Abstract: A tubular element can be expanded using an expander tool that includes a flexible sleeve having an outer diameter less than or equal to the inner diameter of the tubular element, a cone expander section on which the sleeve is mounted and an elongate mandrel. The cone expander section includes a first cone having a first narrow end that fits inside the sleeve and that increases in diameter from the first narrow end to a maximum at a base that is greater than the inner diameter of the sleeve but less than the inner diameter of the tubular element. The expander tool can be positioned at a predetermined location in the tubular element, fixed in place, and the expander section can be urged through the sleeve to expand the sleeve and thus the tubular element.

Abstract: An assembly for use in a wellbore formed in an earth formation, comprising an expandable tubular element and an outer structure having first and second portions arranged at a distance from each other, the portions being restrained to the tubular element in a manner that the distance changes as a result of radial expansion of the tubular element, the outer structure further having a third portion arranged to move radially outward upon said change in distance between the first and second portions, wherein said radially outward movement of the third portion is larger than the radially outward movement of the tubular element as a result of radial expansion of the tubular element.

Abstract: A method for adapting a tubular element extending into a wellbore formed in an earth formation, where the tubular element is susceptible to damage caused by axially compressive forces acting on the tubular element as a result of compaction of the earth formation surrounding the tubular element. The method comprises the steps of reducing the axial stiffness of at least one section of the tubular element, and allowing each tubular element section of reduced axial stiffness to be axially compressed by the action of said axially compressive forces, thereby accommodating compaction of the earth formation surrounding the tubular element.

Abstract: An apparatus for expanding tubular elements includes a tool body, an axially compressible expansion body mounted on the tool body such that the outer surface of the expansion body is substantially the same outer diameter as that of the tool body, and means for axially compressing the expansion body such that its outer surface is expanded beyond the outer diameter of the tool body.

Abstract: A tubular element can be expanded using an expander tool that includes a flexible sleeve having an outer diameter less than or equal to the inner diameter of the tubular element, a cone expander section on which the sleeve is mounted and an elongate mandrel. The cone expander section includes a first cone having a first narrow end that fits inside the sleeve and that increases in diameter from the first narrow end to a maximum at a base that is greater than the inner diameter of the sleeve but less than the inner diameter of the tubular element. The expander tool can be positioned at a predetermined location in the tubular element, fixed in place, and the expander section can be urged through the sleeve to expand the sleeve and thus the tubular element.

Abstract: A method for expanding a tubular in a wellbore uses an expansion apparatus that includes an expansion body disposed on a tool body. The expansion apparatus is positioned in the tubular. The method further includes compressing the expansion body such that an outer surface radially expands the tubular permanently and axially translating the compressed body within the tubular.

Abstract: A method is provided of expanding a tubular element from a first inner diameter to a second inner diameter larger than the first inner diameter. The method comprises the steps of: a) installing a sleeve of flexible material in the tubular element; b) installing an expander in the tubular element, the expander being suitable to radially expand the sleeve to an outer diameter larger than said first inner diameter by moving the expander in axial direction through the sleeve; and c) moving the expander in axial direction through the sleeve thereby radially expanding the tubular element from the first inner diameter to the second inner diameter.

Abstract: A device for performing a downhole operation in a wellbore formed into an earth formation comprising an actuator and a tool. The actuator is movable from a first configuration to a second configuration by the action of a selected increase of fluid pressure acting on the exterior of the actuator. The tool is arranged to be moved by the actuator so as to perform the downhole operation upon movement of the actuator from the first configuration to the second configuration.

Abstract: An expander system for radially expanding a tubular element from a first inner diameter to a second inner diameter larger than the first inner diameter, the expander system including an expander movable between a radially retracted mode and a radially expanded mode, wherein the expander includes an expansion surface extending in axial direction of the expander and being operable to expand the tubular element upon movement of the expander from the retracted mode to the expanded mode thereof, the expansion surface being of increasing diameter in axial direction of the expander.

