Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for protecting tubular connections. In one aspect, an expandable tubular connection for use in a wellbore is provided. The tubular connection includes a tubular pin member. The tubular connection also includes a tubular box member having an end portion, wherein the tubular pin member is matable with the tubular box member to form the tubular connection. Additionally, the tubular connection includes a sleeve member disposed on the tubular pin member, wherein the sleeve member is configured to substantially protect the end portion of the tubular box member as the tubular connection is lowered into the wellbore. In yet a further aspect, a method for utilizing a tubular connection in a wellbore is provided.

Abstract: A tubular sleeve overlaps the threaded connection between a pair of adjacent tubular members that are to receive an expansion device for radial expansion and plastic deformation of the threaded tubular connection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for expanding a tubular below a restriction in a wellbore. An expandable tubular may comprise a first end having a first wall thickness, a second end having a second wall thickness, and a middle section disposed between the first and second ends and having a third wall thickness that is less than the first and second wall thicknesses. The first and second ends may include one or more grooves disposed along a length of the ends. A method for expanding a tubular below a restriction in a wellbore may comprise running the tubular past the restriction, wherein the tubular comprises a first end and a second end, each end having a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of a middle section disposed between the ends. The method may include expanding the tubular, wherein the first and second ends of the expanded tubular have outer diameters greater than the outer diameter of the middle section.

Abstract: A method of lining a wellbore includes deploying the liner into the wellbore using a workstring and a setting tool; engaging the setting tool with a casing or liner previously installed in the wellbore; and pressurizing a chamber formed between a seal of the setting tool and a shoe of the liner, thereby driving the liner further into the wellbore, wherein reactionary force is transferred to the previously installed casing or liner by the engaged setting tool.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for protecting tubular connections. In one aspect, an expandable tubular connection for use in a wellbore is provided. The tubular connection includes a tubular pin member. The tubular connection also includes a tubular box member having an end portion, wherein the tubular pin member is matable with the tubular box member to form the tubular connection. Additionally, the tubular connection includes a sleeve member disposed on the tubular pin member, wherein the sleeve member is configured to substantially protect the end portion of the tubular box member as the tubular connection is lowered into the wellbore. In yet a further aspect, a method for utilizing a tubular connection in a wellbore is provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for performing an expedited shoe test using an expandable casing portion as an annular fluid barrier. Further provided are methods and apparatus for successfully recovering from a failed expansion so that a shoe test can be completed without replacement of the expandable casing portion. In one recovery method, a selectively actuatable fluid circulation tool is provided to further expand the expandable portion or perform a cementing operation. Additionally, methods and apparatus are provided to drill a wellbore and form an annular fluid barrier in a single trip.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing the expandable tubular comprises forming a plurality of corrugated portions on the expandable tubular and separating adjacent corrugated portions by an uncorrugated portion. Thereafter, the expandable tubular is reformed to an uniform outer diameter. The expandable tubular may be used to complete a wellbore.

Abstract: A method of testing a tubular member and selecting tubular members for suitability for expansion by subjecting a representative sample the tubular member to axial loading, stretching at least a portion of the tubular member through elastic deformation, plastic yield and to ultimate yield, and based upon changes in length and area calculating an expandability coefficient indicative of expandability of the tubular members and selecting tubular members with relatively high coefficients indicative of good expandability.

Abstract: A tubular sleeve is coupled to and overlaps the threaded connection between a pair of adjacent tubular members.

Abstract: An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member includes a support member with a fluid passage. A mandrel is movably coupled to the support member and includes an expansion cone operable to radially expand and plastically deform the tubular member when moved relative to the tubular member. A pressure chamber is positioned between the support member and the mandrel, and the pressure chamber is fluidicly coupled to the fluid passage. A releasable support is coupled to the support member and operable to selectively couple the support member to the tubular member.

