of the intermediate portion are preferably both greater than the inside and outside diameters of the upper and lower portions, 215a and 215c. In this manner, the outer circumference of the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 is preferably greater than the outside circumferences of the upper and lower portions, 215a and 215b, of the shoe.

In a preferred embodiment, the shoe 215 further includes one or more through and side outlet ports in fluidic communication with the fluid passage 220. In this manner, the shoe 215 optimally injects hardenable fluidic sealing material into the region outside the shoe 215 and tubular member 210.

In an alternative embodiment, the flow passage 220 is omitted.

A support member 225 having fluid passages 225a and 225b is coupled to the expansion cone 205 for supporting the apparatus 200. The fluid passage 225a is preferably fluidicly coupled to the fluid passage 205a. In this manner, fluidic materials may be conveyed to and from the region 230 below the expansion cone 205 and above the bottom of the shoe 215. The fluid passage 225b is preferably fluidicly coupled to the fluid passage 225a and includes a conventional control valve. In this manner, during placement of the apparatus 200 within the wellbore 100, surge pressures can be relieved by the fluid passage 225b. In a preferred embodiment, the support member 225 further includes one or more conventional centralizers (not illustrated) to help stabilize the apparatus 200.

During placement of the apparatus 200 within the wellbore 100, the fluid passage 225a is preferably selected to transport materials such as, for example, drilling mud or formation fluids at flow rates and pressures ranging from about 0 to 3,000 gallons/minute and 0 to 9,000 psi in order to minimize drag on the tubular member being run and to minimize surge pressures exerted on the wellbore 130 which could cause a loss of wellbore fluids and lead to hole collapse. During placement of the apparatus 200 within the wellbore 100, the fluid passage 225b is preferably selected to convey fluidic materials at flow rates and pressures ranging from about 0 to 3,000 gallons/minute and 0 to 9,000 psi in order to reduce the drag on the apparatus 200 during insertion into the new section 130 of the wellbore 100 and to minimize surge pressures on the new wellbore section 130.

A cup seal 235 is coupled to and supported by the support member 225. The cup seal 235 prevents foreign materials from entering the interior region of the tubular member 210 adjacent to the expansion cone 205. The cup seal 235 may be any number of conventional commercially available cup seals such as, for example, TP cups, or Selective Injection Packer (SIP) cups modified in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. In a preferred embodiment, the cup seal 235 is a SIP cup seal, available from Halliburton Energy Services in Dallas, Tex. in order to optimally block foreign material and contain a body of lubricant. In several alternative embodiments, the cup seal 235 may include a plurality of cup seals.

One or more sealing members 240 are preferably coupled to and supported by the exterior surface of the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210. The sealing members 240 preferably provide an overlapping joint between the lower end portion 115a of the casing 115 and the upperend portion 210d of the tubular member 210. The sealing members 240 may be any number of conventional commercially available seals such as, for example, lead, rubber, Teflon, or epoxy seals modified in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. In a preferred embodiment, the sealing members 240 are molded from Stratalock epoxy available from Halliburton Energy Services in Dallas, Tex. in order to optimally provide a load bearing interference fit between the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210 and the lower end portion 115a of the existing casing 115.

In a preferred embodiment, the sealing members 240 are selected to optimally provide a sufficient frictional force to support the expanded tubular member 210 from the existing casing 115. In a preferred embodiment, the frictional force optimally provided by the sealing members 240 ranges from about 1,000 to 1,000,000 lbf in order to optimally support the expanded tubular member 210.

In an alternative embodiment, the sealing members 240 are omitted from the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210, and a load bearing metal-to-metal interference fit is provided between upper end portion of the tubular member and the lower end portion 115a of the existing casing 115 by plastically deforming and radially expanding the tubular member into contact with the existing casing.

In a preferred embodiment, a quantity of lubricant 245 is provided in the annular region above the expansion cone 205 within the interior of the tubular member 210. In this manner, the extrusion of the tubular member 210 off of the expansion cone 205 is facilitated. The lubricant 245 may be any number of conventional commercially available lubricants such as, for example, Lubriplate, chlorine based lubricants, oil based lubricants or Climax 1500 Antisieze (3100). In a preferred embodiment, the lubricant 245 is Climax 1500 Antisieze (3100) available from Climax Lubricants and Equipment Co. in Houston, Tex. in order to optimally provide optimum lubrication to faciliate the expansion process.

In a preferred embodiment, the support member 225 is thoroughly cleaned prior to assembly to the remaining portions of the apparatus 200. In this manner, the introduction of foreign material into the apparatus 200 is minimized. This minimizes the possibility of foreign material clogging the various flow passages and valves of the apparatus 200.

In a preferred embodiment, before or after positioning the apparatus 200 within the new section 130 of the wellbore 100, a couple of wellbore volumes are circulated in order to ensure that no foreign materials are located within the wellbore 100 that might clog up the various flow passages and valves of the apparatus 200 and to ensure that no foreign material interferes with the expansion process.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 2e, in a preferred embodiment, during placement of the apparatus 200 within the wellbore 100, fluidic materials 250 within the wellbore that are displaced by the apparatus are at least partially conveyed through the fluid passages 220, 205a, 225a, and 225b. In this manner, surge pressures created by the placement of the apparatus within the wellbore 100 are reduced.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 3a, and 3b, the fluid passage 225b is then closed and a hardenable fluidic sealing material 255 is then pumped from a surface location into the fluid passages 225a and 205a. The material 255 then passes from the fluid passage 205a into the interior region 230 of the shoe 215 below the expansion cone 205. The material 255 then passes from the interior region 230 into the fluid passage 220. The material 255 then exits the apparatus 200 and fills an annular region 260 between the exterior of the tubular member 210 and the interior wall of the new section 130 of the wellbore 100. Continued pumping of the material 255 causes the material to fill up at least a portion of the annular region 260.

The material 255 is preferably pumped into the annular region 260 at pressures and flow rates ranging, for example, from about 0 to 5000 psi and 0 to 1,500 gallons/min, respectively. The optimum flow rate and operating pressures vary as a function of the casing and wellbore sizes, wellbore section length, available pumping equipment, and fluid properties of the fluidic material being pumped. The optimum flow rate and operating pressure are preferably determined using conventional empirical methods.

The hardenable fluidic sealing material 255 may be any number of conventional commercially available hardenable fluidic sealing materials such as, for example, slag mix, cement, latex or epoxy. In a preferred embodiment, the hardenable fluidic sealing material 255 is a blended cement prepared specifically for the particular well section being drilled from Halliburton Energy Services in Dallas, Tex. in order to provide optimal support for tubular member 210 while also maintaining optimum flow characteristics so as to minimize difficulties during the displacement of cement in the annular region 260. The optimum blend of the blended cement is preferably determined using conventional empirical methods. In several alternative embodiments, the hardenable fluidic sealing material 255 is compressible before, during, or after curing.

The annular region 260 preferably is filled with the material 255 in sufficient quantities to ensure that, upon radial expansion of the tubular member 210, the annular region 260 of the new section 130 of the wellbore 100 will be filled with the material 255.

In an alternative embodiment, the injection of the material 255 into the annular region 260 is omitted, or is provided after the radial expansion of the tubular member 210.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 4a, and 4b, once the annular region 260 has been adequately filled with the material 255, a plug 265, or other similar device, is introduced into the fluid passage 220, thereby fluidicly isolating the interior region 230 from the annular region 260. In a preferred embodiment, a non-hardenable fluidic material 270 is then pumped into the interior region 230 causing the interior region to pressurize. In this manner, the interior region 230 of the expanded tubular member 210 will not contain significant amounts of the cured material 255. This also reduces and simplifies the cost of the entire process. Alternatively, the material 255 may be used during this phase of the process.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in a preferred embodiment, the continued injection of the fluidic material 270 pressurizes the region 230 and unfolds the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215. In a preferred embodiment, the outside diameter of the unfolded intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 is greater than the outside diameter of the upper and lower portions, 215a and 215b, of the shoe. In a preferred embodiment, the inside and outside diameters of the unfolded intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 are greater than the inside and outside diameters, respectively, of the upper and lower portions, 215a and 215b, of the shoe. In a preferred embodiment, the inside diameter of the unfolded intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 is substantially equal to or greater than the inside diameter of the preexisting casing 115 in order to optimally facilitate the formation of a mono-diameter wellbore casing.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, in a preferred embodiment, the expansion cone 205 is then lowered into the unfolded intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215. In a preferred embodiment, the expansion cone 205 is lowered into the unfolded intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 until the bottom of the expansion cone is proximate the lower portion 215c of the shoe 215. In a preferred embodiment, during the lowering of the expansion cone 205 into the unfolded intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215, the material 255 within the annular region 260 and/or the bottom of the wellbore section 130 maintains the shoe 215 in a substantially stationary position.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, in a preferred embodiment, the outside diameter of the expansion cone 205 is then increased. In a preferred embodiment, the outside diameter of the expansion cone 205 is increased as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,348,095, and/or 6,012,523, the disclosures of which are incorporate herein by reference. In a preferred embodiment, the outside diameter of the radially expanded expansion cone 205 is substantially equal to the inside diameter of the preexisting wellbore casing 115.

In an alternative embodiment, the expansion cone 205 is not lowered into the radially expanded portion of the shoe 215 prior to being radially expanded. In this manner, the upper portion 210c of the shoe 210 may be radially expanded by the radial expansion of the expansion cone 205.

In another alternative embodiment, the expansion cone 205 is not radially expanded.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, in a preferred embodiment, a fluidic material 275 is then injected into the region 230 through the fluid passages 225a and 205a. In a preferred embodiment, once the interior region 230 becomes sufficiently pressurized, the upper portion 215a of the shoe 215 and the tubular member 210 are preferably plastically deformed, radially expanded, and extruded off of the expansion cone 205. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, during the end of the radial expansion process, the upper portion 210d of the tubular member and the lower portion of the preexisting casing 115 that overlap with one another are simultaneously plastically deformed and radially expanded. In this manner, a mono-diameter wellbore casing may be formed that includes the preexisting wellbore casing 115 and the radially expanded tubular member 210.

During the extrusion process, the expansion cone 205 may be raised out of the expanded portion of the tubular member 210. In a preferred embodiment, during the extrusion process, the expansion cone 205 is raised at approximately the same rate as the tubular member 210 is expanded in order to keep the tubular member 210 stationary relative to the new wellbore section 130. In this manner, an overlapping joint between the radially expanded tubular member 210 and the lower portion of the preexisting casing 115 may be optimally formed. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the expansion cone 205 is maintained in a stationary position during the extrusion process thereby allowing the tubular member 210 to extrude off of the expansion cone 205 and into the new wellbore section 130 under the force of gravity and the operating pressure of the interior region 230.

In a preferred embodiment, when the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210 and the lower portion of the preexisting casing 115 that overlap with one another are plastically deformed and radially expanded by the expansion cone 205, the expansion cone 205 is displaced out of the wellbore 100 by both the operating pressure within the region 230 and a upwardly directed axial force applied to the tubular support member 225.

The overlapping joint between the lower portion of the preexisting casing 115 and the radially expanded tubular member 210 preferably provides a gaseous and fluidic seal. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sealing members 245 optimally provide a fluidic and gaseous seal in the overlapping joint. In an alternative embodiment, the sealing members 245 are omitted.

In a preferred embodiment, the operating pressure and flow rate of the fluidic material 275 is controllably ramped down when the expansion cone 205 reaches the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210. In this manner, the sudden release of pressure caused by the complete extrusion of the tubular member 210 off of the expansion cone 205 can be minimized. In a preferred embodiment, the operating pressure is reduced in a substantially linear fashion from 100% to about 10% during the end of the extrusion process beginning when the expansion cone 205 is within about 5 feet from completion of the extrusion process.

Alternatively, or in combination, the wall thickness of the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member is tapered in order to gradually reduce the required operating pressure for plastically deforming and radially expanding the upper end portion of the tubular member. In this manner, shock loading of the apparatus is at least reduced.

Alternatively, or in combination, a shock absorber is provided in the support member 225 in order to absorb the shock caused by the sudden release of pressure. The shock absorber may comprise, for example, any conventional commercially available shock absorber, bumper sub, or jars adapted for use in wellbore operations.

Alternatively, or in combination, an expansion cone catching structure is provided in the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210 in order to catch or at least decelerate the expansion cone 205.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus 200 is adapted to minimize tensile, burst, and friction effects upon the tubular member 210 during the expansion process. These effects will be depend upon the geometry of the expansion cone 205, the material composition of the tubular member 210 and expansion cone 205, the inner diameter of the tubular member 210, the wall thickness of the tubular member 210, the type of lubricant, and the yield strength of the tubular member 210. In general, the thicker the wall thickness, the smaller the inner diameter, and the greater the yield strength of the tubular member 210, then the greater the operating pressures required to extrude the tubular member 210 off of the expansion cone 205.

For typical tubular members 210, the extrusion of the tubular member 210 off of the expansion cone 205 will begin when the pressure of the interior region 230 reaches, for example, approximately 500 to 9,000 psi.

During the extrusion process, the expansion cone 205 may be raised out of the expanded portion of the tubular member 210 at rates ranging, for example, from about 0 to 5 ft/sec. In a preferred embodiment, during the extrusion process, the expansion cone 205 is raised out of the expanded portion of the tubular member 210 at rates ranging from about 0 to 2 ft/sec in order to minimize the time required for the expansion process while also permitting easy control of the expansion process.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, once the extrusion process is completed, the expansion cone 205 is removed from the wellbore 100. In a preferred embodiment, either before or after the removal of the expansion cone 205, the integrity of the fluidic seal of the overlapping joint between the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210 and the lower end portion 115a of the preexisting wellbore casing 115 is tested using conventional methods.

In a preferred embodiment, if the fluidic seal of the overlapping joint between the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210 and the lower end portion 115a of the casing 115 is satisfactory, then any uncured portion of the material 255 within the expanded tubular member 210 is then removed in a conventional manner such as, for example, circulating the uncured material out of the interior of the expanded tubular member 210. The expansion cone 205 is then pulled out of the wellbore section 130 and a drill bit or mill is used in combination with a conventional drilling assembly to drill out any hardened material 255 within the tubular member 210. In a preferred embodiment, the material 255 within the annular region 260 is then allowed to fully cure.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the bottom portion 215c of the shoe 215 may then be removed by drilling out the bottom portion of the shoe using conventional drilling methods. The wellbore 100 may then be extended in a conventional manner using a conventional drilling assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the inside diameter of the extended portion of the wellbore 100 is greater than the inside diameter of the radially expanded shoe 215.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the method of FIGS. 1-10 may be repeatedly performed in order to provide a mono-diameter wellbore casing that includes overlapping wellbore casings 115 and 210a-210e. The wellbore casing 115, and 210a-210e preferably include outer annular layers of fluidic sealing material. Alternatively, the outer annular layers of fluidic sealing material may be omitted. In this manner, a mono-diameter wellbore casing may be formed within the subterranean formation that extends for tens of thousands of feet. More generally still, the teachings of FIGS. 1-11 may be used to form a mono-diameter wellbore casing, a pipeline, a structural support, or a tunnel within a subterranean formation at any orientation from the vertical to the horizontal.

In a preferred embodiment, the formation of a mono-diameter wellbore casing, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-11, is further provided as disclosed in one or more of the following:

(1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/454,139, filed on Dec. 3, 1999,
(2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,913, filed on Feb. 23, 2000,
(3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/502,350, filed on Feb. 10, 2000,
(4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/440,338, filed on Nov. 15, 1999,
(5) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/523,460, filed on Mar. 10, 2000,
(6) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/512,895, filed on Feb. 24, 2000,
(7) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/511,941, filed on Feb. 24, 2000,
(8) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/588,946, filed on Jun. 7, 2000,
(9) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/559,122, filed on Apr. 26, 2000,
(10) PCT patent application Ser. No. PCT/US00/18635, filed on Jul. 9, 2000,
(11) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/162,671, filed on Nov. 1, 1999,
(12) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/154,047, filed on Sep. 16, 1999,
(13) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,082, filed on Oct. 12, 1999,
(14) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,039, filed on Oct. 12, 1999,
(15) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,033, filed on Oct. 12, 1999,
(16) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/212,359, filed on Jun. 19, 2000,
(17) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/165,228, filed on Nov. 12, 1999,
(18) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/221,443, filed on Jul. 28, 2000,
(19) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/221,645, filed on Jul. 28, 2000,
(20) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/233,638, filed on Sep. 18, 2000,
(21) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/237,334, filed on Oct. 2, 2000,
(22) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/270,007, filed on Feb. 20, 2001,
(23) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/262,434, filed on Jan. 17, 2001,
(24) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/259,486, filed on Jan. 3, 2001,
(25) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/303,740, filed on Jul. 6, 2001,
(26) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/313,453, filed on Aug. 20, 2001,
(27) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/317,985, filed on Sep. 6, 2001,
(28) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/3318,386, filed on Sep. 10, 2001,
(29) U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 09/969,922, filed on Oct. 3, 2001,
(30) U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 10/016,467, filed on Dec. 1, 2001;
(31) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/343,674, filed on Dec. 27, 2001; and
(32) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/346,309, filed on Jan. 7, 2002, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIGS. 12, 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d, in an alternative embodiment, an apparatus 300 for forming a mono-diameter wellbore casing is positioned within the wellbore casing 115 that is substantially identical in design and operation to the apparatus 200 except that a shoe 305 is substituted for the shoe 215.

In a preferred embodiment, the shoe 305 includes an upper portion 305a, an intermediate portion 305b, and a lower portion 305c having a valveable fluid passage 310 that is preferably adapted to receive a plug, dart, or other similar element for controllably sealing the fluid passage 310. In this manner, the fluid passage 310 may be optimally sealed off by introducing a plug, dart and/or ball sealing elements into the fluid passage 310.

The upper and lower portions, 305a and 305c, of the shoe 305 are preferably substantially tubular, and the intermediate portion 305b of the shoe includes corrugations 305ba-305bh. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, when the intermediate portion 305b of the shoe 305 is radially expanded by the application of fluid pressure to the interior 315 of the shoe 305, the inside and outside diameters of the radially expanded intermediate portion are preferably both greater than the inside and outside diameters of the upper and lower portions, 305a and 305c. In this manner, the outer circumference of the intermediate portion 305b of the shoe 305 is preferably greater than the outer circumferences of the upper and lower portions, 305a and 305c, of the shoe.

In a preferred embodiment, the shoe 305 further includes one or more through and side outlet ports in fluidic communication with the fluid passage 310. In this manner, the shoe 305 optimally injects hardenable fluidic sealing material into the region outside the shoe 305 and tubular member 210.

In an alternative embodiment, the flow passage 310 is omitted.

In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 12d, during placement of the apparatus 300 within the wellbore 100, fluidic materials 250 within the wellbore that are displaced by the apparatus are conveyed through the fluid passages 310, 205a, 225a, and 225b. In this manner, surge pressures created by the placement of the apparatus within the wellbore 100 are reduced.

