Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for sealing an annulus enclosing a tubular element in a wellbore. The method comprises the steps of: i) introducing a first drilling fluid in the wellbore; ii) drilling an open hole section of the wellbore using a drilling tool suspended at the end of a tool string; iii) pumping a second drilling fluid comprising particles into the wellbore; iv) filtering the particles out of the second drilling fluid near a downhole end of the tubular element; v) extending the tubular element into the open hole section of the wellbore while directing at least part of the filtered particles to an annulus between the tubular element and a wellbore wall. Steps i) to v) may be repeated as often as required.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for radially expanding a tubular element below a previous tubular element. The method includes: connecting a downhole section to an uphole section of the tubular element, the downhole section having a smaller diameter than the uphole section; bending a downhole end of the downhole section radially outward and in axially reverse direction to form a start expanded tubular section extending around an unexpanded part of the downhole section; arranging said start expanded tubular section at least partially within a downhole end of the previous tubular element; anchoring said start expanded tubular section to the previous tubular element; and increasing the length of an expanded tubular section of the tubular element by pushing an unexpanded tubular section downhole relative to said start expanded tubular section to expand the unexpanded tubular section by bending the wall of the unexpanded tubular section radially outward and in axially reverse direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for radially expanding a tubular element. The method comprises the steps of bending the tubular element radially outward and in axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section extending around an unexpanded tubular section, wherein bending occurs in a bending zone; increasing the length of the expanded tubular section by pushing the unexpanded tubular section in axial direction relative to the expanded tubular section; operating a drill string, which extends through the unexpanded tubular section and is provided with a drill bit at a downhole end thereof, to drill a borehole; and operating directional drilling means, which are coupled to the drill string, to deviate the borehole and direct the borehole along a predetermined path.

Abstract: A method of creating a wellbore system comprises arranging an expandable tubular element in a wellbore whereby a lower end portion of the wall of the tubular element extends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element, and axially extending the expanded section by moving the remaining tubular section downward relative to the expanded section so that said lower end portion of the wall bends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction, whereby an annulus is defined between said expanded and remaining tubular sections, the annulus containing a body of fluid. A volume of the fluid is replaced by pumping a replacement fluid into the annulus and discharging the volume of fluid from the annulus whereby at least one of the volume of fluid and the replacement fluid flows into the annulus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for radially expanding a tubular element (8). The method comprises the steps of bending the tubular element (8) radially outward and in axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section (10) extending around an unexpanded tubular section (8) wherein bending occurs in a bending zone (14); and increasing the length of the expanded tubular section (10) by inducing the bending zone (14) to move in axial direction relative to the unexpanded tubular section (8). The method includes the further step of heating the bending zone. Several embodiments to enable heating are described.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for lining a wellbore, and a method for using said system. The system comprises: a drill string (20) for drilling the wellbore; an expandable tubular element (4) enclosing the drill string, wherein a lower end portion of a wall of the expandable tubular element is bent (14) radially outward and in axially reverse direction to define an expanded tubular section (10) extending around an unexpanded tubular section (8); a pushing device (50) for pushing the unexpanded section into the expanded tubular section; a blow-out preventer (302) for closing off the wellbore in case of an emergency. Herein the blow-out preventer encloses the unexpanded tubular section and comprises a cutter (320) for cutting the unexpanded tubular section and at least one closure device (324) for closing the wellbore.

Abstract: The invention discloses a system (FIG. 1) and a method for lining a wellbore. The system comprises a drill string (20) for drilling the wellbore; an expandable tubular element (84) enclosing the drill string (20), wherein a lower end portion of a wall of the expandable tubular element (14) is bent radially outward and in axially reverse direction to define an expanded tubular section (10) extending around an unexpanded tubular section (8); a pushing device (42) for pushing the unexpanded tubular section (8) into the expanded tubular section (10); and a releasable drilling annulus sealing device (70) for closing an annular opening between an upper end of the expandable tubular element and the drill string.

Abstract: A system for drilling a wellbore into an earth formation comprises an expandable tubular element extending into the wellbore, wherein a lower end portion of the wall of the tubular element extends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction so as to define an expanded tubular section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element. The expanded tubular section is extendable by downward movement of the remaining tubular section relative to the expanded tubular section whereby said lower end portion of the wall bends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction. A drill string extends through the remaining tubular section into the wellbore, such that a space is formed between the drill string and the remaining tubular section, and the system further comprises sealing means arranged to seal said space from an open-hole lower section of the wellbore.

Abstract: A method for radially expanding a tubular element in a wellbore formed in an earth formation comprises arranging the tubular element in the wellbore such that a lower end portion of the wall of the tubular element extends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element. An annular space is defined between said expanded and remaining tubular sections. The expanded tubular section is axially extended by moving the remaining section downward relative to the expanded section so that said lower end portion of the wall bends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction. A tube is positioned in the annular space so that the tube extends substantially concentrically with the expanded section and is arranged to support at least one of the remaining section and the expanded tubular section.

Abstract: A method for radially expanding a tubular element in a wellbore formed in an earth formation comprises arranging the tubular element in the wellbore such that a lower end portion of the wall of the tubular element extends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction so as to define an expanded tubular section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element, and axially extending the expanded tubular section by moving the remaining tubular section a selected distance downward relative to the expanded tubular section so that said lower end portion of the wall bends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction. The remaining tubular section is axially extended at an upper end thereof with an extended tubular portion of a length at least equal to said distance of downward movement of the remaining tubular section.

