Tubing expansion

[0002] This invention relates to tubing expansion, and in particular to expansion of tubing downhole.

[0003] The oil and gas exploration and production industry is making increasing use of expandable tubing, primarily for use as casing and liner, and also in straddles, and as a support for expandable sand screens. Various forms of expansion tools have been utilised, including expansion dies, cones and mandrels which are pushed or pulled through tubing by mechanical or hydraulic forces. However, these tools require application of significant force to achieve expansion and must be packed with grease to serve as a lubricant between the faces of the cone and the tubing. A number of the difficulties associated with expansion cones and mandrels may be avoided by use of rotary expansion tools, which feature rolling elements for rolling contact with the tubing to be expanded while the tool is rotated and advanced through the tubing; a range of such tools is disclosed in WO00\37766, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Although the expansion mechanism utilised in rotary expansion tools tends to require only relatively low actuation forces, the various parts of the tools may experience high loading, for example the rollers may experience very high point loads where the roller surfaces contact the tubing under expansion. Clearly, such high loadings increase the rate of wear experienced by the tools and the requirement to build the tools with the ability to withstand such loads tends to increase the cost and complexity of the tools.

[0004] GB 2348223 A, GB 2347950 A and GB 2344606 A (Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B. V.) disclose various arrangements in which a tubular member is extruded off a mandrel to expand the member. The axial force necessary to extrude and thus expand the member is achieved by creating an elevated fluid pressure chamber in the tubular member below the mandrel, which pressure creates an axial force on the closed end of the tubular member below the mandrel sufficient to pull the member over the mandrel. The elevated fluid pressure acts only the expanded portion of the tubular member below the mandrel.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,608 (Abdrakkhmanov et al) discloses an arrangement for patching off troublesome zones in a well. The arrangement includes profile pipes which are run into a borehole and then subject to elevated internal pressure to straighten the pipes and bring them into engagement with the surrounding wall of the borehole. A reamer is then rotated within the straightened pipes, with an axial load being applied to the reamer. The reamer is utilised to expand the threaded joints of the pipe and to further straighten the pipe, and also to provide clearance between a seal on the reamer and the inner wall of the pipe which was utilised to permit the original fluid pressure induced straightening of the pipe.

[0006] It is among the objectives of the present invention to provide an expansion method and apparatus which obviates or mitigates one or more disadvantages of the prior art expansion arrangements.

[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a method of plastically expanding a tubing, the method comprising:

[0008] Applying a fluid pressure expansion force to a section of tubing; and

[0009] Locating an expansion tool in the pressurised tubing and applying a mechanical expansion force to the pressurised tubing section, the combined fluid pressure force and mechanical expansion force being selected to be sufficient to induce yield of the tubing.

[0010] The invention also relates to apparatus for providing such expansion.

[0011] The use of a combination of fluid pressure and mechanical forces allows expansion to be achieved using a lower fluid pressure than would be necessary to achieve expansion when relying solely on fluid pressure to induce expansion, and furthermore provides far greater control of the expansion process; it is generally difficult to predict the form of the expanded tubing that will result from a solely fluid pressure-induced expansion, and failure of tubing in such circumstances is common. Also, the combination of fluid pressure and mechanically-induced expansion allows expansion to be achieved while the loads experienced by the mechanical expansion tool remain relatively low, greatly extending the life of the tools. By way of example, a tubing may be subject to an internal fluid pressure selected to induce a hoop tensile stress which represents 60% of yield. By then applying an additional mechanically-applied expansion force sufficient to induce yield, the tubing may be expanded. Of course the relative proportions of the stress contributed by the fluid pressure and by the expander tool may be varied to suit particular applications, and issues to be taken into account may include: the nature of the tubing to be expanded, as lower quality tubing may respond in an unpredictable manner to elevated hydraulic pressures, such that a greater proportion of the stress may be mechanically applied, and thus greater control exercised over the expansion process; and the capabilities of the apparatus available, for example pump or fluid conduit capabilities may place limits on the applied fluid pressures.

[0012] Various prior art proposals have utilised expansion dies or cones which are urged through tubing under the influence of an axial fluid pressure force acting on the die or cone, or in which tubing is extruded from a mandrel under the influence of axial fluid pressure force acting on the expanded tubing below the mandrel. However, in these instances the fluid pressure force is applied behind or below the die or cone, and the section of the tubing under expansion is not exposed to the elevated die-driving or tubing-extruding fluid pressure. Indeed, in order to provide the force necessary to drive the die or mandrel forward relative to the tubing in such existing arrangements, and to prevent leakage of the driving fluid past the die, it is necessary that there is an effective pressure-tight seal between the die and the expanded tubing. This seal may be provided by the contact between the die and the tubing wall, or by a separate seal assembly provided on the die.