In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 13 and 13a, the fluid passage 225b is then closed and a hardenable fluidic sealing material 255 is then pumped from a surface location into the fluid passages 225a and 205a. The material 255 then passes from the fluid passage 205a into the interior region 315 of the shoe 305 below the expansion cone 205. The material 255 then passes from the interior region 315 into the fluid passage 310. The material 255 then exits the apparatus 300 and fills the annular region 260 between the exterior of the tubular member 210 and the interior wall of the new section 130 of the wellbore 100. Continued pumping of the material 255 causes the material to fill up at least a portion of the annular region 260.

In an alternative embodiment, the injection of the material 255 into the annular region 260 is omitted.

As illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 14a, once the annular region 260 has been adequately filled with the material 255, a plug 265, or other similar device, is introduced into the fluid passage 310, thereby fluidicly isolating the interior region 315 from the annular region 260. In a preferred embodiment, a non-hardenable fluidic material 270 is then pumped into the interior region 315 causing the interior region to pressurize. In this manner, the interior region 315 will not contain significant amounts of the cured material 255. This also reduces and simplifies the cost of the entire process. Alternatively, the material 255 may be used during this phase of the process.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, in a preferred embodiment, the continued injection of the fluidic material 270 pressurizes the region 315 and unfolds the corrugations 305ba-305bh of the intermediate portion 305b of the shoe 305. In a preferred embodiment, the outside diameter of the unfolded intermediate portion 305b of the shoe 305 is greater than the outside diameter of the upper and lower portions, 305a and 305b, of the shoe. In a preferred embodiment, the inside and outside diameters of the unfolded intermediate portion 305b of the shoe 305 are greater than the inside and outside diameters, respectively, of the upper and lower portions, 305a and 305b, of the shoe. In a preferred embodiment, the inside diameter of the unfolded intermediate portion 305b of the shoe 305 is substantially equal to or greater than the inside diameter of the preexisting casing 305 in order to optimize the formation of a mono-diameter wellbore casing.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, in a preferred embodiment, the expansion cone 205 is then lowered into the unfolded intermediate portion 305b of the shoe 305. In a preferred embodiment, the expansion cone 205 is lowered into the unfolded intermediate portion 305b of the shoe 305 until the bottom of the expansion cone is proximate the lower portion 305c of the shoe 305. In a preferred embodiment, during the lowering of the expansion cone 205 into the unfolded intermediate portion 305b of the shoe 305, the material 255 within the annular region 260 maintains the shoe 305 in a substantially stationary position.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, in a preferred embodiment, the outside diameter of the expansion cone 205 is then increased. In a preferred embodiment, the outside diameter of the expansion cone 205 is increased as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,348,095, and/or 6,012,523, the disclosures of which are incorporate herein by reference. In a preferred embodiment, the outside diameter of the radially expanded expansion cone 205 is substantially equal to the inside diameter of the preexisting wellbore casing 115.

In an alternative embodiment, the expansion cone 205 is not lowered into the radially expanded portion of the shoe 305 prior to being radially expanded. In this manner, the upper portion 305c of the shoe 305 may be radially expanded by the radial expansion of the expansion cone 205.

In another alternative embodiment, the expansion cone 205 is not radially expanded.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, in a preferred embodiment, a fluidic material 275 is then injected into the region 315 through the fluid passages 225a and 205a. In a preferred embodiment, once the interior region 315 becomes sufficiently pressurized, the upper portion 305a of the shoe 305 and the tubular member 210 are preferably plastically deformed, radially expanded, and extruded off of the expansion cone 205. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, during the end of the radial expansion process, the upper portion 210d of the tubular member and the lower portion of the preexisting casing 115 that overlap with one another are simultaneously plastically deformed and radially expanded. In this manner, a mono-diameter wellbore casing may be formed that includes the preexisting wellbore casing 115 and the radially expanded tubular member 210.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, once the extrusion process is completed, the expansion cone 205 is removed from the wellbore 100. In a preferred embodiment, either before or after the removal of the expansion cone 205, the integrity of the fluidic seal of the overlapping joint between the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210 and the lower end portion 115a of the preexisting wellbore casing 115 is tested using conventional methods.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the bottom portion 305c of the shoe 305 may then be removed by drilling out the bottom portion of the shoe using conventional drilling methods. The wellbore 100 may then be extended in a conventional manner using a conventional drilling assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the inside diameter of the extended portion of the wellbore is greater than the inside diameter of the radially expanded shoe 305.

The method of FIGS. 12-20 may be repeatedly performed in order to provide a mono-diameter wellbore casing that includes overlapping wellbore casings. The overlapping wellbore casing preferably include outer annular layers of fluidic sealing material. Alternatively, the outer annular layers of fluidic sealing material may be omitted. In this manner, a mono-diameter wellbore casing may be formed within the subterranean formation that extends for tens of thousands of feet. More generally still, the teachings of FIGS. 12-20 may be used to form a mono-diameter wellbore casing, a pipeline, a structural support, or a tunnel within a subterranean formation at any orientation from the vertical to the horizontal.

In a preferred embodiment, the formation of a mono-diameter wellbore casing, as illustrated in FIGS. 12-20, is further provided as disclosed in one or more of the following:

(1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/454,139, filed on Dec. 3, 1999,
(2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,913, filed on Feb. 23, 2000,
(3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/502,350, filed on Feb. 10, 2000,
(4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/440,338, filed on Nov. 15, 1999,
(5) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/523,460, filed on Mar. 10, 2000,
(6) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/512,895, filed on Feb. 24, 2000,
(7) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/511,941, filed on Feb. 24, 2000,
(8) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/588,946, filed on Jun. 7, 2000,
(9) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/559,122, filed on Apr. 26, 2000,
(10) PCT patent application Ser. No. PCT/US00/18635, filed on Jul. 9, 2000,
(11) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/162,671, filed on Nov. 1, 1999,
(12) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/154,047, filed on Sep. 16, 1999,
(13) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,082, filed on Oct. 12, 1999,
(14) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,039, filed on Oct. 12, 1999,
(15) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,033, filed on Oct. 12, 1999,
(16) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/212,359, filed on Jun. 19, 2000,
(17) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/165,228, filed on Nov. 12, 1999,
(18) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/221,443, filed on Jul. 28, 2000,
(19) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/221,645, filed on Jul. 28, 2000,
(20) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/233,638, filed on Sep. 18, 2000,
(21) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/237,334, filed on Oct. 2, 2000,
(22) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/270,007, filed on Feb. 20, 2001,
(23) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/262,434, filed on Jan. 17, 2001,
(24) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/259,486, filed on Jan. 3, 2001,
(25) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/303,740, filed on Jul. 6, 2001,
(26) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/313,453, filed on Aug. 20, 2001,
(27) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/317,985, filed on Sep. 6, 2001,
(28) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/3318,386, filed on Sep. 10, 2001,
(29) U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 09/969,922, filed on Oct. 3, 2001,
(30) U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 10/016,467, filed on Dec. 1, 2001;
(31) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/343,674, filed on Dec. 27, 2001; and
(32) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/346,309, filed on Jan. 7, 2002, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In several alternative embodiments, the apparatus 200 and 300 are used to form and/or repair wellbore casings, pipelines, and/or structural supports.

In several alternative embodiments, the folded geometries of the shoes 215 and 305 are provided in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,425,559 and/or 5,794,702, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 21, the apparatus 200 includes Guiberson™ cup seals 405 that are coupled to the exterior of the support member 225 for sealingly engaging the interior surface of the tubular member 210 and a conventional expansion cone 410 that defines a passage 410a, that may be controllably expanded to a plurality of outer diameters, that is coupled to the support member 225. The expansion cone 410 is then lowered out of the lower portion 210c of the tubular member 210 into the unfolded intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 that is unfolded substantially as described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In a preferred embodiment, the expansion cone 410 is lowered out of the lower portion 210c of the tubular member 210 into the unfolded intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 until the bottom of the expansion cone is proximate the lower portion 215c of the shoe 215. In a preferred embodiment, during the lowering of the expansion cone 410 into the unfolded intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215, the material 255 within the annular region 260 and/or the bottom of the wellbore section 130 maintains the shoe 215 in a substantially stationary position.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, in a preferred embodiment, the outside diameter of the expansion cone 410 is then increased thereby engaging the shoe 215. In an exemplary embodiment, the outside diameter of the expansion cone 410 is increased to a diameter that is greater than or equal to the inside diameter of the casing 115. In an exemplary embodiment, when the outside diameter of the expansion cone 410 is increased, the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 is further unfolded, radially expanded, and/or radially expanded and plastically deformed. In an exemplary embodiment, the interface between the outside surface of the expansion cone 410 and the inside surface of the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 is not fluid tight.

In an alternative embodiment, the expansion cone 410 is not lowered into the radially expanded portion of the shoe 215 prior to being radially expanded. In this manner, the upper portion 215a of the shoe 215 may be radially expanded and plastically deformed by the radial expansion of the expansion cone 410.

In another alternative embodiment, the expansion cone 410 is not radially expanded.

As illustrated in FIG. 23, in an exemplary embodiment, a fluidic material 275 is then injected into the region 230 through the fluid passages 225a and 410a. In a exemplary embodiment, once the interior region 230 and an annular region 415 bounded by the Guiberson™ cup seal 405, the top of the expansion cone 410, the interior walls of the tubular member 210, and the exterior walls of the support member 225 become sufficiently pressurized, the expansion cone 410 is displaced upwardly relative to the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 and the intermediate portion of the shoe is radially expanded and plastically deformed. In an exemplary embodiment, during the radial expansion of the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215, the interface between the outside surface of the expansion cone 410 and the inside surface of the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 is not fluid tight. Moreover, in an exemplary embodiment, during the radial expansion of the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215, the Guiberson™ cup seal 405, by virtue of the pressurization of the annular region 415, pulls the expansion cone 410 through the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215.

As illustrated in FIGS. 24 and 25, the outside diameter of the expansion cone 410 is then controllably reduced. In an exemplary embodiment, the outside diameter of the expansion cone 410 is reduced to an outside diameter that is greater than the inside diameter of the upper portion 215a of the shoe 215. A fluidic material 275 is then injected into the region 230 through the fluid passages 225a and 410a. In a exemplary embodiment, once the interior region 230 and the annular region 415 become sufficiently pressurized, the expansion cone 410 is displaced upwardly relative to the upper portion 215a of the shoe 215 and the tubular member 210 and the upper portion of the shoe and the tubular member are radially expanded and plastically deformed. In an exemplary embodiment, during the radial expansion of the upper portion 215a of the shoe 215 and the tubular member 210, the interface between the outside surface of the expansion cone 410 and the inside surfaces of the upper portion 215a of the shoe 215 and the tubular member 210 is not fluid tight. Moreover, in an exemplary embodiment, during the radial expansion of the upper portion 215a of the shoe 215 and the tubular member 210, the Guiberson™ cup seal 405, by virtue of the pressurization of the annular region 415, pulls the expansion cone 410 through the upper portion 215a of the shoe 215 and the tubular member 210. In a exemplary embodiment, during the end of the radial expansion process, the upper portion 210d of the tubular member is radially expanded and plastically deformed into engagement with the lower portion of the preexisting casing 115. In this manner, the tubular member 210 and the shoe 215 are coupled to and supported by the preexisting casing 115.

During the radial expansion process, the expansion cone 410 may be raised out of the expanded portion of the tubular member 210. In a exemplary embodiment, during the radial expansion process, the expansion cone 410 is raised at approximately the same rate as the tubular member 210 is expanded in order to keep the tubular member 210 stationary relative to the new wellbore section 130. In this manner, an overlapping joint between the radially expanded tubular member 210 and the lower portion of the preexisting casing 115 may be optimally formed. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the expansion cone 410 is maintained in a stationary position during the radial expansion process thereby allowing the tubular member 210 to extrude off of the expansion cone 410 and into the new wellbore section 130 under the force of gravity and the operating pressure of the interior region 230.

In a exemplary embodiment, when the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210 and the lower portion of the preexisting casing 115 that overlap with one another are plastically deformed and radially expanded by the expansion cone 410, the expansion cone 410 is displaced out of the wellbore 100 by both the operating pressure within the region 230 and a upwardly directed axial force applied to the tubular support member 225.

The overlapping joint between the lower portion of the preexisting casing 115 and the radially expanded tubular member 210 preferably provides a gaseous and fluidic seal. In a particularly exemplary embodiment, the sealing members 245 optimally provide a fluidic and gaseous seal in the overlapping joint. In an alternative embodiment, the sealing members 245 are omitted.

In a exemplary embodiment, the operating pressure and flow rate of the fluidic material 275 is controllably ramped down when the expansion cone 410 reaches the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210. In this manner, the sudden release of pressure caused by the complete radial expansion of the tubular member 210 off of the expansion cone 410 can be minimized. In a exemplary embodiment, the operating pressure is reduced in a substantially linear fashion from 100% to about 10% during the end of the radial expansion process beginning when the expansion cone 410 is within about 5 feet from completion of the radial expansion process.

In a exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 200 is adapted to minimize tensile, burst, and friction effects upon the tubular member 210 during the expansion process. These effects will be depend upon the geometry of the expansion cone 410, the material composition of the tubular member 210 and expansion cone 410, the inner diameter of the tubular member 210, the wall thickness of the tubular member 210, the type of lubricant, and the yield strength of the tubular member 210. In general, the thicker the wall thickness, the smaller the inner diameter, and the greater the yield strength of the tubular member 210, then the greater the operating pressures required to extrude the tubular member 210 off of the expansion cone 410.

For typical tubular members 210, the radial expansion of the tubular member 210 off of the expansion cone 410 will begin when the pressure of the interior region 230 reaches, for example, approximately 500 to 9,000 psi.

During the radial expansion process, the expansion cone 410 may be raised out of the expanded portion of the tubular member 210 at rates ranging, for example, from about 0 to 5 ft/sec. In a exemplary embodiment, during the radial expansion process, the expansion cone 410 is raised out of the expanded portion of the tubular member 210 at rates ranging from about 0 to 2 ft/sec in order to minimize the time required for the expansion process while also permitting easy control of the expansion process.

As illustrated in FIG. 26, once the radial expansion process is completed, the expansion cone 410 is removed from the wellbore 100. In a exemplary embodiment, either before or after the removal of the expansion cone 410, the integrity of the fluidic seal of the overlapping joint between the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210 and the lower end portion 115a of the preexisting wellbore casing 115 is tested using conventional methods.

In a exemplary embodiment, if the fluidic seal of the overlapping joint between the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210 and the lower end portion 115a of the casing 115 is satisfactory, then any uncured portion of the material 255 within the expanded tubular member 210 is then removed in a conventional manner such as, for example, circulating the uncured material out of the interior of the expanded tubular member 210. The expansion cone 410 is then pulled out of the wellbore section 130 and a drill bit or mill is used in combination with a conventional drilling assembly to drill out any hardened material 255 within the tubular member 210. In a exemplary embodiment, the material 255 within the annular region 260 is then allowed to fully cure.

As illustrated in FIG. 27, the bottom portion 215c of the shoe 215 may then be removed by drilling out the bottom portion of the shoe using conventional drilling methods. The remaining radially expanded portion of the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 provides a bell shaped structure whose inside diameter is greater than the inside diameter of the radially expanded tubular member 210. The wellbore 100 may then be extended in a conventional manner using a conventional drilling assembly. In a exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the extended portion of the wellbore 100 is greater than the inside diameter of the radially expanded shoe 215.

As illustrated in FIG. 28, the method of FIGS. 21-27 may be repeatedly performed by coupling the upper ends of subsequently radially expanded tubular members 210 into the bell shaped structures of the earlier radially expanded intermediate portions 215b of the shoes 215 of the tubular members 210 thereby forming a mono-diameter wellbore casing that includes overlapping wellbore casings 210a-210d and corresponding shoes 215aa-215ad. The wellbore casings 210a-210d and corresponding shoes 215aa-215ad preferably include outer annular layers of fluidic sealing material. Alternatively, the outer annular layers of fluidic sealing material may be omitted. In this manner, a mono-diameter wellbore casing may be formed within the subterranean formation that extends for tens of thousands of feet. More generally still, the teachings of FIGS. 21-28 may be used to form a mono-diameter wellbore casing, a pipeline, a structural support, or a tunnel within a subterranean formation at any orientation from the vertical to the horizontal.

In an exemplary embodiment, the adjustable expansion cone 410 incorporates the teachings of one or more of the following: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,348,095, and/or 6,012,523, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, further modified in a conventional manner, to provide a plurality of adjustable stationary positions.

In a exemplary embodiment, the formation of a mono-diameter wellbore casing, as illustrated in FIGS. 21-28, is further provided as disclosed in one or more of the following:

(1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/454,139, filed on Dec. 3, 1999,
(2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,913, filed on Feb. 23, 2000,
(3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/502,350, filed on Feb. 10, 2000,
(4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/440,338, filed on Nov. 15, 1999,
(5) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/523,460, filed on Mar. 10, 2000,
(6) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/512,895, filed on Feb. 24, 2000,
(7) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/511,941, filed on Feb. 24, 2000,
(8) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/588,946, filed on Jun. 7, 2000,
(9) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/559,122, filed on Apr. 26, 2000,
(10) PCT patent application Ser. No. PCT/US00/18635, filed on Jul. 9, 2000,
(11) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/162,671, filed on Nov. 1, 1999,
(12) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/154,047, filed on Sep. 16, 1999,
(13) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,082, filed on Oct. 12, 1999,
(14) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,039, filed on Oct. 12, 1999,
(15) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,033, filed on Oct. 12, 1999,
(16) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/212,359, filed on Jun. 19, 2000,
(17) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/165,228, filed on Nov. 12, 1999,
(18) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/221,443, filed on Jul. 28, 2000,
(19) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/221,645, filed on Jul. 28, 2000,
(20) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/233,638, filed on Sep. 18, 2000,
(21) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/237,334, filed on Oct. 2, 2000,
(22) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/270,007, filed on Feb. 20, 2001,
(23) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/262,434, filed on Jan. 17, 2001,
(24) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/259,486, filed on Jan. 3, 2001,
(25) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/303,740, filed on Jul. 6, 2001,
(26) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/313,453, filed on Aug. 20, 2001,
(27) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/317,985, filed on Sep. 6, 2001,
(28) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/3318,386, filed on Sep. 10, 2001,
(29) U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 09/969,922, filed on Oct. 3, 2001,
(30) U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 10/016,467, filed on Dec. 1, 2001;
(31) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/343,674, filed on Dec. 27, 2001; and
(32) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/346,309, filed on Jan. 7, 2002, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 29, the apparatus 200 includes a conventional upper expandable expansion cone 420 that defines a passage 420a that is coupled to the support member 225, and a conventional lower expandable expansion cone 425 that defines a passage 425a that is also coupled to the support member 225. The lower expansion cone 425 is then lowered out of the lower portion 210c of the tubular member 210 into the unfolded intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 that is unfolded substantially as described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In a preferred embodiment, the lower expansion cone 425 is lowered into the unfolded intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 until the bottom of the lower expansion cone is proximate the lower portion 215c of the shoe 215. In a preferred embodiment, during the lowering of the lower expansion cone 425 into the unfolded intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215, the material 255 within the annular region 260 and/or the bottom of the wellbore section 130 maintains the shoe 215 in a substantially stationary position.