Abstract: An apparatus for running a liner into a wellbore may include an inner string, a device coupled to the inner string that is operable to engage the interior of the liner and facilitates running of the liner into the wellbore, and a control mechanism operable to control fluid communication between the interior of the liner and the wellbore. A method of running a liner into a wellbore may include the steps of positioning an inner string into the liner, wherein the inner string includes a device operable to engage the interior of the liner, engaging the interior of the liner, and supplying a fluid pressure to move the liner relative to the inner string to advance the liner into the wellbore.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a swage assembly that is movable from a compliant configuration having a first shape to a substantially non-compliant configuration having a second shape. In one aspect, an expansion swage for expanding a wellbore tubular is provided. The expansion swage includes a body and a solid cone disposed on the body. The expansion swage further includes a deformable cone disposed on the body, wherein the solid cone is made from a first material and the deformable cone is made from a second material and wherein the deformable cone is movable relative to the body when the expansion swage is in a compliant configuration. In another aspect, a method of expanding a wellbore tubular is provided.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an expandable liner hanger capable of being expanded into a surrounding casing. In one aspect, an expandable tubular system is provided. The system includes an expandable tubular. The system further includes an expansion swage for expanding the expandable tubular, wherein the expansion swage is deformable from a compliant configuration to a smaller substantially non-compliant configuration. Additionally, the system includes a restriction member disposed on an exterior surface of the expandable tubular, wherein expansion of the expandable tubular in the location of the restriction member deforms the expansion swage from the compliant configuration to the smaller substantially non-compliant configuration. In another aspect, a method of expanding a liner hanger using a cone is provided.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and systems for mitigating trouble zones in a wellbore in a preferred pressure condition and completing the wellbore in the preferred pressure condition. In one aspect, a method of reinforcing a wellbore is provided. The method includes locating a valve member within the wellbore for opening and closing the wellbore. The method further includes establishing a preferred pressure condition within the wellbore and closing the valve member. The method also includes locating a tubular string having an expandable portion in the wellbore and opening the valve member. Additionally, the method includes moving the expandable portion through the opened valve member and expanding the expandable portion in the wellbore at a location below the valve member. In another aspect, a method of forming a wellbore is provided. In yet another aspect, a system for drilling a wellbore is provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for completing a well through expansion of tubing enable construction of the well or at least part of the well with a mono-diameter or substantially no inside diameter reduction with subsequent casings/liners. Prior to lining an extended section of the borehole, forming a discrete enlarged portion of the extended section with a relatively larger inner diameter than the remainder of the extended section of the borehole occurs where overlapping tubing sections are to be located. For some embodiments, an open-hole clad expanded in the enlarged portion of the extended section of the borehole provides an inner surface for receiving a bottom of a first expanded liner and optionally a top of a second expanded liner.

Abstract: A mono-diameter wellbore casing is formed by radially expanding a first tubular liner off of a mandrel into contact with a second tubular liner. The first and second tubular liners are positioned within the wellbore in an overlapping relationship. The overlapping portions of the tubular liners include thin wall portions with compressible annular members that are expanded into contact with each other.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to tools and methods for hanging and/or expanding liner strings. In one embodiment, a method of hanging a liner assembly from a previously installed tubular in a wellbore includes running the liner assembly and a setting tool into the wellbore using a run-in string. The setting tool includes an isolation valve and the liner assembly includes a liner hanger and a liner string. The method further includes sending an instruction signal from the surface to the isolation valve, wherein the isolation valve closes in response to the instruction signal and isolates a setting pressure in the setting tool from the liner string; and increasing fluid pressure in the setting tool, thereby setting the liner hanger.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of expanding tubing is provided. The method may include expanding a first portion of an expandable tubing into contact with a surrounding tubing using a first expander; expanding a second portion of the expandable tubing that extends beyond the surrounding tubing using a second expander; and further expanding the first portion of the expandable tubing using the second expander, thereby expanding the surrounding tubing. The apparatus may include a fluted expander coupled to a first end of the expandable tubing; and a collapsible cone disposed inside the expandable tubing.

Abstract: A tubular member is expanded by pressurizing an interior region within the tubular member.