[0013] It is a further advantage of the present invention that the fluid being utilised to pressurise the tubing may also serve as a lubricant between the expansion tool and the tubing, facilitating relative movement therebetween and thus reducing the degree of force necessary to move the expansion tool through the tubing. This is of particular significance where the expansion tool is a die or cone, and the section of the tubing under expansion is not exposed to he elevated die-driving or tubing-extruding fluid pressure. Indeed, in order to provide the force necessary to drive the die or mandrel forward relative to the tubing in such existing arrangements, and to prevent leakage of the driving fluid past the die, it is necessary that there is an effective pressure-tight seal between the die and the expanded tubing. This seal may be provided by the contact between the die and the tubing wall, or by a separate seal assembly provided on the die.

[0014] It is a further advantage of the present invention that the fluid being utilized to pressurise the tubing may also serve as a lubricant between the expansion tool and the tubing, facilitating relative movement therebetween and thus reducing the degree of force necessary to move the expansion tool through the tubing. This is of particular significance where the expansion tool is a die or cone, and the pressurizing fluid provides an effectively infinite supply of lubricant, as opposed to the finite supply of grease or other lubricant provided in conventional expansion arrangements, (see, for example, GB 2344606 A, in which a body of lubricant 275 is provided in the unexpanded portion of the tubing above the expansion mandrel); once the lubricant has been exhausted, the cone must be retrieved to the surface and repacked. Of course the presence of a lubricant will also reduce the rate of wear to the bearing portions of the expansion tool.

[0015] Although intended primarily for use in expanding bore lining metal tubing, the invention has application in other downhole applications, and may also be used in subsea or surface applications.

[0016] The expansion tool may take any appropriate form, including an expansion die or cone, and may be in the form of a cone or other member carrying a plurality of rollers rotatable about axes substantially perpendicular to the tubing axis. However, it is preferred that the expansion tool is a rotary expansion tool, or rolling element expander, that is the tool features at least one expansion member which, in use, is in rolling contact with the tubing wall; the expansion member may follow a circumferential or helical contact path with the tubing wall. Most preferably, the expansion members are conical in form or are mounted on axes arranged to define a cone. In another embodiment of the invention, a rotating expansion tool may be utilised which features a non-rotating expansion member or members, preferably of a relatively hard material such as a ceramic material, which provides a sliding contact with the tubing wall. The members may be radially extendable or may be radially fixed. In one embodiment, blocks of silicon carbide or titanium carbide may form the expansion members.

[0017] Preferably, the expansion tool is fluid pressure actuated, and may include a hydraulic drive motor to rotate the tool; the motor may utilise the fluid providing the expansion force as a drive fluid, the fluid exhausting into a lower pressure section of the bore isolated from the expansion section. In other embodiments, an electric motor may be utilised.

[0018] The expansion tool is preferably provided in combination with a seal assembly, for providing a fluid-tight seal with the unexpanded tubing ahead of the expansion tool. As the fluid pressure in the unexpanded tubing ahead of the seal assembly will tend to be lower than the elevated pressure behind the seal assembly, this differential pressure will tend to produce an axial pressure force acting on the seal assembly, which may be utilised to drive the expansion tool forwards.

[0019] These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a tubing expansion apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,

[0021] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic part-sectional view of an expansion tool in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views on lines 3—3, 4—4, 5—5 and 6—6 of FIG. 2; and

[0023] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic pad-sectional view of an expansion apparatus in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention

[0024] Reference is first made to FIG. 1 of the drawings, which illustrates an expansion apparatus 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 10 is shown located in the upper end of a section of tubing in the form of a bore liner of expandable metal, hereinafter referred to as liner 12. In use, the apparatus 10 and liner 12 are run into a drilled bore together, and the liner 12 positioned in a section of unlined bore, and possibly overlapping the lower end of existing bore-lining casing (not shown). The apparatus 10 is then operated to expand the liner 12 to a larger diameter, the liner of the original, unexpanded diameter being identified as liner 12a, and the expanded larger diameter liner being identified by the reference numeral 12b.

[0025] The apparatus 10 includes a rolling element expander 14 having a generally conical body 16 carrying a number of rolling elements 18. The expander 14 is coupled to a hydraulic drive motor 20 mounted on a running tube 22 which extends upwardly, through a stuffing box 24 to the surface. The stuffing box 24 is provided in an upper seal assembly 26 mounted to the top of the liner 12. Mounted below the expander 14, via a swivel 28, is a lower seal assembly 30 which is adapted to provide a sliding seal with the unexpanded liner 12a.

[0026] In use, a volume 32 defined by the liner 12 between the upper 26 and lower 30 seal assemblies is supplied with high pressure hydraulic fluid from an appropriate source, such as a surface or downhole pump. In FIG. 1, a hydraulic fluid inlet 34 is illustrated as passing radially through a part of the upper seal assembly 26; however, in practice the inlet 34 would be arranged axially, to allow accommodation of the apparatus 10 in a bore, and to allow supply of hydraulic fluid via a running tube in the form of a coaxial coil tubing or drill pipe. The pressure of the hydraulic fluid is selected to induce a predetermined hoop tensile stress within the liner 12. The hydraulic fluid exhausts through the drive motor 20, which includes a hydraulic fluid driven turbine, the exhausted fluid passing up to the surface via the running tube 22.