As illustrated in FIG. 30, in a preferred embodiment, the outside diameter of the lower expansion cone 425 is then increased thereby engaging the shoe 215. In an exemplary embodiment, the outside diameter of the lower expansion cone 425 is increased to a diameter that is greater than or equal to the inside diameter of the casing 115. In an exemplary embodiment, when the outside diameter of the lower expansion cone 425 is increased, the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 is further unfolded, radially expanded, and/or radially expanded and plastically deformed. In an exemplary embodiment, the interface between the outside surface of the lower expansion cone 425 and the inside surface of the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 is not fluid tight.

In an alternative embodiment, the lower expansion cone 425 is not lowered into the radially expanded portion of the shoe 215 prior to being radially expanded. In this manner, the upper portion 215a of the shoe 215 may be radially expanded and plastically deformed by the radial expansion of the lower expansion cone 425.

In another alternative embodiment, the lower expansion cone 425 is not radially expanded.

As illustrated in FIG. 31, in an exemplary embodiment, a fluidic material 275 is then injected into the region 230 through the fluid passages 225a, 420a and 425a. In a exemplary embodiment, once the interior region 230 and an annular region 430 bounded by the Guiberson™ cup seal 405, the top of the lower expansion cone 425, the interior walls of the tubular member 210, and the exterior walls of the support member 225 become sufficiently pressurized, the lower expansion cone 425 is displaced upwardly relative to the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 and the intermediate portion of the shoe is radially expanded and plastically deformed. In an exemplary embodiment, during the radial expansion of the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215, the interface between the outside surface of the lower expansion cone 425 and the inside surface of the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 is not fluid tight. Moreover, in an exemplary embodiment, during the radial expansion of the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215, the Guiberson™ cup seal 405, by virtue of the pressurization of the annular region 430, pulls the lower expansion cone 425 through the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215.

As illustrated in FIGS. 32 and 33, the outside diameter of the lower expansion cone 425 is then controllably reduced and the outside diameter of the upper expansion cone 420 is controllably increased. In an exemplary embodiment, the outside diameter of the upper expansion cone 420 is increased to an outside diameter that is greater than the inside diameter of the upper portion 215a of the shoe 215, and the outside diameter of the lower expansion cone 425 is reduced to an outside diameter that is less than or equal to the outside diameter of the upper expansion cone. A fluidic material 275 is then injected into the region 230 through the fluid passages 225a, 420a and 425a. In a exemplary embodiment, once the interior region 230 and the annular region 430 become sufficiently pressurized, the upper expansion cone 420 is displaced upwardly relative to the upper portion 215a of the shoe 215 and the tubular member 210 and the upper portion of the shoe and the tubular member are radially expanded and plastically deformed. In an exemplary embodiment, during the radial expansion of the upper portion 215a of the shoe 215 and the tubular member 210, the interface between the outside surface of the upper expansion cone 420 and the inside surfaces of the upper portion 215a of the shoe 215 and the tubular member 210 is not fluid tight. Moreover, in an exemplary embodiment, during the radial expansion of the upper portion 215a of the shoe 215 and the tubular member 210, the Guiberson™ cup seal 405, by virtue of the pressurization of the annular region 415, pulls the upper expansion cone 420 through the upper portion 215a of the shoe 215 and the tubular member 210. In a exemplary embodiment, during the end of the radial expansion process, the upper portion 210d of the tubular member is radially expanded and plastically deformed into engagement with the lower portion of the preexisting casing 115. In this manner, the tubular member 210 and the shoe 215 are coupled to and supported by the preexisting casing 115.

During the radial expansion process, the upper expansion cone 420 may be raised out of the expanded portion of the tubular member 210. In a exemplary embodiment, during the radial expansion process, the upper expansion cone 420 is raised at approximately the same rate as the tubular member 210 is expanded in order to keep the tubular member 210 stationary relative to the new wellbore section 130. In this manner, an overlapping joint between the radially expanded tubular member 210 and the lower portion of the preexisting casing 115 may be optimally formed. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the upper expansion cone 420 is maintained in a stationary position during the radial expansion process thereby allowing the tubular member 210 to extrude off of the upper expansion cone 420 and into the new wellbore section 130 under the force of gravity and the operating pressure of the interior region 230.

In a exemplary embodiment, when the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210 and the lower portion of the preexisting casing 115 that overlap with one another are plastically deformed and radially expanded by the upper expansion cone 420, the upper expansion cone 420 is displaced out of the wellbore 100 by both the operating pressure within the region 230 and a upwardly directed axial force applied to the tubular support member 225.

The overlapping joint between the lower portion of the preexisting casing 115 and the radially expanded tubular member 210 preferably provides a gaseous and fluidic seal. In a particularly exemplary embodiment, the sealing members 245 optimally provide a fluidic and gaseous seal in the overlapping joint. In an alternative embodiment, the sealing members 245 are omitted.

In a exemplary embodiment, the operating pressure and flow rate of the fluidic material 275 is controllably ramped down when the upper expansion cone 420 reaches the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210. In this manner, the sudden release of pressure caused by the complete radial expansion of the tubular member 210 off of the upper expansion cone 420 can be minimized. In a exemplary embodiment, the operating pressure is reduced in a substantially linear fashion from 100% to about 10% during the end of the radial expansion process beginning when the upper expansion cone 420 is within about 5 feet from completion of the radial expansion process.

In a exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 200 is adapted to minimize tensile, burst, and friction effects upon the tubular member 210 during the expansion process. These effects will be depend upon the geometries of the upper and lower expansion cones, 420 and 425, the material composition of the tubular member 210 and the upper and lower expansion cones, 420 and 425, the inner diameter of the tubular member 210, the wall thickness of the tubular member 210, the type of lubricant, and the yield strength of the tubular member 210. In general, the thicker the wall thickness, the smaller the inner diameter, and the greater the yield strength of the tubular member 210, then the greater the operating pressures required to extrude the tubular member 210 and the shoe 215 off of the upper and lower expansion cones, 420 and 425.

For typical tubular members 210, the radial expansion of the tubular member 210 off of the upper expansion cone 420 will begin when the pressure of the interior region 230 reaches, for example, approximately 500 to 9,000 psi.

During the radial expansion process, the upper expansion cone 420 may be raised out of the expanded portion of the tubular member 210 at rates ranging, for example, from about 0 to 5 ft/sec. In a exemplary embodiment, during the radial expansion process, the upper expansion cone 420 is raised out of the expanded portion of the tubular member 210 at rates ranging from about 0 to 2 ft/sec in order to minimize the time required for the expansion process while also permitting easy control of the expansion process.

As illustrated in FIG. 34, once the radial expansion process is completed, the upper expansion cone 420 is removed from the wellbore 100. In a exemplary embodiment, either before or after the removal of the upper expansion cone 420, the integrity of the fluidic seal of the overlapping joint between the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210 and the lower end portion 115a of the preexisting wellbore casing 115 is tested using conventional methods.

In a exemplary embodiment, if the fluidic seal of the overlapping joint between the upper end portion 210d of the tubular member 210 and the lower end portion 115a of the casing 115 is satisfactory, then any uncured portion of the material 255 within the expanded tubular member 210 is then removed in a conventional manner such as, for example, circulating the uncured material out of the interior of the expanded tubular member 210. The upper expansion cone 420 is then pulled out of the wellbore section 130 and a drill bit or mill is used in combination with a conventional drilling assembly to drill out any hardened material 255 within the tubular member 210. In a exemplary embodiment, the material 255 within the annular region 260 is then allowed to fully cure.

As illustrated in FIG. 35, the bottom portion 215c of the shoe 215 may then be removed by drilling out the bottom portion of the shoe using conventional drilling methods. The remaining radially expanded portion of the intermediate portion 215b of the shoe 215 provides a bell shaped structure whose inside diameter is greater than the inside diameter of the radially expanded tubular member 210. The wellbore 100 may then be extended in a conventional manner using a conventional drilling assembly. In a exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the extended portion of the wellbore 100 is greater than the inside diameter of the radially expanded shoe 215.

As illustrated in FIG. 36, the method of FIGS. 29-35 may be repeatedly performed by coupling the upper ends of subsequently radially expanded tubular members 210 into the bell shaped structures of the earlier radially expanded intermediate portions 215b of the shoes 215 of the tubular members 210 thereby forming a mono-diameter wellbore casing that includes overlapping wellbore casings 210a-210d and corresponding shoes 215aa-215ad. The wellbore casings 210a-210d and corresponding shoes 215aa-215ad preferably include outer annular layers of fluidic sealing material. Alternatively, the outer annular layers of fluidic sealing material may be omitted. In this manner, a mono-diameter wellbore casing may be formed within the subterranean formation that extends for tens of thousands of feet. More generally still, the teachings of FIGS. 29-36 may be used to form a mono-diameter wellbore casing, a pipeline, a structural support, or a tunnel within a subterranean formation at any orientation from the vertical to the horizontal.

In an exemplary embodiment, the adjustable expansion cones, 420 and 425, incorporate the teachings of one or more of the following: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,348,095, and/or 6,012,523, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In a exemplary embodiment, the formation of a mono-diameter wellbore casing, as illustrated in FIGS. 29-36, is further provided as disclosed in one or more of the following:

(1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/454,139, filed on Dec. 3, 1999,
(2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,913, filed on Feb. 23, 2000,
(3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/502,350, filed on Feb. 10, 2000,
(4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/440,338, filed on Nov. 15, 1999,
(5) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/523,460, filed on Mar. 10, 2000,
(6) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/512,895, filed on Feb. 24, 2000,
(7) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/511,941, filed on Feb. 24, 2000,
(8) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/588,946, filed on Jun. 7, 2000,
(9) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/559,122, filed on Apr. 26, 2000,
(10) PCT patent application Ser. No. PCT/US00/18635, filed on Jul. 9, 2000,
(11) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/162,671, filed on Nov. 1, 1999,
(12) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/154,047, filed on Sep. 16, 1999,
(13) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,082, filed on Oct. 12, 1999,
(14) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,039, filed on Oct. 12, 1999,
(15) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,033, filed on Oct. 12, 1999,
(16) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/212,359, filed on Jun. 19, 2000,
(17) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/165,228, filed on Nov. 12, 1999,
(18) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/221,443, filed on Jul. 28, 2000,
(19) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/221,645, filed on Jul. 28, 2000,
(20) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/233,638, filed on Sep. 18, 2000,
(21) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/237,334, filed on Oct. 2, 2000,
(22) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/270,007, filed on Feb. 20, 2001,
(23) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/262,434, filed on Jan. 17, 2001,
(24) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/259,486, filed on Jan. 3, 2001,
(25) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/303,740, filed on Jul 6, 2001,
(26) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/313,453, filed on Aug. 20, 2001,
(27) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/317,985, filed on Sep. 6, 2001,
(28) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/3318,386, filed on Sep. 10, 2001,
(29) U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 09/969,922, filed on Oct. 3, 2001,
(30) U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 10/016,467, filed on Dec. 1, 2001;
(31) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/343,674, filed on Dec. 27, 2001; and
(32) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/346,309, filed on Jan. 7, 2002, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

An apparatus for forming a wellbore casing in a borehole located in a subterranean formation including a preexisting wellbore casing has been described that includes a support member including a first fluid passage, an expansion cone coupled to the support member including a second fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage, an expandable tubular liner movably coupled to the expansion cone, and an expandable shoe coupled to the expandable tubular liner. In a exemplary embodiment, the expansion cone is expandable. In a exemplary embodiment, the expandable shoe includes a valveable fluid passage for controlling the flow of fluidic materials out of the expandable shoe. In a exemplary embodiment, the expandable shoe includes: an expandable portion and a remaining portion, wherein the outer circumference of the expandable portion is greater than the outer circumference of the remaining portion. In a exemplary embodiment, the expandable portion includes: one or more inward folds. In a exemplary embodiment, the expandable portion includes: one or more corrugations. In a exemplary embodiment, the expandable shoe includes: one or more inward folds. In a exemplary embodiment, the expandable shoe includes: one or more corrugations.

A shoe has also been described that includes an upper annular portion, an intermediate annular portion, and a lower annular portion, wherein the intermediate annular portion has an outer circumference that is larger than the outer circumferences of the upper and lower annular portions. In a exemplary embodiment, the lower annular portion includes a valveable fluid passage for controlling the flow of fluidic materials out of the shoe. In a exemplary embodiment, the intermediate portion includes one or more inward folds. In a exemplary embodiment, the intermediate portion includes one or more corrugations.

A method of forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole has also been described that includes installing a tubular liner, an expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole, radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by injecting a fluidic material into the shoe, and radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner by injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the method further includes radially expanding the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the method further includes lowering the expansion cone into the radially expanded portion of the shoe, and radially expanding the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the method further includes radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe and the tubular liner by injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the radially expanded expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the method further includes injecting a hardenable fluidic sealing material into an annulus between the tubular liner and the borehole. In a exemplary embodiment, the method further includes radially expanding at least a portion of the preexisting wellbore casing. In a exemplary embodiment, the method further includes overlapping a portion of the radially expanded tubular liner with a portion of the preexisting wellbore casing. In a exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the radially expanded tubular liner is substantially equal to the inside diameter of a nonoverlapping portion of the preexisting wellbore casing. In a exemplary embodiment, the method further includes applying an axial force to the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the radially expanded shoe is greater than or equal to the inside diameter of the radially expanded tubular liner.

An apparatus for forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole has also been described that includes means for installing a tubular liner, an expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole, means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe, and means for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner. In a exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further includes means for radially expanding the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further includes means for lowering the expansion cone into the radially expanded portion of the shoe, and means for radially expanding the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further includes means for injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the radially expanded expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further includes means for injecting a hardenable fluidic sealing material into an annulus between the tubular liner and the borehole. In a exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further includes means for radially expanding at least a portion of the preexisting wellbore casing. In a exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further includes means for overlapping a portion of the radially expanded tubular liner with a portion of the preexisting wellbore casing. In a exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the radially expanded tubular liner is substantially equal to the inside diameter of a nonoverlapping portion of the preexisting wellbore casing. In a exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further includes means for applying an axial force to the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the radially expanded shoe is greater than or equal to the inside diameter of the radially expanded tubular liner.

An apparatus for forming a wellbore casing within a subterranean formation including a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole has also been described that includes a tubular liner and means for radially expanding and coupling the tubular liner to an overlapping portion of the preexisting wellbore casing. The inside diameter of the radially expanded tubular liner is substantially equal to the inside diameter of a non-overlapping portion of the preexisting wellbore casing.

A wellbore casing positioned in a borehole within a subterranean formation has also been described that includes a first wellbore casing and a second wellbore casing coupled to and overlapping with the first wellbore casing, wherein the second wellbore casing is coupled to the first wellbore casing by the process of: installing the second wellbore casing, an expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole, radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by injecting a fluidic material into the shoe, and radially expanding at least a portion of the second wellbore casing by injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the process for forming the wellbore casing further includes radially expanding the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the process for forming the wellbore casing further includes lowering the expansion cone into the radially expanded portion of the shoe, and radially expanding the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the process for forming the wellbore casing further includes radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe and the second wellbore casing by injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the radially expanded expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the process for forming the wellbore casing further includes injecting a hardenable fluidic sealing material into an annulus between the second wellbore casing and the borehole. In a exemplary embodiment, the process for forming the wellbore casing further includes radially expanding at least a portion of the first wellbore casing. In a exemplary embodiment, the process for forming the wellbore casing further includes overlapping a portion of the radially expanded second wellbore casing with a portion of the first wellbore casing. In a exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the radially expanded second wellbore casing is substantially equal to the inside diameter of a nonoverlapping portion of the first wellbore casing. In a exemplary embodiment, the process for forming the wellbore casing further includes applying an axial force to the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the radially expanded shoe is greater than or equal to the inside diameter of the radially expanded second wellbore casing.

A method of forming a tubular structure in a subterranean formation having a preexisting tubular member positioned in a borehole has also been described that includes installing a tubular liner, an expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole, radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by injecting a fluidic material into the shoe, and radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner by injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the method further includes radially expanding the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the method further includes lowering the expansion cone into the radially expanded portion of the shoe, and radially expanding the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the method further includes radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe and the tubular liner by injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the radially expanded expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the method further includes injecting a hardenable fluidic sealing material into an annulus between the tubular liner and the borehole. In a exemplary embodiment, the method further includes radially expanding at least a portion of the preexisting tubular member. In a exemplary embodiment, the method further includes overlapping a portion of the radially expanded tubular liner with a portion of the preexisting tubular member. In a exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the radially expanded tubular liner is substantially equal to the inside diameter of a nonoverlapping portion of the preexisting tubular member. In a exemplary embodiment, the method further includes applying an axial force to the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the radially expanded shoe is greater than or equal to the inside diameter of the radially expanded tubular liner.

An apparatus for forming a tubular structure in a subterranean formation having a preexisting tubular member positioned in a borehole has also been described that includes means for installing a tubular liner, an expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole, means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe, and means for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner. In a exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further includes means for radially expanding the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further includes means for lowering the expansion cone into the radially expanded portion of the shoe, and means for radially expanding the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further includes means for injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the radially expanded expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further includes means for injecting a hardenable fluidic sealing material into an annulus between the tubular liner and the borehole. In a exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further includes means for radially expanding at least a portion of the preexisting tubular member. In a exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further includes means for overlapping a portion of the radially expanded tubular liner with a portion of the preexisting tubular member. In a exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the radially expanded tubular liner is substantially equal to the inside diameter of a nonoverlapping portion of the preexisting tubular member. In a exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further includes means for applying an axial force to the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the radially expanded shoe is greater than or equal to the inside diameter of the radially expanded tubular liner.

An apparatus for forming a tubular structure within a subterranean formation including a preexisting tubular member positioned in a borehole has also been described that includes a tubular liner and means for radially expanding and coupling the tubular liner to an overlapping portion of the preexisting tubular member. The inside diameter of the radially expanded tubular liner is substantially equal to the inside diameter of a non-overlapping portion of the preexisting tubular member.