Abstract: A wellbore system comprises a wellbore extending into an earth formation, the wellbore containing a body of fluid, and an expandable tubular element arranged in the wellbore, wherein a lower end portion of the wall of the tubular element is bent radially outward and in an axially reverse direction so as to define an expanded tubular section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element. The expanded tubular section is axially extendable by downward movement of the remaining tubular section relative to the expanded tubular section. The body of fluid is located in the remaining tubular section, and a fluid conduit extends from the body of fluid to a location above the remaining tubular section, the fluid conduit being movable in upward direction relative to the remaining tubular section.

Abstract: A method of drilling a wellbore comprises arranging a drill string and an expandable tubular in the wellbore such that a lower end portion of the wall of the tubular extends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded section extending around a remaining section of the tubular, drill string extending through the remaining section, and axially extending the expanded section by moving the remaining section downward relative to the expanded section so that the lower end portion of the wall bends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction, wherein the expanded section covers the wellbore wall in an upper portion of the wellbore. The drill string is operated so as to drill a lower wellbore portion, and a compound is transferred between the lower wellbore portion and a layer of the earth formation surrounding the lower wellbore portion.

Abstract: A method of radially expanding a tubular element extending into a wellbore formed in an earth formation comprises inducing the wall of the tubular element to bend radially outward and in an axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element, wherein the bending occurs in a bending zone of the tubular element. The bending zone is induced to move in an axial direction relative to the remaining tubular section to increase the length of the expanded tubular section. An annular space is formed between the expanded tubular section and the remaining tubular section, wherein the method further comprises arranging a seal element in the annular space to define an upper portion and a lower portion of the annular space, the upper and lower portions being sealed from each other by the seal element.

Abstract: A method of drilling a wellbore (1) into an earth formation is disclosed. The method comprises arranging a drill string (6) and an expandable tubular element (8) coaxially in the wellbore, the drill string having an axially extending fluid passage (30), the tubular element surrounding the drill string and having a lower end bent (12) radially outward and in axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section (10) extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element, said lower end defining a bending zone of the tubular element, wherein an annular space is formed between the drill string and the remaining tubular section.

Abstract: A system and method for radially expanding a tubular element. The method comprises the steps of bending the tubular element radially outward and in axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section extending around an unexpanded tubular section, wherein bending occurs in a bending zone; and increasing the length of the expanded tubular section by inducing the respective bending zones of the layers to move in axial direction relative to the unexpanded tubular section. The tubular element comprises a first layer, a second layer extending around the first layer, and a third layer interconnecting the first layer and the second layer and allowing the first layer and the second layer to shift relative to each other near the bending zone.

Abstract: A method is provided of radially expanding a tubular element. The method comprises inducing the wall of the tubular element to bend radially outward and in axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded section of the tubular element extending around an unexpanded section of the tubular element, wherein said bending occurs in a bending zone of the wall, and wherein an annular space is defined between the unexpanded and expanded sections. At least one guide member is located in the annular space, each guide member being arranged to guide the wall during said bending so that the wall bends at an increased bending radius relative to bending of the wall in case the guide member is absent from the annular space.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of drilling a wellbore, the method comprising arranging a drill string and an expandable tubular element in the wellbore whereby a lower end portion of the wall of the tubular element extends radially outward and in axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element, wherein the drill string extends through the remaining tubular section, and axially extending the expanded tubular section by moving the remaining tubular section downward relative to the expanded tubular section so that said lower end portion of the wall bends radially outward and in axially reverse direction, wherein the expanded tubular section covers the wellbore wall in an upper portion of the wellbore. The drill string is operated so as to drill a lower portion of the wellbore, and a compound is transferred between the lower portion of the wellbore and a layer of the earth formation surrounding the lower portion of the wellbore.

Abstract: A method for radially expanding a tubular element in a wellbore and providing a control line that extends along the tubular element comprises (a) inducing the wall of the tubular element to bend radially outward and in axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element, wherein said bending occurs in a bending zone of the tubular element, (b) increasing the length of the expanded tubular section by inducing the bending zone to move in axial direction relative to the remaining tubular section, wherein said wall includes a material that is plastically deformed in the bending zone during the bending process so that the expanded tubular section retains an expanded shape as a result of said plastic deformation, and (c) extending the control line along the tubular element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of radially expanding a tubular element extending into a wellbore formed in an earth formation, the tubular element including a first layer and a second layer extending around the first layer, said layers being separable from each other. The method comprises inducing each layer to bend radially outward and in an axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element, wherein each layer has a respective bending zone in which the bending occurs, and increasing the length of the expanded tubular section by inducing the respective bending zones of the layers to move in an axial direction relative to the remaining tubular section. The layers in the respective bending zones are separate from each other so as to define an axial space between the layers.

Abstract: A method is provided of radially expanding a tubular element extending into a wellbore formed in an earth formation, the method comprising inducing the wall of the tubular element to bend radially outward and in axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element, wherein said bending occurs in a bending zone of the tubular element, and increasing the length of the expanded tubular section by inducing the bending zone to move in axial direction relative to the remaining tubular section. One of the tubular element and the wellbore wall is provided with at least one seal member arranged to induce sealing of the expanded tubular section relative to the wellbore wall.