[0027] The exhausted fluid is throttled, or the flow and pressure of the fluid otherwise controlled, to control the pressure within the volume 32, and also the operation of the motor 20. The throttling may take place downhole or at surface.

[0028] The passage of fluid through the motor 20 causes the motor 20 to rotate the expander 14. As the motor 20 is advanced through the liner 12, the expander 14 acts on the transition portion 12cdefined between the section of unexpanded 12aand expanded 12bliner. The forces acting on the transition portion 12ccomprise a combination of the stress induced by the elevated hydraulic fluid pressure within the volume 32, and the mechanical pressure forces applied by the surfaces of the rolling elements 18. The combination of forces is selected so as to be sufficient to induce yield and thus plastic deformation of the liner 12 along a desired length.

[0029] As noted above, the lower seal assembly 30 isolates the pressurised volume 32 from the remainder of the unexpanded liner 12a,which is at a lower pressure than the volume 32. Accordingly, the differential pressure acting on the assembly 30 produces an axial force tending to push the apparatus 10 through the liner 12. There is thus no requirement to apply weight from surface to the apparatus 10.

[0030] A liner 12 to be expanded is 7^5/8″ 29.7 lb\ft N80 tubing which has a burst pressure of approximately 7,000 psi. The hydraulic fluid supplied to the volume 32 is at 5,000 psi. The liner wall is therefore subjected to a tensile stress of 51,000 psi, which represents 63% of the yield for the liner (not taking into account the effect of radial stress in the region of 25,000 psi).

[0031] The drive fluid to the hydraulic motor 20 enters through an inlet port 36 and exhausts into the running tube 22, thereby adding the motor pressure drop to the applied internal pressure. The hydraulic return to surface is throttled to maintain the applied liner pressure, taking into account the motor pressure drop and the parasitic losses in the running tube 22.

[0032] The net axial force applied to the expansion assembly is the pressure differential across the lower seal assembly 30 times its cross-sectional area minus the pressure differential across the stuffing box 24 times the cross-sectional area of the running tube 22. If the running tube 22 has an outside diameter of 5″ and the internal diameter of the 7^5/8″ liner is 6.88″, then the down force applied to the assembly is 83,000 lbf, which is in excess of the force required to drive the expander 14 through the liner 12, such that a braking assembly must be provided on surface for the running tube 22. Alternatively, a larger diameter running tube 22 could be utilised.

[0033] Reference is now made to FIGS. 2 to 6 of the drawings, which illustrate an alternative expander 40 in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, shown located in a section of liner 42 during expansion. From a comparison of the figures, those of skill in the art will recognise that FIG. 2 shows various internal features of the expander 40.

[0034] The expander 40 features a generally conical body 44 on which are mounted five rows of rollers 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50 (the section shown in FIG. 6 corresponds to both sections 6—6 and 6a—6aof FIG. 2). Unlike the rolling elements 18 of the first described embodiment, the rollers 46 to 50 rotate around axes that lie substantially perpendicular to the liner axis, and the expander 40 is therefore intended to advance axially through the liner 42, without rotation.

[0035] Such an expander configuration would not be practical in the absence of assisting hydraulic expansion forces, as the bearing loads experienced on expanding heavy walled tubing would far exceed the capabilities of the bearings that could be installed in the limited space available. However, with applied internal hydraulic pressure providing the bulk of the expansion forces, the roller bearings are relatively lightly loaded.

[0036] Reference is now made to FIG. 7 of the drawings, which illustrates an expansion apparatus 60 in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention located within a partially expanded borehole liner 58.

[0037] The apparatus 60 includes an expander cone 62 mounted to a tubular running string 64, and mounted below the cone 62 is a seal assembly 66 adapted to provide a sliding seal with the unexpanded liner 58.

[0038] As with the above described embodiments, an elevated fluid pressure above the seal assembly 66 provides an initial expansion force acting on the liner 58, while the passage of the cone 62 provides a further mechanical expansion force which, in combination with the hydraulic expansion force, is sufficient to induce yield in the liner 58. The axial pressure force acting on the seal assembly 66 may also serve to drive the cone 60 through the tubing 58, and the presence of the pressurising force around the cone 62 provides an effectively infinite supply of lubricant for the cone 62; fluid communication across the cone 62 may be assured by provided linked ports 68, 70 above and below the cone 62.

[0039] It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that the above-described embodiments provide an alternative method for expanding tubing downhole, and that the invention offers a number of advantages over existing systems.

[0040] Furthermore, those of skilled in the art will recognise that the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention, and that various modifications and improvements may be made thereto, without departing form the scope of the invention. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, rather than providing a hydraulic fluid driven motor 20 within the pressurised volume 32, a motor may be provided externally of the volume 32, and may be located downhole or at surface. In this case, the upper seal assembly 26 would of course have to be modified to accommodate rotation.