A tubular structure positioned in a borehole within a subterranean formation has also been described that includes a first tubular member and a second tubular member coupled to and overlapping with the first tubular member, wherein the second tubular member is coupled to the first tubular member by the process of: installing the second tubular member, an expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole, radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by injecting a fluidic material into the shoe, and radially expanding at least a portion of the second tubular member by injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the process for forming the tubular structure further includes radially expanding the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the process for forming the tubular structure further includes lowering the expansion cone into the radially expanded portion of the shoe, and radially expanding the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the process for forming the tubular structure further includes radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe and the second tubular member by injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the radially expanded expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the process for forming the tubular structure further includes injecting a hardenable fluidic sealing material into an annulus between the second tubular member and the borehole. In a exemplary embodiment, the process for forming the tubular structure further includes radially expanding at least a portion of the first tubular member. In a exemplary embodiment, the process for forming the tubular structure further includes overlapping a portion of the radially expanded second tubular member with a portion of the first tubular member. In a exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the radially expanded second tubular member is substantially equal to the inside diameter of a nonoverlapping portion of the first tubular member. In a exemplary embodiment, the process for forming the tubular structure further includes applying an axial force to the expansion cone. In a exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the radially expanded shoe is greater than or equal to the inside diameter of the radially expanded second tubular member.

An apparatus for forming a wellbore casing in a borehole located in a subterranean formation including a preexisting wellbore casing has also been described that includes a support member including a first fluid passage, an expansion cone coupled to the support member including a second fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage, an expandable tubular liner movably coupled to the expansion cone, and an expandable shoe coupled to the expandable tubular liner including a valveable fluid passage for controlling the flow of fluidic materials out of the expandable shoe, an expandable portion comprising one or more inward folds, and a remaining portion coupled to the expandable portion. The outer circumference of the expandable portion is greater than the outer circumference of the remaining portion, and the expansion cone is adjustable to a plurality of stationary positions.

A system for forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole has also been described that includes means for installing a tubular liner, an adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole, means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe comprising: means for lowering the adjustable expansion cone into the shoe, means for adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a first outside diameter, means for pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material, and means for pressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material, and means for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner comprising: means for adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a second outside diameter, means for pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material, and means for pressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material. The first outside diameter of the adjustable expansion cone is greater than the second outside diameter of the adjustable expansion cone.

A wellbore casing positioned in a borehole within a subterranean formation has also been described that includes a first wellbore casing including: an upper portion of the first wellbore casing, and a lower portion of the first wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the first wellbore casing, wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the first wellbore casing, and a second wellbore casing comprising: an upper portion of the second wellbore casing that overlaps with and is coupled to the lower portion of the first wellbore casing, and a lower portion of the second wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the second wellbore casing, wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing, and wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is equal to the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing. The second wellbore casing is coupled to the first wellbore casing by the process of: installing the second wellbore casing and an adjustable expansion cone in the borehole, radially expanding at least a portion of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising: lowering the adjustable expansion cone into the lower portion of the second wellbore casing, adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a first outside diameter, pressurizing a region within the lower portion of the second wellbore casing below the adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material, and pressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material, and radially expanding at least a portion of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising: adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a second outside diameter, pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material, and pressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material. The first outside diameter of the adjustable expansion cone is greater than the second outside diameter of the adjustable expansion cone.

An apparatus for forming a wellbore casing in a borehole located in a subterranean formation including a preexisting wellbore casing has also been described that includes a support member including a first fluid passage, a first adjustable expansion cone coupled to the support member including a second fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage, a second adjustable expansion cone coupled to the support member including a third fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage, an expandable tubular liner movably coupled to the first and second adjustable expansion cones, and an expandable shoe coupled to the expandable tubular liner comprising: a valveable fluid passage for controlling the flow of fluidic materials out of the expandable shoe, an expandable portion comprising one or more inwards folds, and a remaining portion coupled to the expandable portion. The outer circumference of the expandable portion is greater than the outer circumference of the remaining portion.

A method of forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole has also been described that includes installing a tubular liner, an upper adjustable expansion cone, a lower adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole, radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by a process comprising: lowering the lower adjustable expansion cone into the shoe, adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter, pressurizing a region within the shoe below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material, and pressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material, and radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner by a process comprising: adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to a reduced outside diameter, adjusting the upper adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter, pressurizing a region within the shoe below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material, and pressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material. The increased outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is greater than the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone, and the reduced outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is less than or equal to the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone.

A system for forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole has also been described that includes means for installing a tubular liner, an upper adjustable expansion cone, a lower adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole, means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe that comprises: means for lowering the lower adjustable expansion cone into the shoe, means for adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter, means for pressurizing a region within the shoe below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material, and means for pressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material, and means for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner that comprises: means for adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to a reduced outside diameter, means for adjusting the upper adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter, means for pressurizing a region within the shoe below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material, and means for pressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material. The increased outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is greater than the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone, and the reduced outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is less than or equal to the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone.

A wellbore casing positioned in a borehole within a subterranean formation has also been described that includes a first wellbore casing comprising: an upper portion of the first wellbore casing, and a lower portion of the first wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the first wellbore casing, wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the first wellbore casing, and a second wellbore casing comprising: an upper portion of the second wellbore casing that overlaps with and is coupled to the lower portion of the first wellbore casing, and a lower portion of the second wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the second wellbore casing. The inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing, and the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is equal to the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing. The second wellbore casing is coupled to the first wellbore casing by the process of: installing the second wellbore casing, an upper adjustable expansion cone, and a lower adjustable expansion cone in the borehole, radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by a process comprising: lowering the lower adjustable expansion cone into the lower portion of the second wellbore casing, adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter, pressurizing a region within the lower portion of the second wellbore casing below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material, and pressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material, and radially expanding at least a portion of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising: adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to a reduced outside diameter, adjusting the upper adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter, pressurizing a region within the lower portion of the second wellbore casing below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material, and pressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material. The increased outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is greater than the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone, and the reduced outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is less than or equal to the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone.

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

1. An apparatus for forming a wellbore casing in a borehole located in a subterranean formation including a preexisting wellbore casing, comprising: a support member including a first fluid passage;an expansion cone coupled to the support member including a second fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage;an expandable tubular liner movably coupled to the expansion cone; andan expandable shoe coupled to the expandable tubular liner;wherein the expansion cone is adjustable to a plurality of stationary positions.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable shoe includes a valveable fluid passage for controlling the flow of fluidic materials out of the expandable shoe.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable shoe includes: an expandable portion; anda remaining portion coupled to the expandable portion;wherein the outer circumference of the expandable portion is greater than the outer circumference of the remaining portion.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the expandable portion includes: one or more inward folds.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the expandable portion includes: one or more corrugations.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable shoe includes: one or more inward folds.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expandable shoe includes: one or more corrugations.
8. A method of forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: installing a tubular liner, an adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by a process comprising:adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a first outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the shoe; andradially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner by a process comprising:adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a second outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the expansion cone.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first outside diameter of the adjustable expansion cone is greater than the second outside diameter of the adjustable expansion cone.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe further comprises: lowering the adjustable expansion cone into the shoe; andadjusting the adjustable expansion cone to the first outside diameter.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe further comprises: pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner further comprises: pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material.
13. A system for forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: means for installing a tubular liner, an adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole;means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe comprising:means for adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a first outside diameter; andmeans for injecting a fluidic material into the shoe; andmeans for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner comprising:means for adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a second outside diameter; andmeans for injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the adjustable expansion cone.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first outside diameter of the adjustable expansion cone is greater than the second outside diameter of the adjustable expansion cone.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe further comprises: means for lowering the adjustable expansion cone into the shoe; andmeans for adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to the first outside diameter.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe further comprises: means for pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andmeans for pressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material.
17. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner further comprises: means for pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andmeans for pressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material.
18. A wellbore casing positioned in a borehole within a subterranean formation, comprising: a first wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the first wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the first wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda second wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the second wellbore casing that overlaps with and is coupled to the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the second wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing; andwherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is equal to the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the second wellbore casing is coupled to the first wellbore casing by the process of:installing the second wellbore casing and an adjustable expansion cone within the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising:adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a first outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the second wellbore casing; andradially expanding at least a portion of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising:adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a second outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the adjustable expansion cone.
19. The wellbore casing of claim 18, wherein the first outside diameter of the adjustable expansion cone is greater than the second outside diameter of the adjustable expansion cone.
20. The wellbore casing of claim 18, wherein radially expanding at least a portion of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing further comprises: lowering the adjustable expansion cone into the lower portion of the second wellbore casing; andadjusting the adjustable expansion cone to the first outside diameter.
21. The wellbore casing of claim 18, wherein radially expanding at least a portion of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing further comprises: pressurizing a region within the lower portion of the second wellbore casing below the adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material.
22. The wellbore casing of claim 18, wherein radially expanding at least a portion of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing further comprises: pressurizing a region within the lower portion of the second wellbore casing below the adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above-the adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material.
23. An apparatus for forming a wellbore casing in a borehole located in a subterranean formation including a preexisting wellbore casing, comprising: a support member including a first fluid passage;a first adjustable expansion cone coupled to the support member including a second fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage;a second adjustable expansion cone coupled to the support member including a third fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage;an expandable tubular liner movably coupled to the first and second adjustable expansion cones; andan expandable shoe coupled to the expandable tubular liner.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the expandable shoe includes a valveable fluid passage for controlling the flow of fluidic materials out of the expandable shoe.
25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the expandable shoe includes: an expandable portion; anda remaining portion coupled to the expandable portion;wherein the outer circumference of the expandable portion is greater than the outer circumference of the remaining portion.
26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the expandable portion includes: one or more inward folds.
27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the expandable portion includes: one or more corrugations.
28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the expandable shoe includes: one or more inward folds.
29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the expandable shoe includes: one or more corrugations.
30. A method of forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: installing a tubular liner, an upper adjustable expansion cone, a lower adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by a process comprising:adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the shoe; andradially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner by a process comprising:adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to a reduced outside diameter;adjusting the upper adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the lower adjustable expansion cone.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the increased outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is greater than the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone.
32. The method of claim 30, wherein the reduced outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is less than or equal to the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone.
33. The method of claim 30, wherein radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe further comprises: lowering the lower adjustable expansion cone into the shoe; andadjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to the increased outside diameter.
34. The method of claim 30, wherein radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe further comprises: pressurizing a region within the shoe below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material.
35. The method of claim 30, wherein radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner further comprises: pressurizing a region within the shoe below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material.
36. A system for forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: means for installing a tubular liner, an upper adjustable expansion cone, a lower adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole;means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe comprising:means for adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter; andmeans for injecting a fluidic material into the shoe; andmeans for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner comprising:means for adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to a reduced outside diameter;means for adjusting the upper adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter; andmeans for injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the lower adjustable expansion cone.
37. The system of claim 36, wherein the increased outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is greater than the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone.
38. The system of claim 36, wherein the reduced outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is less than or equal to the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone.
39. The system of claim 36, wherein the means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe further comprises: means for lowering the lower adjustable expansion cone into the shoe; andmeans for adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to the increased outside diameter.
40. The system of claim 36, wherein the means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe further comprises: means for pressurizing a region within the shoe below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andmeans for pressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material.
41. The system of claim 36, wherein the means for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner further comprises: means for pressurizing a region within the shoe below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andmeans for pressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material.
42. A wellbore casing positioned in a borehole within a subterranean formation, comprising: a first wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the first wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the first wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda second wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the second wellbore casing that overlaps with and is coupled to the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the second wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing; andwherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is equal to the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the second wellbore casing is coupled to the first wellbore casing by the process of:installing the second wellbore casing, an upper adjustable expansion cone, a lower adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing shoe by a process comprising:adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the lower portion of the second wellbore casing; andradially expanding at least a portion of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising:adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to a reduced outside diameter;adjusting the upper adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the lower adjustable expansion cone.
43. The wellbore casing of claim 42, wherein the increased outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is greater than the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone.
44. The wellbore casing of claim 42, wherein the reduced outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is less than or equal to the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone.
45. The wellbore casing of claim 42, wherein radially expanding at least a portion of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing further comprises: lowering the lower adjustable expansion cone into the lower portion of the second wellbore casing; andadjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to the increased outside diameter.
46. The wellbore casing of claim 42, wherein radially expanding at least a portion of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing further comprises: pressurizing a region within the lower portion of the second wellbore casing below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material.
47. The wellbore casing of claim 42, wherein radially expanding at least a portion of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing further comprises: pressurizing a region within the lower portion of the second wellbore casing below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material.
48. An apparatus for forming a wellbore casing in a borehole located in a subterranean formation including a preexisting wellbore casing, comprising: a support member including a first fluid passage;an expansion cone coupled to the support member including a second fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage;an expandable tubular liner movably coupled to the expansion cone; andan expandable shoe coupled to the expandable tubular liner comprising:a valveable fluid passage for controlling the flow of fluidic materials out of the expandable shoe;an expandable portion comprising one or more inward folds; anda remaining portion coupled to the expandable portion;wherein the outer circumference of the expandable portion is greater than the outer circumference of the remaining portion;wherein the expansion cone is adjustable to a plurality of stationary positions.
49. A method of forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: installing a tubular liner, an adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by a process comprising:lowering the adjustable expansion cone into the shoe;adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a first outside diameter;pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material; andradially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner by a process comprising:adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a second outside diameter;pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material;wherein the first outside diameter of the adjustable expansion cone is greater than the second outside diameter of the adjustable expansion cone.
50. A system for forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: means for installing a tubular liner, an adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole;means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe comprising:means for lowering the adjustable expansion cone into the shoe;means for adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a first outside diameter;means for pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andmeans for pressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material; andmeans for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner comprising:means for adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a second outside diameter;means for pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andmeans for pressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material;wherein the first outside diameter of the adjustable expansion cone is greater than the second outside diameter of the adjustable expansion cone.
51. A wellbore casing positioned in a borehole within a subterranean formation, comprising: a first wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the first wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the first wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda second wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the second wellbore casing that overlaps with and is coupled to the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the second wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing; andwherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is equal to the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the second wellbore casing is coupled to the first wellbore casing by the process of:installing the second wellbore casing and an adjustable expansion cone in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising:lowering the adjustable expansion cone into the lower portion of the second wellbore casing;adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a first outside diameter;pressurizing a region within the lower portion of the second wellbore casing below the adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material; andradially expanding at least a portion of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising:adjusting the adjustable expansion cone to a second outside diameter;pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material;wherein the first outside diameter of the adjustable expansion cone is greater than the second outside diameter of the adjustable expansion cone.
52. An apparatus for forming a wellbore casing in a borehole located in a subterranean formation including a preexisting wellbore casing, comprising: a support member including a first fluid passage;a first adjustable expansion cone coupled to the support member including a second fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage;a second adjustable expansion cone coupled to the support member including a third fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage;an expandable tubular liner movably coupled to the first and second adjustable expansion cones; andan expandable shoe coupled to the expandable tubular liner comprising:a valveable fluid passage for controlling the flow of fluidic materials out of the expandable shoe;an expandable portion comprising one or more inwards folds; anda remaining portion coupled to the expandable portion;wherein the outer circumference of the expandable portion is greater than the outer circumference of the remaining portion.
53. A method of forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: installing a tubular liner, an upper adjustable expansion cone, a lower adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by a process comprising:lowering the lower adjustable expansion cone into the shoe;adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter;pressurizing a region within the shoe below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material; andradially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner by a process comprising:adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to a reduced outside diameter;adjusting the upper adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter;pressurizing a region within the shoe below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material;wherein the increased outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is greater than the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone; andwherein the reduced outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is less than or equal to the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone.
54. A system for forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: means for installing a tubular liner, an upper adjustable expansion cone, a lower adjustable expansion cone, and a shoe in the borehole;means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe comprising:means for lowering the lower adjustable expansion cone into the shoe;means for adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter;means for pressurizing a region within the shoe below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andmeans for pressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material; andmeans for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner comprising:means for adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to a reduced outside diameter;means for adjusting the upper adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter;means for pressurizing a region within the shoe below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andmeans for pressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material;wherein the increased outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is greater than the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone; andwherein the reduced outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is less than or equal to the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone.
55. A wellbore casing positioned in a borehole within a subterranean formation, comprising: a first wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the first wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the first wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda second wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the second wellbore casing that overlaps with and is coupled to the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the second wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing; andwherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is equal to the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the second wellbore casing is coupled to the first wellbore casing by the process of:installing the second wellbore casing, an upper adjustable expansion cone, and a lower adjustable expansion cone in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by a process comprising:lowering the lower adjustable expansion cone into the lower portion of the second wellbore casing;adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter;pressurizing a region within the lower portion of the second wellbore casing below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material; andradially expanding at least a portion of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising:adjusting the lower adjustable expansion cone to a reduced outside diameter;adjusting the upper adjustable expansion cone to an increased outside diameter;pressurizing a region within the lower portion of the second wellbore casing below the lower adjustable expansion cone using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion cone using the fluidic material;wherein the increased outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is greater than the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone; andwherein the reduced outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion cone is less than or equal to the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion cone.
56. An apparatus for forming a wellbore casing in a borehole located in a subterranean formation including a preexisting wellbore casing, comprising: a support member defining a first fluid passage;an expansion device coupled to the support member defining a second fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage;an expandable tubular liner movably coupled to the expansion device; andan expandable shoe coupled to the expandable tubular liner;wherein the expansion device is adjustable to a plurality of stationary positions.
57. A method of forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: installing a tubular liner, an adjustable expansion device, and a shoe in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by a process comprising:adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a first outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the shoe; andradially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner by a process comprising:adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a second outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the adjustable expansion device.
58. A system for forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: means for installing a tubular liner, an adjustable expansion device, and a shoe in the borehole;means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe comprising: means for adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a first outside diameter; andmeans for injecting a fluidic material into the shoe; andmeans for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner comprising:means for adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a second outside diameter; and means for injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the adjustable expansion device.
59. A wellbore casing positioned in a borehole within a subterranean formation, comprising: a first wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the first wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the first wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda second wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the second wellbore casing that overlaps with and is coupled to the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the second wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing; andwherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is equal to the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the second wellbore casing is coupled to the first wellbore casing by the process of: installing the second wellbore casing and an adjustable expansion device within the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising: adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a first outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the second wellbore casing; andradially expanding at least a portion of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising: adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a second outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the adjustable expansion device.
60. An apparatus for forming a wellbore casing in a borehole located in a subterranean formation including a preexisting wellbore casing, comprising: a support member including a first fluid passage;a first adjustable expansion device coupled to the support member including a second fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage;a second adjustable expansion device coupled to the support member including a third fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage;an expandable tubular liner movably coupled to the first and second adjustable expansion devices; andan expandable shoe coupled to the expandable tubular liner.
61. A method of forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: installing a tubular liner, an upper adjustable expansion device, a lower adjustable expansion device, and a shoe in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by a process comprising: adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the shoe; andradially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner by a process comprising: adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to a reduced outside diameter;adjusting the upper adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the lower adjustable expansion device.
62. A system for forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: means for installing a tubular liner, an upper adjustable expansion device, a lower adjustable expansion device, and a shoe in the borehole;means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe comprising: means for adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter; andmeans for injecting a fluidic material into the shoe; andmeans for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner comprising: means for adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to a reduced outside diameter;means for adjusting the upper adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter; andmeans for injecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the lower adjustable expansion device.
63. A wellbore casing positioned in a borehole within a subterranean formation, comprising: a first wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the first wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the first wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda second wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the second wellbore casing that overlaps with and is coupled to the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the second wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing; andwherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is equal to the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the second wellbore casing is coupled to the first wellbore casing by the process of: installing the second wellbore casing, an upper adjustable expansion device, a lower adjustable expansion device, and a shoe in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing shoe by a process comprising: adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the lower portion of the second wellbore casing; andradially expanding at least a portion of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising: adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to a reduced outside diameter;adjusting the upper adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the borehole below the lower adjustable expansion device.
64. An apparatus for forming a wellbore casing in a borehole located in a subterranean formation including a preexisting wellbore casing, comprising: a support member including a first fluid passage;an expansion device coupled to the support member including a second fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage;an expandable tubular liner movably coupled to the expansion device; andan expandable shoe coupled to the expandable tubular liner comprising:a valveable fluid passage for controlling the flow of fluidic materials out of the expandable shoe;an expandable portion comprising one or more inward folds; anda remaining portion coupled to the expandable portion;wherein the outer circumference of the expandable portion is greater than the outer circumference of the remaining portion;wherein the expansion device is adjustable to a plurality of stationary positions.
65. A method of forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: installing a tubular liner, an adjustable expansion device, and a shoe in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by a process comprising:lowering the adjustable expansion device into the shoe;adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a first outside diameter;pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion device using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion device using the fluidic material; andradially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner by a process comprising: adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a second outside diameter;pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion device using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion device using the fluidic material;wherein the first outside diameter of the adjustable expansion device is greater than the second outside diameter of the adjustable expansion device.
66. A system for forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: means for installing a tubular liner, an adjustable expansion device, and a shoe in the borehole;means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe comprising:means for lowering the adjustable expansion device into the shoe;means for adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a first outside diameter;means for pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion device using a fluidic material; andmeans for pressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion device using the fluidic material; andmeans for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner comprising:means for adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a second outside diameter;means for pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion device using a fluidic material; andmeans for pressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion device using the fluidic material;wherein the first outside diameter of the adjustable expansion device is greater than the second outside diameter of the adjustable-expansion device.
67. A wellbore casing positioned in a borehole within a subterranean formation, comprising: a first wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the first wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the first wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda second wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the second wellbore casing that overlaps with and is coupled to the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the second wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing; andwherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is equal to the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the second wellbore casing is coupled to the first wellbore casing by the process of:installing the second wellbore casing and an adjustable expansion device in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising:lowering the adjustable expansion device into the lower portion of the second wellbore casing;adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a first outside diameter;pressurizing a region within the lower portion of the second wellbore casing below the adjustable expansion device using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion device using the fluidic material; andradially expanding at least a portion of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising:adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a second outside diameter;pressurizing a region within the shoe below the adjustable expansion device using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the adjustable expansion device using the fluidic material;wherein the first outside diameter of the adjustable expansion device is greater than the second outside diameter of the adjustable expansion device.
68. An apparatus for forming a wellbore casing in a borehole located in a subterranean formation including a preexisting wellbore casing, comprising: a support member including a first fluid passage;a first adjustable expansion device coupled to the support member including a second fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage;a second adjustable expansion device coupled to the support member including a third fluid passage fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage;an expandable tubular liner movably coupled to the first and second adjustable expansion devices; andan expandable shoe coupled to the expandable tubular liner comprising:a valveable fluid passage for controlling the flow of fluidic materials out of the expandable shoe;an expandable portion comprising one or more inwards folds; anda remaining portion coupled to the expandable portion;wherein the outer circumference of the expandable portion is greater than the outer circumference of the remaining portion.
69. A method of forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: installing a tubular liner, an upper adjustable expansion device, a lower adjustable expansion device, and a shoe in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by a process comprising:lowering the lower adjustable expansion device into the shoe;adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter;pressurizing a region within the shoe below the lower adjustable expansion device using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion device using the fluidic material; andradially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner by a process comprising:adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to a reduced outside diameter;adjusting the upper adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter;pressurizing a region within the shoe below the lower adjustable expansion device using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion device using the fluidic material;wherein the increased outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion device is greater than the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion device; andwherein the reduced outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion device is less than or equal to the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion device.
70. A system for forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: means for installing a tubular liner, an upper adjustable expansion device, a lower adjustable expansion device, and a shoe in the borehole;means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe comprising:means for lowering the lower adjustable expansion device into the shoe;means for adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter;means for pressurizing a region within the shoe below the lower adjustable expansion device using a fluidic material; andmeans for pressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion device using the fluidic material; andmeans for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner comprising:means for adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to a reduced outside diameter;means for adjusting the upper adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter;means for pressurizing a region within the shoe below the lower adjustable expansion device using a fluidic material; andmeans for pressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion device using the fluidic material;wherein the increased outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion device is greater than the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion device; andwherein the reduced outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion device is less than or equal to the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion device.
71. A wellbore casing positioned in a borehole within a subterranean formation, comprising: a first wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the first wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the first wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda second wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the second wellbore casing that overlaps with and is coupled to the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the second wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing; andwherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is equal to the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the second wellbore casing is coupled to the first wellbore casing by the process of:installing the second wellbore casing, an upper adjustable expansion device, and a lower adjustable expansion device in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by a process comprising:lowering the lower adjustable expansion device into the lower portion of the second wellbore casing;adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter;pressurizing a region within the lower portion of the second wellbore casing below the lower adjustable expansion device using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion device using the fluidic material; andradially expanding at least a portion of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising:adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to a reduced outside diameter;adjusting the upper adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter;pressurizing a region within the lower portion of the second wellbore casing below the lower adjustable expansion device using a fluidic material; andpressurizing an annular region above the upper adjustable expansion device using the fluidic material;wherein the increased outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion device is greater than the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion device; andwherein the reduced outside diameter of the lower adjustable expansion device is less than or equal to the increased outside diameter of the upper adjustable expansion device.
72. An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member, comprising: means for injecting fluidic materials into the tubular member to radially expand and plastically deform the tubular member; andmeans for radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular member by displacing an expansion device within the tubular member.
73. A method of forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: installing a tubular liner, an adjustable expansion device, and a shoe in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by a process comprising: adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a first outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the shoe; andradially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner by a process comprising: adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a second outside diameter; anddisplacing the adjustable expansion device relative to the tubular liner.
74. A system for forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: means for installing a tubular liner, an adjustable expansion device, and a shoe in the borehole;means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe comprising: means for adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a first outside diameter; andmeans for injecting a fluidic material into the shoe; andmeans for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner comprising: means for adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a second outside diameter; andmeans for displacing the adjustable expansion device relative to the tubular liner.
75. A wellbore casing positioned in a borehole within a subterranean formation, comprising: a first wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the first wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the first wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda second wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the second wellbore casing that overlaps with and is coupled to the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the second wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing; andwherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is equal to the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the second wellbore casing is coupled to the first wellbore casing by the process of: installing the second wellbore casing and an adjustable expansion device within the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising: adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a first outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the second wellbore casing; andradially expanding at least a portion of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising: adjusting the adjustable expansion device to a second outside diameter; anddisplacing the adjustable expansion device relative to the tubular liner.
76. A method of forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: installing a tubular liner, an upper adjustable expansion device, a lower adjustable expansion device, and a shoe in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe by a process comprising: adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the shoe; andradially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner by a process comprising: adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to a reduced outside diameter;adjusting the upper adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter; anddisplacing the upper adjustable expansion device relative to the tubular liner.
77. A system for forming a wellbore casing in a subterranean formation having a preexisting wellbore casing positioned in a borehole, comprising: means for installing a tubular liner, an upper adjustable expansion device, a lower adjustable expansion device, and a shoe in the borehole;means for radially expanding at least a portion of the shoe comprising: means for adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter; andmeans for injecting a fluidic material into the shoe; andmeans for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular liner comprising: means for adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to a reduced outside diameter;means for adjusting the upper adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter; andmeans for displacing the upper adjustable expansion device relative to the tubular liner.
78. A wellbore casing positioned in a borehole within a subterranean formation, comprising: a first wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the first wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the first wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda second wellbore casing comprising:an upper portion of the second wellbore casing that overlaps with and is coupled to the lower portion of the first wellbore casing; anda lower portion of the second wellbore casing coupled to the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing is less than the inside diameter of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing; andwherein the inside diameter of the upper portion of the first wellbore casing is equal to the inside diameter of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing;wherein the second wellbore casing is coupled to the first wellbore casing by the process of: installing the second wellbore casing, an upper adjustable expansion device, a lower adjustable expansion device, and a shoe in the borehole;radially expanding at least a portion of the lower portion of the second wellbore casing shoe by a process comprising: adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter; andinjecting a fluidic material into the lower portion of the second wellbore casing; andradially expanding at least a portion of the upper portion of the second wellbore casing by a process comprising: adjusting the lower adjustable expansion device to a reduced outside diameter;adjusting the upper adjustable expansion device to an increased outside diameter; anddisplacing the upper adjustable expansion device relative to the tubular liner.

Parent Case Info

The present application is the national stage patent application for PCT patent application serial number PCT/US03/00609, filed on Jan. 9, 2003, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/357,372, filed on Feb. 15, 2002, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 11/644,101, filed on Aug. 13, 2003, which was the national stage of PCT application serial number PCT/US02/04353, filed Feb. 14, 2002, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/270,007, filed on Feb. 20, 2001, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. utility application Ser. No. 09/454,139, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,289, filed on Dec. 3, 1999, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/111,293, filed on Dec. 7, 1998, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The present application is related to the following: (1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/454,139, filed on Dec. 3, 1999, (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,913, filed on Feb. 23, 2000, (3)U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/502,350, filed on Feb. 10, 2000, (4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/440,338, filed on Nov. 15, 1999, (5) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/523,460, filed on Mar. 10, 2000, (6) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/512,895, filed on Feb. 24, 2000, (7) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/511,941, filed on Feb. 24, 2000, (8) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/588,946, filed on Jun. 7, 2000, (9) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/559,122, filed on Apr. 26, 2000, (10) PCT patent application serial no. PCT/US00/18635, filed on Jul. 9, 2000, (11) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/162,671, filed on Nov. 1, 1999, (12) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/154,047, filed on Sep. 16, 1999, (13) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,082, filed on Oct. 12, 1999, (14) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,039, filed on Oct. 12, 1999, (15) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/159,033, filed on Oct. 12, 1999, (16) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/212,359, filed on Jun. 19, 2000, (17) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/165,228, filed on Nov. 12, 1999, (18) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/221,443, filed on Jul. 28, 2000, (19) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/221,645, filed on Jul. 28, 2000, (20) U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/233,638.

PCT Information

Filing Document	Filing Date	Country	Kind	371c Date
PCT/US03/00609	1/9/2003	WO	00	7/14/2005

Publishing Document	Publishing Date	Country	Kind
WO03/071086	8/28/2003	WO	A

US Referenced Citations (853)

Number	Name	Date	Kind
46818	Patterson	Mar 1865	A
331940	Bole	Dec 1885	A
332184	Bole	Dec 1885	A
341237	Healey	May 1886	A
519805	Bavier	May 1894	A
802880	Phillips, Jr.	Oct 1905	A
806156	Marshall	Dec 1905	A
958517	Mettler	May 1910	A
984449	Stewart	Feb 1911	A
1166040	Burlingham	Dec 1915	A
1233888	Leonard	Jul 1917	A
1494128	Primrose	May 1924	A
1589781	Anderson	Jun 1926	A
1590357	Feisthamel	Jun 1926	A
1597212	Spengler	Aug 1926	A
1613461	Johnson	Jan 1927	A
1756531	Aldeen et al.	Apr 1930	A
1880218	Simmons	Oct 1932	A
1981525	Price	Nov 1934	A
2046870	Clasen et al.	Jul 1936	A
2087185	Dillom	Jul 1937	A
2122757	Scott	Jul 1938	A
2145168	Flagg	Jan 1939	A
2160263	Fletcher	May 1939	A
2187275	McLennan	Jan 1940	A
2204586	Grau	Jun 1940	A
2211173	Shaffer	Aug 1940	A
2214226	English	Sep 1940	A
2226804	Carroll	Dec 1940	A
2246038	Graham	Jun 1941	A
2273017	Boynton	Feb 1942	A
2301495	Abegg	Nov 1942	A
2305282	Taylor, Jr. et al.	Dec 1942	A
2371840	Otis	Mar 1945	A
2383214	Prout	Aug 1945	A
2447629	Beissinger et al.	Aug 1948	A
2500276	Church	Mar 1950	A
2546295	Boice	Mar 1951	A
2583316	Bannister	Jan 1952	A
2609258	Taylor, Jr. et al.	Nov 1952	A
2627891	Clark	Feb 1953	A
2647847	Black et al.	Aug 1953	A
2664952	Losey	Jan 1954	A
2691418	Connolly	Oct 1954	A
2723721	Corsette	Nov 1955	A
2734580	Layne	Feb 1956	A
2796134	Binkley	Jun 1957	A
2812025	Teague et al.	Nov 1957	A
2877822	Buck	Mar 1959	A
2907589	Knox	Oct 1959	A
2919741	Strock et al.	Jan 1960	A
2929741	Strock et al.	Jan 1960	A
3015362	Moosman	Jan 1962	A
3015500	Barnett	Jan 1962	A
3018547	Marskell	Jan 1962	A
3039530	Condra	Jun 1962	A
3067801	Sortor	Dec 1962	A
3067819	Gore	Dec 1962	A
3068563	Reverman	Dec 1962	A
3104703	Rike et al.	Sep 1963	A
3111991	O'Neal	Nov 1963	A
3167122	Lang	Jan 1965	A
3175618	Lang et al.	Mar 1965	A
3179168	Vincent	Apr 1965	A
3188816	Koch	Jun 1965	A
3191677	Kinley	Jun 1965	A
3191680	Vincent	Jun 1965	A
3203451	Vincent	Aug 1965	A
3203483	Vincent	Aug 1965	A
3209546	Lawton	Oct 1965	A
3210102	Joslin	Oct 1965	A
3233315	Levake	Feb 1966	A
3245471	Howard	Apr 1966	A
3270817	Papaila	Sep 1966	A
3297092	Jennings	Jan 1967	A
3326293	Skipper	Jun 1967	A
3343252	Reesor	Sep 1967	A
3353599	Swift	Nov 1967	A
3354955	Berry	Nov 1967	A
3358760	Blagg	Dec 1967	A
3358769	Berry	Dec 1967	A
3364993	Skipper	Jan 1968	A
3371717	Chenoweth	Mar 1968	A
3397745	Owens et al.	Aug 1968	A
3412565	Lindsey et al.	Nov 1968	A
3419080	Lebourg	Dec 1968	A
3422902	Bouchillon	Jan 1969	A
3424244	Kinley	Jan 1969	A
3427707	Nowosadko	Feb 1969	A
3463228	Hearn	Aug 1969	A
3477506	Malone	Nov 1969	A
3489220	Kinley	Jan 1970	A
3489437	Duret	Jan 1970	A
3498376	Sizer et al.	Mar 1970	A
3504515	Reardon	Apr 1970	A
3508771	Duret	Apr 1970	A
3520049	Lysenko et al.	Jul 1970	A
3528498	Carothers	Sep 1970	A
3532174	Diamantides et al.	Oct 1970	A
3568773	Chancellor	Mar 1971	A
3572777	Blose et al.	Mar 1971	A
3574357	Alexandru et al.	Apr 1971	A
3578081	Bodine	May 1971	A
3579805	Kast	May 1971	A
3581817	Kammerer, Jr.	Jun 1971	A
3605887	Lambie	Sep 1971	A
3631926	Young	Jan 1972	A
3665591	Kowal	May 1972	A
3667547	Ahlstone	Jun 1972	A
3669190	Sizer et al.	Jun 1972	A
3678727	Jackson	Jul 1972	A
3682256	Stuart	Aug 1972	A
3687196	Mullins	Aug 1972	A
3691624	Kinley	Sep 1972	A
3693717	Wuenschel	Sep 1972	A
3704730	Witzig	Dec 1972	A
3709306	Curington	Jan 1973	A
3711123	Arnold	Jan 1973	A
3712376	Owen et al.	Jan 1973	A
3746068	Deckert et al.	Jul 1973	A
3746091	Owen et al.	Jul 1973	A
3746092	Land	Jul 1973	A
3764168	Kisling, III et al.	Oct 1973	A
3776307	Young	Dec 1973	A
3779025	Godley et al.	Dec 1973	A
3780562	Kinley	Dec 1973	A
3781966	Lieberman	Jan 1974	A
3785193	Kinely et al.	Jan 1974	A
3797259	Kammerer, Jr.	Mar 1974	A
3805567	Agius-Sincero	Apr 1974	A
3812912	Wuenschel	May 1974	A
3818734	Bateman	Jun 1974	A
3826124	Baksay	Jul 1974	A
3830294	Swanson	Aug 1974	A
3830295	Crowe	Aug 1974	A
3834742	McPhillips	Sep 1974	A
3848668	Sizer et al.	Nov 1974	A
3866954	Slator et al.	Feb 1975	A
3874446	Crowe	Apr 1975	A
3885298	Pogonowski	May 1975	A
3887006	Pitts	Jun 1975	A
3893718	Powell	Jul 1975	A
3898163	Mott	Aug 1975	A
3915478	Al et al.	Oct 1975	A
3915763	Jennings et al.	Oct 1975	A
3935910	Gaudy et al.	Feb 1976	A
3942824	Sable	Mar 1976	A
3945444	Knudson	Mar 1976	A
3948321	Owen et al.	Apr 1976	A
3963076	Winslow	Jun 1976	A
3970336	O'Sickey et al.	Jul 1976	A
3977473	Page, Jr.	Aug 1976	A
3989280	Schwarz	Nov 1976	A
3997193	Tsuda et al.	Dec 1976	A
3999605	Braddick	Dec 1976	A
4011652	Black	Mar 1977	A
4018634	Fenci	Apr 1977	A
4019579	Thuse	Apr 1977	A
4026583	Gottlieb	May 1977	A
4053247	Marsh, Jr.	Oct 1977	A
4069573	Rogers, Jr. et al.	Jan 1978	A
4076287	Bill et al.	Feb 1978	A
4096913	Kenneday et al.	Jun 1978	A
4098334	Crowe	Jul 1978	A
4099563	Hutchison et al.	Jul 1978	A
4125937	Brown et al.	Nov 1978	A
4152821	Scott	May 1979	A
4168747	Youmans	Sep 1979	A
4190108	Webber	Feb 1980	A
4204312	Tooker	May 1980	A
4205422	Hardwick	Jun 1980	A
4226449	Cole	Oct 1980	A
4253687	Maples	Mar 1981	A
4257155	Hunter	Mar 1981	A
4274665	Marsh, Jr.	Jun 1981	A
RE30802	Rogers, Jr.	Nov 1981	E
4304428	Grigorian et al.	Dec 1981	A
4328983	Gibson	May 1982	A
4355664	Cook et al.	Oct 1982	A
4359889	Kelly	Nov 1982	A
4363358	Ellis	Dec 1982	A
4366971	Lula	Jan 1983	A
4368571	Cooper, Jr.	Jan 1983	A
4379471	Kuenzel	Apr 1983	A
4380347	Sable	Apr 1983	A
4384625	Roper et al.	May 1983	A
4388752	Vinciguerra et al.	Jun 1983	A
4391325	Baker et al.	Jul 1983	A
4393931	Muse et al.	Jul 1983	A
4396061	Tamplen et al.	Aug 1983	A
4397484	Miller	Aug 1983	A
4401325	Tsuchiya et al.	Aug 1983	A
4402372	Cherrington	Sep 1983	A
4407681	Ina et al.	Oct 1983	A
4411435	McStravick	Oct 1983	A
4413395	Garnier	Nov 1983	A
4413682	Callihan et al.	Nov 1983	A
4420866	Mueller	Dec 1983	A
4421169	Dearth et al.	Dec 1983	A
4422317	Mueller	Dec 1983	A
4422507	Reimert	Dec 1983	A
4423889	Weise	Jan 1984	A
4423986	Skogberg	Jan 1984	A
4424865	Payton, Jr.	Jan 1984	A
4429741	Hyland	Feb 1984	A
4440233	Baugh et al.	Apr 1984	A
4442586	Ridenour	Apr 1984	A
4444250	Keithahn et al.	Apr 1984	A
4449713	Ishido et al.	May 1984	A
4458925	Raulins et al.	Jul 1984	A
4462471	Hipp	Jul 1984	A
4467630	Kelly	Aug 1984	A
4468309	White	Aug 1984	A
4469356	Duret et al.	Sep 1984	A
4473245	Raulins et al.	Sep 1984	A
4483399	Colgate	Nov 1984	A
4485847	Wentzell	Dec 1984	A
4491001	Yoshida	Jan 1985	A
4495073	Beimgraben	Jan 1985	A
4501327	Retz	Feb 1985	A
4505017	Schukei	Mar 1985	A
4505987	Yamada et al.	Mar 1985	A
4506432	Smith	Mar 1985	A
4507019	Thompson	Mar 1985	A
4508129	Brown	Apr 1985	A
4508167	Weinberg et al.	Apr 1985	A
4511289	Herron	Apr 1985	A
4513995	Niehaus et al.	Apr 1985	A
4519456	Cochran	May 1985	A
4526232	Hughson et al.	Jul 1985	A
4526839	Herman et al.	Jul 1985	A
4527815	Frick	Jul 1985	A
4530231	Main	Jul 1985	A
4531552	Kim	Jul 1985	A
4537429	Landriault	Aug 1985	A
4538442	Reed	Sep 1985	A
4538840	DeLange	Sep 1985	A
4541655	Hunter	Sep 1985	A
4550782	Lawson	Nov 1985	A
4550937	Duret	Nov 1985	A
4553776	Dodd	Nov 1985	A
4573248	Hackett	Mar 1986	A
4576386	Benson et al.	Mar 1986	A
4581817	Kelly	Apr 1986	A
4582348	Dearden et al.	Apr 1986	A
4590227	Nakamura et al.	May 1986	A
4590995	Evans	May 1986	A
4592577	Ayres et al.	Jun 1986	A
4595063	Jennings et al.	Jun 1986	A
4596913	Takechi	Jun 1986	A
4601343	Lindsey, Jr. et al.	Jul 1986	A
4603889	Welsh	Aug 1986	A
4605063	Ross	Aug 1986	A
4611662	Harrington	Sep 1986	A
4614233	Menard	Sep 1986	A
4629218	Dubois	Dec 1986	A
4629224	Landriault	Dec 1986	A
4630849	Fukui et al.	Dec 1986	A
4632944	Thompson	Dec 1986	A
4634317	Skogberg et al.	Jan 1987	A
4635333	Finch	Jan 1987	A
4637436	Stewart, Jr. et al.	Jan 1987	A
4646787	Rush et al.	Mar 1987	A
4649492	Sinha et al.	Mar 1987	A
4651831	Baugh et al.	Mar 1987	A
4651836	Richards	Mar 1987	A
4656779	Fedeli	Apr 1987	A
4660863	Bailey et al.	Apr 1987	A
4662446	Brisco et al.	May 1987	A
4669541	Bissonnette	Jun 1987	A
4674572	Gallus	Jun 1987	A
4676563	Curlett et al.	Jun 1987	A
4682797	Hildner	Jul 1987	A
4685191	Mueller et al.	Aug 1987	A
4685834	Jordan	Aug 1987	A
4693498	Baugh et al.	Sep 1987	A
4711474	Patrick	Dec 1987	A
4714117	Dech	Dec 1987	A
4730851	Watts	Mar 1988	A
4732416	Dearden et al.	Mar 1988	A
4735444	Skipper	Apr 1988	A
4739654	Pilkington et al.	Apr 1988	A
4739916	Ayres et al.	Apr 1988	A
4754781	Putter	Jul 1988	A
4758025	Frick	Jul 1988	A
4762344	Perkins et al.	Aug 1988	A
4776394	Lynde et al.	Oct 1988	A
4778088	Miller	Oct 1988	A
4779445	Rabe	Oct 1988	A
4793382	Szalvay	Dec 1988	A
4796668	Depret	Jan 1989	A
4799544	Curlett	Jan 1989	A
4817710	Edwards et al.	Apr 1989	A
4817712	Bodine	Apr 1989	A
4817716	Taylor et al.	Apr 1989	A
4822081	Blose	Apr 1989	A
4825674	Tanaka et al.	May 1989	A
4826347	Baril et al.	May 1989	A
4827594	Cartry et al.	May 1989	A
4828033	Frison	May 1989	A
4830109	Wedel	May 1989	A
4832382	Kapgan	May 1989	A
4836278	Stone et al.	Jun 1989	A
4836579	Wester et al.	Jun 1989	A
4838349	Berzin	Jun 1989	A
4842082	Springer	Jun 1989	A
4848459	Blackwell et al.	Jul 1989	A
4854338	Grantham	Aug 1989	A
4856592	Van Bilderbeek et al.	Aug 1989	A
4865127	Koster	Sep 1989	A
4871199	Ridenour et al.	Oct 1989	A
4872253	Carstensen	Oct 1989	A
4887646	Groves	Dec 1989	A
4888975	Soward et al.	Dec 1989	A
4892337	Gunderson et al.	Jan 1990	A
4893658	Kimura et al.	Jan 1990	A
4904136	Matsumoto	Feb 1990	A
4907828	Chang	Mar 1990	A
4911237	Melenyzer	Mar 1990	A
4913758	Koster	Apr 1990	A
4915177	Claycomb	Apr 1990	A
4915426	Skipper	Apr 1990	A
4917409	Reeves	Apr 1990	A
4919989	Colangelo	Apr 1990	A
4921045	Richardson	May 1990	A
4924949	Curlett	May 1990	A
4930573	Lane et al.	Jun 1990	A
4934038	Caudill	Jun 1990	A
4934312	Koster et al.	Jun 1990	A
4938291	Lynde et al.	Jul 1990	A
4941512	McParland	Jul 1990	A
4941532	Hurt et al.	Jul 1990	A
4942925	Themig	Jul 1990	A
4942926	Lessi	Jul 1990	A
4958691	Hipp	Sep 1990	A
4968184	Reid	Nov 1990	A
4971152	Koster et al.	Nov 1990	A
4976322	Abdrakhmanov et al.	Dec 1990	A
4981250	Persson	Jan 1991	A
4995464	Watkins et al.	Feb 1991	A
5014779	Meling et al.	May 1991	A
5015017	Geary	May 1991	A
5026074	Hoes et al.	Jun 1991	A
5031370	Jewett	Jul 1991	A
5031699	Artynov et al.	Jul 1991	A
5040283	Pelgrom	Aug 1991	A
5044676	Burton et al.	Sep 1991	A
5048871	Pfeiffer et al.	Sep 1991	A
5052483	Hudson	Oct 1991	A
5059043	Kuhne	Oct 1991	A
5064004	Lundel	Nov 1991	A
5079837	Vanselow	Jan 1992	A
5083608	Abdrakhmanov et al.	Jan 1992	A
5093015	Oldiges	Mar 1992	A
5095991	Milberger	Mar 1992	A
5097710	Palynchuk	Mar 1992	A
5101653	Hermes et al.	Apr 1992	A
5105888	Pollock et al.	Apr 1992	A
5107221	N'Guyen et al.	Apr 1992	A
5119661	Abdrakhmanov et al.	Jun 1992	A
5134891	Canevet	Aug 1992	A
5150755	Cassel et al.	Sep 1992	A
5156043	Ose	Oct 1992	A
5156213	George et al.	Oct 1992	A
5156223	Hipp	Oct 1992	A
5174340	Peterson et al.	Dec 1992	A
5174376	Singeetham	Dec 1992	A
5181571	Mueller et al.	Jan 1993	A
5195583	Toon et al.	Mar 1993	A
5197553	Leturno	Mar 1993	A
5209600	Koster	May 1993	A
5226492	Solaeche P. et al.	Jul 1993	A
5242017	Hailey	Sep 1993	A
5249628	Surjaatmadja	Oct 1993	A
5253713	Gregg et al.	Oct 1993	A
RE34467	Reeves	Dec 1993	E
5275242	Payne	Jan 1994	A
5282508	Ellingsen et al.	Feb 1994	A
5286393	Oldiges et al.	Feb 1994	A
5306101	Rockower et al.	Apr 1994	A
5309621	O'Donnell et al.	May 1994	A
5314014	Tucker	May 1994	A
5314209	Kuhne	May 1994	A
5318122	Murray et al.	Jun 1994	A
5318131	Baker	Jun 1994	A
5325923	Surjaatmadja et al.	Jul 1994	A
5326137	Lorenz et al.	Jul 1994	A
5327964	O'Donnell et al.	Jul 1994	A
5330850	Suzuki et al.	Jul 1994	A
5332038	Tapp et al.	Jul 1994	A
5332049	Tew	Jul 1994	A
5333692	Baugh et al.	Aug 1994	A
5335736	Windsor	Aug 1994	A
5337808	Graham	Aug 1994	A
5337823	Nobileau	Aug 1994	A
5337827	Hromas et al.	Aug 1994	A
5339894	Stotler	Aug 1994	A
5343949	Ross et al.	Sep 1994	A
5346007	Dillon et al.	Sep 1994	A
5348087	Williamson, Jr.	Sep 1994	A
5348093	Wood et al.	Sep 1994	A
5348095	Worrall et al.	Sep 1994	A
5348668	Oldiges et al.	Sep 1994	A
5351752	Wood et al.	Oct 1994	A
5360239	Klementich	Nov 1994	A
5360292	Allen et al.	Nov 1994	A
5361836	Sorem et al.	Nov 1994	A
5361843	Shy et al.	Nov 1994	A
5366010	Zwart	Nov 1994	A
5366012	Lohbeck	Nov 1994	A
5368075	Bäro et al.	Nov 1994	A
5370425	Dougherty et al.	Dec 1994	A
5375661	Daneshy et al.	Dec 1994	A
5388648	Jordan, Jr.	Feb 1995	A
5390735	Williamson, Jr.	Feb 1995	A
5390742	Dines et al.	Feb 1995	A
5396957	Surjaatmadja et al.	Mar 1995	A
5400827	Baro et al.	Mar 1995	A
5405171	Allen et al.	Apr 1995	A
5411301	Moyer et al.	May 1995	A
5413180	Ross et al.	May 1995	A
5419595	Yamamoto et al.	May 1995	A
5425559	Nobileau	Jun 1995	A
5426130	Thurber et al.	Jun 1995	A
5431831	Vincent	Jul 1995	A
5435395	Connell	Jul 1995	A
5439320	Abrams	Aug 1995	A
5443129	Bailey et al.	Aug 1995	A
5447201	Mohn	Sep 1995	A
5454419	Vloedman	Oct 1995	A
5456319	Schmidt et al.	Oct 1995	A
5458194	Brooks	Oct 1995	A
5462120	Gondouin	Oct 1995	A
5467822	Zwart	Nov 1995	A
5472055	Simson et al.	Dec 1995	A
5474334	Eppink	Dec 1995	A
5492173	Kilgore et al.	Feb 1996	A
5494106	Gueguen et al.	Feb 1996	A
5507343	Carlton et al.	Apr 1996	A
5511620	Baugh et al.	Apr 1996	A
5524937	Sides, III et al.	Jun 1996	A
5535824	Hudson	Jul 1996	A
5536422	Oldiges et al.	Jul 1996	A
5540281	Round	Jul 1996	A
5554244	Ruggles et al.	Sep 1996	A
5566772	Coone et al.	Oct 1996	A
5567335	Baessler et al.	Oct 1996	A
5576485	Serata	Nov 1996	A
5584512	Carstensen	Dec 1996	A
5606792	Schafer	Mar 1997	A
5611399	Richard et al.	Mar 1997	A
5613557	Blount et al.	Mar 1997	A
5617918	Cooksey et al.	Apr 1997	A
5642560	Tabuchi et al.	Jul 1997	A
5642781	Richard	Jul 1997	A
5662180	Coffman et al.	Sep 1997	A
5664327	Swars	Sep 1997	A
5667011	Gill et al.	Sep 1997	A
5667252	Schafer et al.	Sep 1997	A
5678609	Washburn	Oct 1997	A
5685369	Ellis et al.	Nov 1997	A
5689871	Carstensen	Nov 1997	A
5695008	Bertet et al.	Dec 1997	A
5695009	Hipp	Dec 1997	A
5697442	Baldridge	Dec 1997	A
5697449	Hennig et al.	Dec 1997	A
5718288	Bertet et al.	Feb 1998	A
5738146	Abe	Apr 1998	A
5743335	Bussear	Apr 1998	A
5749419	Coronado et al.	May 1998	A
5749585	Lembcke	May 1998	A
5755895	Tamehiro et al.	May 1998	A
5775422	Wong et al.	Jul 1998	A
5785120	Smalley et al.	Jul 1998	A
5787933	Russ et al.	Aug 1998	A
5791419	Valisalo	Aug 1998	A
5794702	Nobileau	Aug 1998	A
5797454	Hipp	Aug 1998	A
5829520	Johnson	Nov 1998	A
5829524	Flanders et al.	Nov 1998	A
5829797	Yamamoto et al.	Nov 1998	A
5833001	Song et al.	Nov 1998	A
5845945	Carstensen	Dec 1998	A
5849188	Voll et al.	Dec 1998	A
5857524	Harris	Jan 1999	A
5862866	Springer	Jan 1999	A
5875851	Vick, Jr. et al.	Mar 1999	A
5885941	Sateva et al.	Mar 1999	A
5895079	Carstensen et al.	Apr 1999	A
5901789	Donnelly et al.	May 1999	A
5918677	Head	Jul 1999	A
5924745	Campbell	Jul 1999	A
5931511	DeLange et al.	Aug 1999	A
5933945	Thomeer et al.	Aug 1999	A
5944100	Hipp	Aug 1999	A
5944107	Ohmer	Aug 1999	A
5944108	Baugh et al.	Aug 1999	A
5951207	Chen	Sep 1999	A
5957195	Bailey et al.	Sep 1999	A
5964288	Leighton et al.	Oct 1999	A
5971443	Noel et al.	Oct 1999	A
5975587	Wood et al.	Nov 1999	A
5979560	Nobileau	Nov 1999	A
5984369	Crook et al.	Nov 1999	A
5984568	Lohbeck	Nov 1999	A
6009611	Adams et al.	Jan 2000	A
6012521	Zunkel et al.	Jan 2000	A
6012522	Donnelly et al.	Jan 2000	A
6012523	Campbell et al.	Jan 2000	A
6012874	Groneck et al.	Jan 2000	A
6015012	Reddick	Jan 2000	A
6017168	Fraser et al.	Jan 2000	A
6021850	Woo et al.	Feb 2000	A
6024181	Richardson et al.	Feb 2000	A
6027145	Tsuru et al.	Feb 2000	A
6029748	Forsyth et al.	Feb 2000	A
6035954	Hipp	Mar 2000	A
6044906	Saltel	Apr 2000	A
6047505	Willow	Apr 2000	A
6047774	Allen	Apr 2000	A
6050341	Metcalf	Apr 2000	A
6050346	Hipp	Apr 2000	A
6056059	Ohmer	May 2000	A
6056324	Reimert et al.	May 2000	A
6062324	Hipp	May 2000	A
6065500	Metcalfe	May 2000	A
6070671	Cumming et al.	Jun 2000	A
6073332	Turner	Jun 2000	A
6073692	Wood et al.	Jun 2000	A
6073698	Schultz et al.	Jun 2000	A
6074133	Kelsey	Jun 2000	A
6078031	Bliault et al.	Jun 2000	A
6079495	Ohmer	Jun 2000	A
6085838	Vercaemer et al.	Jul 2000	A
6089320	LaGrange	Jul 2000	A
6098717	Bailey et al.	Aug 2000	A
6102119	Raines	Aug 2000	A
6109355	Reid	Aug 2000	A
6112818	Campbell	Sep 2000	A
6131265	Bird	Oct 2000	A
6135208	Gano et al.	Oct 2000	A
6138761	Freeman et al.	Oct 2000	A
6142230	Smalley et al.	Nov 2000	A
6155613	Quadflieg et al.	Dec 2000	A
6158785	Beaulier et al.	Dec 2000	A
6158963	Hollis	Dec 2000	A
6167970	Stout	Jan 2001	B1
6182775	Hipp	Feb 2001	B1
6183013	Mackenzie et al.	Feb 2001	B1
6183573	Fujiwara et al.	Feb 2001	B1
6196336	Fincher et al.	Mar 2001	B1
6216509	Lotspaih et al.	Apr 2001	B1
6220306	Omura et al.	Apr 2001	B1
6226855	Maine	May 2001	B1
6231086	Tierling	May 2001	B1
6237967	Yamamoto et al.	May 2001	B1
6250385	Montaron	Jun 2001	B1
6253846	Nazzai et al.	Jul 2001	B1
6263966	Haut et al.	Jul 2001	B1
6263968	Freeman et al.	Jul 2001	B1
6263972	Richard et al.	Jul 2001	B1
6267181	Rhein-Knudsen et al.	Jul 2001	B1
6273634	Lohbeck	Aug 2001	B1
6275556	Kinney et al.	Aug 2001	B1
6283211	Vloedman	Sep 2001	B1
6286558	Quigley et al.	Sep 2001	B1
6302211	Nelson et al.	Oct 2001	B1
6311792	Scott et al.	Nov 2001	B1
6315040	Donnelly	Nov 2001	B1
6315043	Farrant et al.	Nov 2001	B1
6318457	Den Boer et al.	Nov 2001	B1
6318465	Coon et al.	Nov 2001	B1
6322109	Campbell et al.	Nov 2001	B1
6325148	Trahan et al.	Dec 2001	B1
6328113	Cook	Dec 2001	B1
6334351	Tsuchiya	Jan 2002	B1
6343495	Cheppe et al.	Feb 2002	B1
6343657	Baugh et al.	Feb 2002	B1
6345373	Chakradhar et al.	Feb 2002	B1
6345431	Greig	Feb 2002	B1
6349521	McKeon et al.	Feb 2002	B1
6352112	Mills	Mar 2002	B1
6354373	Vercaemer et al.	Mar 2002	B1
6390720	LeBegue et al.	May 2002	B1
6405761	Shimizu et al.	Jun 2002	B1
6406063	Pfeiffer	Jun 2002	B1
6409175	Evans et al.	Jun 2002	B1
6419025	Lohbeck et al.	Jul 2002	B1
6419026	MacKenzie et al.	Jul 2002	B1
6419033	Hahn et al.	Jul 2002	B1
6419147	Daniel	Jul 2002	B1
6425444	Metcalfe et al.	Jul 2002	B1
6431277	Cox et al.	Aug 2002	B1
6443247	Wardley	Sep 2002	B1
6446724	Baugh et al.	Sep 2002	B2
6447025	Smith	Sep 2002	B1
6450261	Baugh	Sep 2002	B1
6454013	Metcalfe	Sep 2002	B1
6454024	Nackerud	Sep 2002	B1
6457532	Simpson	Oct 2002	B1
6457533	Metcalfe	Oct 2002	B1
6457749	Heijnen	Oct 2002	B1
6460615	Heijnen	Oct 2002	B1
6464008	Roddy et al.	Oct 2002	B1
6464014	Bernat	Oct 2002	B1
6470966	Cook et al.	Oct 2002	B2
6470996	Kyle et al.	Oct 2002	B1
6478092	Voll et al.	Nov 2002	B2
6491108	Slup et al.	Dec 2002	B1
6497289	Cook et al.	Dec 2002	B1
6513243	Bignucolo et al.	Feb 2003	B1
6516887	Nguyen et al.	Feb 2003	B2
6517126	Peterson et al.	Feb 2003	B1
6527049	Metcalfe et al.	Mar 2003	B2
6543545	Chatterji et al.	Apr 2003	B1
6543552	Metcalfe et al.	Apr 2003	B1
6550539	Maguire et al.	Apr 2003	B2
6550821	DeLange et al.	Apr 2003	B2
6557640	Cook et al.	May 2003	B1
6557906	Carcagno	May 2003	B1
6561227	Cook et al.	May 2003	B2
6561279	MacKenzie et al.	May 2003	B2
6564875	Bullock	May 2003	B1
6568471	Cook et al.	May 2003	B1
6568488	Wentworth et al.	May 2003	B2
6575240	Cook et al.	Jun 2003	B1
6578630	Simpson et al.	Jun 2003	B2
6585053	Coon	Jul 2003	B2
6585299	Quadflieg et al.	Jul 2003	B1
6591905	Coon	Jul 2003	B2
6598677	Baugh et al.	Jul 2003	B1
6598678	Simpson et al.	Jul 2003	B1
6604763	Ring et al.	Aug 2003	B1
6607220	Sivley, IV	Aug 2003	B2
6609735	DeLange et al.	Aug 2003	B1
6619696	Baugh et al.	Sep 2003	B2
6622797	Sivley, IV	Sep 2003	B2
6629567	Lauritzen et al.	Oct 2003	B2
6631759	Cook et al.	Oct 2003	B2
6631760	Cook et al.	Oct 2003	B2
6631765	Baugh et al.	Oct 2003	B2
6631769	Cook et al.	Oct 2003	B2
6634431	Cook et al.	Oct 2003	B2
6640903	Cook et al.	Nov 2003	B1
6648075	Badrak et al.	Nov 2003	B2
6659509	Goto et al.	Dec 2003	B2
6662876	Lauritzen	Dec 2003	B2
6668937	Murray	Dec 2003	B1
6672759	Feger	Jan 2004	B2
6679328	Davis et al.	Jan 2004	B2
6681862	Freeman	Jan 2004	B2
6684947	Cook et al.	Feb 2004	B2
6688397	McClurkin et al.	Feb 2004	B2
6695012	Ring et al.	Feb 2004	B1
6695065	Simpson et al.	Feb 2004	B2
6698517	Simpson	Mar 2004	B2
6701598	Chen et al.	Mar 2004	B2
6702030	Simpson	Mar 2004	B2
6705395	Cook et al.	Mar 2004	B2
6708767	Harrall et al.	Mar 2004	B2
6712154	Cook et al.	Mar 2004	B2
6712401	Coulon et al.	Mar 2004	B2
6719064	Price-Smith et al.	Apr 2004	B2
6722427	Gano et al.	Apr 2004	B2
6722437	Vercaemer et al.	Apr 2004	B2
6722443	Metcalfe	Apr 2004	B1
6725917	Metcalfe	Apr 2004	B2
6725919	Cook et al.	Apr 2004	B2
6725934	Coronado et al.	Apr 2004	B2
6725939	Richard	Apr 2004	B2
6732806	Mauldin et al.	May 2004	B2
6739392	Cook et al.	May 2004	B2
6745845	Cook et al.	Jun 2004	B2
6755447	Galle, Jr. et al.	Jun 2004	B2
6758278	Cook et al.	Jul 2004	B2
6772841	Gano	Aug 2004	B2
6796380	Xu	Sep 2004	B2
6814147	Baugh	Nov 2004	B2
6817633	Brill et al.	Nov 2004	B2
6820690	Vercaemer et al.	Nov 2004	B2
6823937	Cook et al.	Nov 2004	B1
6832649	Bode et al.	Dec 2004	B2
6834725	Whanger et al.	Dec 2004	B2
6843322	Burtner et al.	Jan 2005	B2
6857473	Cook et al.	Feb 2005	B2
6880632	Tom et al.	Apr 2005	B2
6892819	Cook et al.	May 2005	B2
6902000	Simpson et al.	Jun 2005	B2
6907652	Heijnen	Jun 2005	B1
6923261	Metcalfe et al.	Aug 2005	B2
6935429	Badrak	Aug 2005	B2
6935430	Harrall et al.	Aug 2005	B2
6966370	Cook et al.	Nov 2005	B2
6976539	Metcalfe et al.	Dec 2005	B2
6976541	Brisco et al.	Dec 2005	B2
7000953	Berghaus	Feb 2006	B2
7007760	Lohbeck	Mar 2006	B2
7021390	Cook et al.	Apr 2006	B2
7036582	Cook et al.	May 2006	B2
7044221	Cook et al.	May 2006	B2
7048062	Ring et al.	May 2006	B2
7066284	Wylie et al.	Jun 2006	B2
7077211	Cook et al.	Jul 2006	B2
7077213	Cook et al.	Jul 2006	B2
7086475	Cook	Aug 2006	B2
7100685	Cook et al.	Sep 2006	B2
7121337	Cook et al.	Oct 2006	B2
7121352	Cook et al.	Oct 2006	B2
7124821	Metcalfe et al.	Oct 2006	B2
7124823	Oosterling	Oct 2006	B2
7124826	Simpson	Oct 2006	B2
7195064	Cook et al.	Mar 2007	B2
7225879	Wylie et al.	Jun 2007	B2
7234531	Kendziora et al.	Jun 2007	B2
20010002626	Frank et al.	Jun 2001	A1
20010020532	Baugh et al.	Sep 2001	A1
20010045284	Simpson et al.	Nov 2001	A1
20010045289	Cook et al.	Nov 2001	A1
20010047870	Cook et al.	Dec 2001	A1
20020011339	Murray	Jan 2002	A1
20020014339	Ross	Feb 2002	A1
20020020524	Gano	Feb 2002	A1
20020020531	Ohmer	Feb 2002	A1
20020033261	Metcalfe	Mar 2002	A1
20020060068	Cook et al.	May 2002	A1
20020062956	Murray et al.	May 2002	A1
20020066576	Cook et al.	Jun 2002	A1
20020066578	Broome	Jun 2002	A1
20020070023	Turner et al.	Jun 2002	A1
20020070031	Voll et al.	Jun 2002	A1
20020079101	Baugh et al.	Jun 2002	A1
20020084070	Voll et al.	Jul 2002	A1
20020092654	Coronado et al.	Jul 2002	A1
20020108756	Harrall et al.	Aug 2002	A1
20020139540	Lauritzen	Oct 2002	A1
20020144822	Hackworth et al.	Oct 2002	A1
20020148612	Cook et al.	Oct 2002	A1
20020185274	Simpson et al.	Dec 2002	A1
20020189816	Cook et al.	Dec 2002	A1
20020195252	Maguire et al.	Dec 2002	A1
20020195256	Metcalfe et al.	Dec 2002	A1
20030024708	Ring et al.	Feb 2003	A1
20030024711	Simpson et al.	Feb 2003	A1
20030034177	Chitwood et al.	Feb 2003	A1
20030042022	Lauritzen et al.	Mar 2003	A1
20030047322	Maguire et al.	Mar 2003	A1
20030047323	Jackson et al.	Mar 2003	A1
20030056991	Hahn et al.	Mar 2003	A1
20030066655	Cook et al.	Apr 2003	A1
20030067166	Sivley, IV	Apr 2003	A1
20030075337	Maguire	Apr 2003	A1
20030075338	Sivley, IV	Apr 2003	A1
20030075339	Gano et al.	Apr 2003	A1
20030094277	Cook et al.	May 2003	A1
20030094278	Cook et al.	May 2003	A1
20030094279	Ring et al.	May 2003	A1
20030098154	Cook et al.	May 2003	A1
20030098162	Cook	May 2003	A1
20030107217	Daigle et al.	Jun 2003	A1
20030111234	McClurkin et al.	Jun 2003	A1
20030116318	Metcalfe	Jun 2003	A1
20030116325	Cook et al.	Jun 2003	A1
20030121558	Cook et al.	Jul 2003	A1
20030121655	Lauritzen et al.	Jul 2003	A1
20030121669	Cook et al.	Jul 2003	A1
20030140673	Marr et al.	Jul 2003	A1
20030150608	Smith, Jr. et al.	Aug 2003	A1
20030168222	Maguire et al.	Sep 2003	A1
20030173090	Cook et al.	Sep 2003	A1
20030192705	Cook et al.	Oct 2003	A1
20030221841	Burtner et al.	Dec 2003	A1
20030222455	Cook et al.	Dec 2003	A1
20040011534	Simonds et al.	Jan 2004	A1
20040045616	Cook et al.	Mar 2004	A1
20040045718	Brisco et al.	Mar 2004	A1
20040060706	Stephenson	Apr 2004	A1
20040065446	Tran et al.	Apr 2004	A1
20040069499	Cook et al.	Apr 2004	A1
20040112589	Cook et al.	Jun 2004	A1
20040112606	Lewis et al.	Jun 2004	A1
20040118574	Cook et al.	Jun 2004	A1
20040123983	Cook et al.	Jul 2004	A1
20040123988	Cook et al.	Jul 2004	A1
20040129431	Jackson	Jul 2004	A1
20040149431	Wylie et al.	Aug 2004	A1
20040159446	Haugen et al.	Aug 2004	A1
20040188099	Cook et al.	Sep 2004	A1
20040194966	Zimmerman	Oct 2004	A1
20040216873	Frost, Jr. et al.	Nov 2004	A1
20040221996	Burge	Nov 2004	A1
20040231839	Ellington et al.	Nov 2004	A1
20040231855	Cook et al.	Nov 2004	A1
20040238181	Cook et al.	Dec 2004	A1
20040244968	Cook et al.	Dec 2004	A1
20040262014	Cook et al.	Dec 2004	A1
20050011641	Cook et al.	Jan 2005	A1
20050015963	Costa et al.	Jan 2005	A1
20050028988	Cook et al.	Feb 2005	A1
20050039910	Lohbeck	Feb 2005	A1
20050039928	Cook et al.	Feb 2005	A1
20050045324	Cook et al.	Mar 2005	A1
20050045341	Cook et al.	Mar 2005	A1
20050045342	Luke et al.	Mar 2005	A1
20050056433	Ring et al.	Mar 2005	A1
20050056434	Watson et al.	Mar 2005	A1
20050077051	Cook et al.	Apr 2005	A1
20050081358	Cook et al.	Apr 2005	A1
20050087337	Brisco et al.	Apr 2005	A1
20050098323	Cook et al.	May 2005	A1
20050103502	Watson et al.	May 2005	A1
20050123639	Ring et al.	Jun 2005	A1
20050133225	Oosterling	Jun 2005	A1
20050138790	Cook et al.	Jun 2005	A1
20050144771	Cook et al.	Jul 2005	A1
20050144772	Cook et al.	Jul 2005	A1
20050144777	Cook et al.	Jul 2005	A1
20050150098	Cook et al.	Jul 2005	A1
20050150660	Cook et al.	Jul 2005	A1
20050161228	Cook et al.	Jul 2005	A1
20050166387	Cook et al.	Aug 2005	A1
20050166388	Cook et al.	Aug 2005	A1
20050172473	Cook et al.	Aug 2005	A1
20050173108	Cook et al.	Aug 2005	A1
20050183863	Cook et al.	Aug 2005	A1
20050205253	Cook et al.	Sep 2005	A1
20050217768	Asahi et al.	Oct 2005	A1
20050217865	Ring	Oct 2005	A1
20050217866	Watson et al.	Oct 2005	A1
20050223535	Cook et al.	Oct 2005	A1
20050224225	Cook et al.	Oct 2005	A1
20050230102	Cook et al.	Oct 2005	A1
20050230103	Cook et al.	Oct 2005	A1
20050230104	Cook et al.	Oct 2005	A1
20050230124	Cook et al.	Oct 2005	A1
20050236159	Costa et al.	Oct 2005	A1
20050236163	Cook et al.	Oct 2005	A1
20050244578	Van Egmond et al.	Nov 2005	A1
20050246883	Alliot et al.	Nov 2005	A1
20050247453	Shuster et al.	Nov 2005	A1
20050265788	Renkema	Dec 2005	A1
20050269107	Cook et al.	Dec 2005	A1
20060027371	Gorrara	Feb 2006	A1
20060032640	Costa et al.	Feb 2006	A1
20060048948	Noel	Mar 2006	A1
20060054330	Ring et al.	Mar 2006	A1
20060065403	Watson et al.	Mar 2006	A1
20060065406	Shuster et al.	Mar 2006	A1
20060096762	Brisco	May 2006	A1
20060102360	Brisco et al.	May 2006	A1
20060112768	Shuster et al.	Jun 2006	A1
20060113086	Costa et al.	Jun 2006	A1
20060266527	Brisco et al.	Nov 2006	A1
20060272826	Shuster et al.	Dec 2006	A1

Foreign Referenced Citations (667)

Number	Date	Country
767364	Feb 2004	AU
773168	May 2004	AU
770008	Jul 2004	AU
770359	Jul 2004	AU
771884	Aug 2004	AU
776580	Jan 2005	AU
780123	Mar 2005	AU
2001269810	Aug 2005	AU
782901	Sep 2005	AU
783245	Oct 2005	AU
2001294802	Oct 2005	AU
2001283026	Jul 2006	AU
2002239857	Aug 2006	AU
2001292695	Oct 2006	AU
736288	Jun 1966	CA
771462	Nov 1967	CA
1171310	Jul 1984	CA
2292171	Jun 2000	CA
2298139	Aug 2000	CA
2234386	Mar 2003	CA
2414449	Sep 2006	CA
2289811	Jan 2007	CA
174521	Apr 1953	DE
2458188	Jun 1975	DE
203767	Nov 1983	DE
233607	Mar 1986	DE
278517	May 1990	DE
0084940	Aug 1983	EP
0272511	Dec 1987	EP
0294264	May 1988	EP
0553566	Dec 1992	EP
0633391	Jan 1995	EP
0713953	Nov 1995	EP
0823534	Feb 1998	EP
0881354	Dec 1998	EP
0881359	Dec 1998	EP
0899420	Mar 1999	EP
0937861	Aug 1999	EP
0952305	Oct 1999	EP
0952306	Oct 1999	EP
1152120	Nov 2001	EP
1152120	Nov 2001	EP
1555386	Jul 2005	EP
1325596	Jun 1962	FR
2583398	Dec 1986	FR
2717855	Sep 1995	FR
2741907	Jun 1997	FR
2771133	May 1999	FR
2780751	Jan 2000	FR
2841626	Jan 2004	FR
557823	Dec 1943	GB
851096	Oct 1960	GB
961750	Jun 1964	GB
1000383	Oct 1965	GB
1062610	Mar 1967	GB
1111536	May 1968	GB
1448304	Sep 1976	GB
1460864	Jan 1977	GB
1542847	Mar 1979	GB
1563740	Mar 1980	GB
2058877	Apr 1981	GB
2108228	May 1983	GB
2115860	Sep 1983	GB
2125876	Mar 1984	GB
2211573	Jul 1989	GB
2216926	Oct 1989	GB
2243191	Oct 1991	GB
2256910	Dec 1992	GB
2257184	Jun 1993	GB
2305682	Apr 1997	GB
2325949	May 1998	GB
2322655	Sep 1998	GB
2326896	Jan 1999	GB
2329916	Apr 1999	GB
2329918	Apr 1999	GB
2331103	May 1999	GB
2336383	Oct 1999	GB
2355738	Apr 2000	GB
2343691	May 2000	GB
2344606	Jun 2000	GB
2345308	Jul 2000	GB
2368865	Jul 2000	GB
2346165	Aug 2000	GB
2346632	Aug 2000	GB
2347445	Sep 2000	GB
2347446	Sep 2000	GB
2347950	Sep 2000	GB
2347952	Sep 2000	GB
2348223	Sep 2000	GB
2348657	Oct 2000	GB
2357099	Dec 2000	GB
2356651	May 2001	GB
2350137	Aug 2001	GB
2361724	Oct 2001	GB
2365898	Feb 2002	GB
2359837	Apr 2002	GB
2370301	Jun 2002	GB
2371064	Jul 2002	GB
2371574	Jul 2002	GB
2373524	Sep 2002	GB
2367842	Oct 2002	GB
2374098	Oct 2002	GB
2374622	Oct 2002	GB
2375560	Nov 2002	GB
2380213	Apr 2003	GB
2380503	Apr 2003	GB
2381019	Apr 2003	GB
2343691	May 2003	GB
2382364	May 2003	GB
2382828	Jun 2003	GB
2344606	Aug 2003	GB
2347950	Aug 2003	GB
2380213	Aug 2003	GB
2380214	Aug 2003	GB
2380215	Aug 2003	GB
2348223	Sep 2003	GB
2347952	Oct 2003	GB
2348657	Oct 2003	GB
2384800	Oct 2003	GB
2384801	Oct 2003	GB
2384802	Oct 2003	GB
2384803	Oct 2003	GB
2384804	Oct 2003	GB
2384805	Oct 2003	GB
2384806	Oct 2003	GB
2384807	Oct 2003	GB
2384808	Oct 2003	GB
2385353	Oct 2003	GB
2385354	Oct 2003	GB
2385355	Oct 2003	GB
2385356	Oct 2003	GB
2385357	Oct 2003	GB
2385358	Oct 2003	GB
2385359	Oct 2003	GB
2385360	Oct 2003	GB
2385361	Oct 2003	GB
2385362	Oct 2003	GB
2385363	Oct 2003	GB
2385619	Oct 2003	GB
2385620	Oct 2003	GB
2385621	Oct 2003	GB
2385622	Oct 2003	GB
2385623	Oct 2003	GB
2387405	Oct 2003	GB
2387861	Oct 2003	GB
2388134	Nov 2003	GB
2388860	Nov 2003	GB
2355738	Dec 2003	GB
2388391	Dec 2003	GB
2388392	Dec 2003	GB
2388393	Dec 2003	GB
2388394	Dec 2003	GB
2388395	Dec 2003	GB
2356651	Feb 2004	GB
2368865	Feb 2004	GB
2388860	Feb 2004	GB
2388861	Feb 2004	GB
2388862	Feb 2004	GB
2391886	Feb 2004	GB
2390628	Mar 2004	GB
2391033	Mar 2004	GB
2392686	Mar 2004	GB
2393199	Mar 2004	GB
2373524	Apr 2004	GB
2390387	Apr 2004	GB
2392686	Apr 2004	GB
2392691	Apr 2004	GB
2391575	May 2004	GB
2394979	May 2004	GB
2395506	May 2004	GB
2392932	Jun 2004	GB
2395734	Jun 2004	GB
2396635	Jun 2004	GB
2396639	Jun 2004	GB
2396640	Jun 2004	GB
2396641	Jun 2004	GB
2396642	Jun 2004	GB
2396643	Jun 2004	GB
2396644	Jun 2004	GB
2396646	Jun 2004	GB
2373468	Jul 2004	GB
2396869	Jul 2004	GB
2397261	Jul 2004	GB
2397262	Jul 2004	GB
2397263	Jul 2004	GB
2397264	Jul 2004	GB
2397265	Jul 2004	GB
2390622	Aug 2004	GB
2398087	Aug 2004	GB
2398317	Aug 2004	GB
2398318	Aug 2004	GB
2398319	Aug 2004	GB
2398320	Aug 2004	GB
2398321	Aug 2004	GB
2398322	Aug 2004	GB
2398323	Aug 2004	GB
2398326	Aug 2004	GB
2382367	Sep 2004	GB
2396641	Sep 2004	GB
2396643	Sep 2004	GB
2397261	Sep 2004	GB
2397262	Sep 2004	GB
2397263	Sep 2004	GB
2397264	Sep 2004	GB
2397265	Sep 2004	GB
2399120	Sep 2004	GB
2399579	Sep 2004	GB
2399580	Sep 2004	GB
2399848	Sep 2004	GB
2399849	Sep 2004	GB
2399850	Sep 2004	GB
2384502	Oct 2004	GB
2396644	Oct 2004	GB
2400126	Oct 2004	GB
2400393	Oct 2004	GB
2400624	Oct 2004	GB
2396640	Nov 2004	GB
2396642	Nov 2004	GB
2401136	Nov 2004	GB
2401137	Nov 2004	GB
2401138	Nov 2004	GB
2401630	Nov 2004	GB
2401631	Nov 2004	GB
2401632	Nov 2004	GB
2401633	Nov 2004	GB
2401634	Nov 2004	GB
2401635	Nov 2004	GB
2401636	Nov 2004	GB
2401637	Nov 2004	GB
2401638	Nov 2004	GB
2401639	Nov 2004	GB
2381019	Dec 2004	GB
2382368	Dec 2004	GB
2394979	Dec 2004	GB
2401136	Dec 2004	GB
2401137	Dec 2004	GB
2401138	Dec 2004	GB
2403970	Jan 2005	GB
2403971	Jan 2005	GB
2403972	Jan 2005	GB
2400624	Feb 2005	GB
2404402	Feb 2005	GB
2404676	Feb 2005	GB
2404680	Feb 2005	GB
2 406 119	Mar 2005	GB
2 406 120	Mar 2005	GB
2384807	Mar 2005	GB
2398320	Mar 2005	GB
2398323	Mar 2005	GB
2399120	Mar 2005	GB
2399848	Mar 2005	GB
2399849	Mar 2005	GB
2405893	Mar 2005	GB
2406117	Mar 2005	GB
2406118	Mar 2005	GB
2406125	Mar 2005	GB
2406126	Mar 2005	GB
2410518	Mar 2005	GB
2406599	Apr 2005	GB
2389597	May 2005	GB
2399119	May 2005	GB
2399580	May 2005	GB
2401630	May 2005	GB
2401631	May 2005	GB
2401632	May 2005	GB
2401633	May 2005	GB
2401634	May 2005	GB
2401635	May 2005	GB
2401636	May 2005	GB
2401637	May 2005	GB
2401638	May 2005	GB
2401639	May 2005	GB
2408278	May 2005	GB
2399579	Jun 2005	GB
2409216	Jun 2005	GB
2409218	Jun 2005	GB
2401893	Jul 2005	GB
2414749	Jul 2005	GB
2414750	Jul 2005	GB
2414751	Jul 2005	GB
2 403970	Aug 2005	GB
2398326	Aug 2005	GB
2403971	Aug 2005	GB
2403972	Aug 2005	GB
2380503	Oct 2005	GB
2382828	Oct 2005	GB
2398317	Oct 2005	GB
2398318	Oct 2005	GB
2398319	Oct 2005	GB
2398321	Oct 2005	GB
2398322	Oct 2005	GB
2412681	Oct 2005	GB
2412682	Oct 2005	GB
2413136	Oct 2005	GB
2414493	Nov 2005	GB
2409217	Dec 2005	GB
2410518	Dec 2005	GB
2415003	Dec 2005	GB
2415219	Dec 2005	GB
2412681	Jan 2006	GB
2412682	Jan 2006	GB
2415979	Jan 2006	GB
2415983	Jan 2006	GB
2415987	Jan 2006	GB
2415988	Jan 2006	GB
2416177	Jan 2006	GB
2416361	Jan 2006	GB
2416556	Feb 2006	GB
2416794	Feb 2006	GB
2416795	Feb 2006	GB
2417273	Feb 2006	GB
2417275	Feb 2006	GB
2418216	Mar 2006	GB
2418217	Mar 2006	GB
2418690	Apr 2006	GB
2418941	Apr 2006	GB
2418942	Apr 2006	GB
2418943	Apr 2006	GB
2418944	Apr 2006	GB
2419907	May 2006	GB
2419913	May 2006	GB
2400126	Jun 2006	GB
2414749	Jun 2006	GB
2420810	Jun 2006	GB
2421257	Jun 2006	GB
2421258	Jun 2006	GB
2421259	Jun 2006	GB
2421262	Jun 2006	GB
2421529	Jun 2006	GB
2422164	Jul 2006	GB
2406599	Aug 2006	GB
2418690	Aug 2006	GB
2421257	Aug 2006	GB
2421258	Aug 2006	GB
2422859	Aug 2006	GB
2422860	Aug 2006	GB
2423317	Aug 2006	GB
2404676	Sep 2006	GB
2414493	Sep 2006	GB
2424077	Sep 2006	GB
2408277	May 2008	GB
P01.012.1972005	Jan 2005	ID
044.3922005	Sep 2005	ID
046.28042006	Aug 2006	ID
208458	Oct 1985	JP
6475715	Mar 1989	JP
102875	Apr 1995	JP
11-169975	Jun 1999	JP
94068	Apr 2000	JP
107870	Apr 2000	JP
162192	Jun 2000	JP
2001-47161	Feb 2001	JP
9001081	Dec 1991	NL
113267	May 1998	RO
1786241	Jan 1993	RU
1804543	Mar 1993	RU
1810482	Apr 1993	RU
1818459	May 1993	RU
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
511468	Sep 1976	SU
607950	May 1978	SU
612004	May 1978	SU
620582	Jul 1978	SU
641070	Jan 1979	SU
909114	May 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
1077803	Jul 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
1663180	Jul 1991	SU
16631792	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
1295799	Feb 1995	SU
WO8100132	Jan 1981	WO
WO9005598	Mar 1990	WO
WO9201859	Feb 1992	WO
WO9208875	May 1992	WO
WO9325799	Dec 1993	WO
WO9325800	Dec 1993	WO
WO9421887	Sep 1994	WO
WO9425655	Nov 1994	WO
WO9503476	Feb 1995	WO
WO9601937	Jan 1996	WO
WO9621083	Jul 1996	WO
WO9626350	Aug 1996	WO
WO9637681	Nov 1996	WO
WO9706346	Feb 1997	WO
WO9711306	Mar 1997	WO
WO9717524	May 1997	WO
WO9717526	May 1997	WO
WO9717527	May 1997	WO
WO9720130	Jun 1997	WO
WO9721901	Jun 1997	WO
WO9735084	Sep 1997	WO
WO9800626	Jan 1998	WO
WO9807957	Feb 1998	WO
WO9809053	Mar 1998	WO
WO9822690	May 1998	WO
WO9826152	Jun 1998	WO
WO9842947	Oct 1998	WO
WO9849423	Nov 1998	WO
WO9902818	Jan 1999	WO
WO9904135	Jan 1999	WO
WO9906670	Feb 1999	WO
WO9908827	Feb 1999	WO
WO9908828	Feb 1999	WO
WO9918328	Apr 1999	WO
WO9923354	May 1999	WO
WO9925524	May 1999	WO
WO9925951	May 1999	WO
WO9935368	Jul 1999	WO
WO9943923	Sep 1999	WO
WO0001926	Jan 2000	WO
WO0004271	Jan 2000	WO
WO0008301	Feb 2000	WO
WO0026500	May 2000	WO
WO0026501	May 2000	WO
WO0026502	May 2000	WO
WO0031375	Jun 2000	WO
WO0037766	Jun 2000	WO
WO0037767	Jun 2000	WO
WO0037768	Jun 2000	WO
WO0037771	Jun 2000	WO
WO0037772	Jun 2000	WO
WO0039432	Jul 2000	WO
WO0046484	Aug 2000	WO
WO0050727	Aug 2000	WO
WO0050732	Aug 2000	WO
WO0050733	Aug 2000	WO
WO0077431	Dec 2000	WO
WO0104520	Jan 2001	WO
WO0104535	Jan 2001	WO
WO0118354	Mar 2001	WO
WO0121929	Mar 2001	WO
WO0126860	Apr 2001	WO
WO0133037	May 2001	WO
WO0138693	May 2001	WO
WO0160545	Aug 2001	WO
WO0183943	Nov 2001	WO
WO0198623	Dec 2001	WO
WO0201102	Jan 2002	WO
WO0210550	Feb 2002	WO
WO0210551	Feb 2002	WO
WO 0220941	Mar 2002	WO
WO0223007	Mar 2002	WO
WO0225059	Mar 2002	WO
WO0229199	Apr 2002	WO
WO0240825	May 2002	WO
WO02053867	Jul 2002	WO
WO02053867	Jul 2002	WO
WO02059456	Aug 2002	WO
WO02066783	Aug 2002	WO
WO02068792	Sep 2002	WO
WO02073000	Sep 2002	WO
WO02075107	Sep 2002	WO
WO02077411	Oct 2002	WO
WO02081863	Oct 2002	WO
WO02081864	Oct 2002	WO
WO02086285	Oct 2002	WO
WO02086286	Oct 2002	WO
WO02090713	Nov 2002	WO
WO02095181	Nov 2002	WO
WO02103150	Dec 2002	WO
WO03004819	Jan 2003	WO
WO03004819	Jan 2003	WO
WO03004820	Jan 2003	WO
WO03004820	Jan 2003	WO
WO03008756	Jan 2003	WO
WO03012255	Feb 2003	WO
WO03016669	Feb 2003	WO
WO03016669	Feb 2003	WO
WO03023178	Mar 2003	WO
WO03023178	Mar 2003	WO
WO03023179	Mar 2003	WO
WO03023179	Mar 2003	WO
WO03029607	Apr 2003	WO
WO03029608	Apr 2003	WO
WO03036018	May 2003	WO
WO03042486	May 2003	WO
WO03042486	May 2003	WO
WO03042487	May 2003	WO
WO03042487	May 2003	WO
WO03042489	May 2003	WO
WO03048520	Jun 2003	WO
WO03048521	Jun 2003	WO
WO03055616	Jul 2003	WO
WO03058022	Jul 2003	WO
WO03058022	Jul 2003	WO
WO03059549	Jul 2003	WO
WO03064813	Aug 2003	WO
WO03069115	Aug 2003	WO
WO03071086	Aug 2003	WO
WO03071086	Aug 2003	WO
WO03078785	Sep 2003	WO
WO03078785	Sep 2003	WO
WO03086675	Oct 2003	WO
WO03086675	Oct 2003	WO
WO03089161	Oct 2003	WO
WO03089161	Oct 2003	WO
WO03093623	Nov 2003	WO
WO03093623	Nov 2003	WO
WO03102365	Dec 2003	WO
WO03104601	Dec 2003	WO
WO03104601	Dec 2003	WO
WO03106130	Dec 2003	WO
WO03106130	Dec 2003	WO
WO04010039	Jan 2004	WO
WO2004003337	Jan 2004	WO
WO2004009950	Jan 2004	WO
WO2004010039	Jan 2004	WO
WO2004010039	Jan 2004	WO
WO04011776	Feb 2004	WO
WO2004011776	Feb 2004	WO
WO2004011776	Feb 2004	WO
WO04018823	Mar 2004	WO
WO04018823	Mar 2004	WO
WO04018824	Mar 2004	WO
WO04018824	Mar 2004	WO
WO04020895	Mar 2004	WO
WO04020895	Mar 2004	WO
WO04023014	Mar 2004	WO
WO2004018823	Mar 2004	WO
WO2004018823	Mar 2004	WO
WO2004018824	Mar 2004	WO
WO2004018824	Mar 2004	WO
WO2004020895	Mar 2004	WO
WO2004020895	Mar 2004	WO
WO2004023014	Mar 2004	WO
WO2004023014	Mar 2004	WO
WO04026017	Apr 2004	WO
WO04026017	Apr 2004	WO
WO04026073	Apr 2004	WO
WO04026073	Apr 2004	WO
WO04026500	Apr 2004	WO
WO04027200	Apr 2004	WO
WO04027200	Apr 2004	WO
WO04027204	Apr 2004	WO
WO04027204	Apr 2004	WO
WO04027205	Apr 2004	WO
WO04027205	Apr 2004	WO
WO04027392	Apr 2004	WO
WO04027786	Apr 2004	WO
WO04027786	Apr 2004	WO
WO2004026017	Apr 2004	WO
WO2004026017	Apr 2004	WO
WO2004026073	Apr 2004	WO
WO2004026073	Apr 2004	WO
WO2004026500	Apr 2004	WO
WO2004026500	Apr 2004	WO
WO2004027200	Apr 2004	WO
WO2004027200	Apr 2004	WO
WO2004027204	Apr 2004	WO
WO2004027204	Apr 2004	WO
WO2004027205	Apr 2004	WO
WO2004027205	Apr 2004	WO
WO2004027392	Apr 2004	WO
WO2004027786	Apr 2004	WO
WO2004027786	Apr 2004	WO
WO04053434	Jun 2004	WO
WO04053434	Jun 2004	WO
WO2004053434	Jun 2004	WO
WO2004053434	Jun 2004	WO
WO2004057715	Jul 2004	WO
WO2004057715	Jul 2004	WO
WO04067961	Aug 2004	WO
WO2004067961	Aug 2004	WO
WO2004067961	Aug 2004	WO
WO2004072436	Aug 2004	WO
WO04074622	Sep 2004	WO
WO04076798	Sep 2004	WO
WO2004074622	Sep 2004	WO
WO2004074622	Sep 2004	WO
WO2004076798	Sep 2004	WO
WO2004076798	Sep 2004	WO
WO2004081346	Sep 2004	WO
WO2004083591	Sep 2004	WO
WO2004083591	Sep 2004	WO
WO2004083592	Sep 2004	WO
WO2004083592	Sep 2004	WO
WO2004083593	Sep 2004	WO
WO2004083594	Sep 2004	WO
WO2004083594	Sep 2004	WO
WO2004085790	Oct 2004	WO
WO2004089608	Oct 2004	WO
WO2004092527	Oct 2004	WO
WO2004092528	Oct 2004	WO
WO2004092528	Oct 2004	WO
WO2004092530	Oct 2004	WO
WO2004092530	Oct 2004	WO
WO2004094766	Nov 2004	WO
WO2004094766	Nov 2004	WO
WO2005017303	Feb 2005	WO
WO2005021921	Mar 2005	WO
WO2005021921	Mar 2005	WO
WO2005021922	Mar 2005	WO
WO2005021922	Mar 2005	WO
WO2005024141	Mar 2005	WO
WO2005024170	Mar 2005	WO
WO2005024170	Mar 2005	WO
WO2005024171	Mar 2005	WO
WO2005028803	Mar 2005	WO
WO2005071212	Apr 2005	WO
WO2005079186	Sep 2005	WO
WO2005079186	Sep 2005	WO
WO2005081803	Sep 2005	WO
WO2005086614	Sep 2005	WO
WO2006014333	Feb 2006	WO
WO2006020723	Feb 2006	WO
WO2006020726	Feb 2006	WO
WO2006020734	Feb 2006	WO
WO2006020809	Feb 2006	WO
WO2006020810	Feb 2006	WO
WO2006020810	Feb 2006	WO
WO2006020827	Feb 2006	WO
WO2006020827	Feb 2006	WO
WO2006020913	Feb 2006	WO
WO2006020913	Feb 2006	WO
WO2006020960	Feb 2006	WO
WO2006033720	Mar 2006	WO
WO2004089608	Jul 2006	WO
WO2006079072	Jul 2006	WO
WO2006088743	Aug 2006	WO
WO2006102171	Sep 2006	WO
WO2006102556	Sep 2006	WO

Related Publications (1)

	Number	Date	Country
	20050269107 A1	Dec 2005	US

Provisional Applications (3)

Number	Date	Country
60357372	Feb 2002	US
60270007	Feb 2001	US
60111293	Dec 1998	US

Continuation in Parts (2)

	Number	Date	Country
Parent	11644101		US
Child	10504361		US
Parent	09454139	Dec 1999	US
Child	11644101		US

Mono-diameter wellbore casing

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Disclaimer

Term Extension

Abstract