Abstract: An expandable tubular element for use in a wellbore formed in an earth formation, the tubular element having a first radially expandable tube and a second radially expandable tube. The tubes are arranged in a manner that an end portion of the second tube extends into an end portion of the first tube, wherein a selected one of the end portions has a reduced resistance to radial expansion per unit length compared to a remainder portion of the tube to which the selected end portion pertains.

Abstract: A method is provided for adapting a tubular element extending into a wellbore formed in an earth formation, the tubular element being susceptible of damage due to axially compressive forces acting on the tubular element due to compaction of the earth formation surrounding the tubular element. The method comprises the steps of reducing the axial stiffness of at least one section of the tubular element, and allowing each tubular element section of reduced axial stiffness to be axially compressed by the action of said axially compressive forces thereby accommodating compaction of the earth formation surrounding the tubular element.

Abstract: An expander system for radially expanding a tubular element having an unexpanded portion of a first inner diameter, the expander system including an expander movable between a radially retracted mode and a radially expanded mode, the expander being operable to expand the tubular element from the first inner diameter to a second inner diameter larger than the first inner diameter by movement of the expander from the radially retracted mode to the radially expanded mode thereof, wherein the expander has a contact section of a diameter larger than the first inner diameter when the expander is in the radially retracted mode, and wherein the contact section is arranged to prevent axial movement of the expander through the unexpanded portion of the tubular element when the expander is in the radially retracted mode.

Abstract: A tubular system arranged in a wellbore, having an outer tube extending into the wellbore and a wall with at least one section of reduced bending stiffness, each section defining a hinge allowing the outer tube to move between a collapsed mode and an expanded mode. An inner tube extends into the outer tube and has a wall with at least one section of reduced bending stiffness, each section defining a hinge allowing the inner tube to move between a collapsed mode and an expanded mode. With the tubes in their respective expanded modes, the inner tube supports the outer tube and is oriented in the outer tube such that each hinge of the inner tube is circumferentially displaced from each hinge of the outer tube.

Abstract: An expander for radially expanding a tubular element by axial movement of the expander through the tubular element is provided. The expander comprising an expander member having a front part of a first cross-sectional size; a rear part of a second cross-sectional size larger than the first cross-sectional size; and an intermediate part arranged between said front part; and, rear part and having a cross-sectional size varying between said first and second cross-sectional sizes. The expander member is provided with fluid supply means for supplying pressurized fluid to the inner surface of the tubular element at a location opposite the intermediate part when the expander member is arranged in the tubular element.

Abstract: A method is provided of radially expanding a connector for interconnecting a first tube to a second tube, the connector including a pin member extending into a box member. The pin and box members have cooperating support means arranged to support the pin member so as to prevent radially inward movement of the end portion of the pin member relative to the box member. The method involves radially expanding the connector, and supporting the pin member so as to prevent radially inward movement of the end portion of the pin member relative to the box member.

Abstract: There is provided a method of radially expanding a tubular element extending into a wellbore, the tubular element having a first section to be expanded to a first diameter and a second section to be expanded to a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter. The method involves arranging an expander in the wellbore, the expander including a first expander member and a second expander member, wherein the first member has a larger outer diameter than the second member, said members being releasably interconnected. The expander is moved through the first tubular section thereby expanding the first tubular section to the first diameter, whereafter the second expander member is released from the first expander member. The second expander member is then moved through the second tubular section so as to expand the latter to the second diameter.

Abstract: A fluid is transferred between surface facilities and a subsurface reservoir formation through a well, which is equipped with a well lining having a permeability of less than 50 Darcy and preferably a lower permeability than at least part of the reservoir formation in the vicinity of the well lining so that fluid transfer into or from the formation is equalized even if the formation comprises strata having different permeabilities.

Abstract: A tubular system arranged in a wellbore, having an outer tube extending into the wellbore and having a wall with at least one section of reduced bending stiffiess, each section of reduced bending stiffness defining a hinge allowing the outer tube to move between a collapsed mode in which the outer tube has a relatively small cross-sectional size and an expanded mode in which the outer tube has a relatively large cross-sectional size. An inner tube extends into the outer tube and has a wall with at least one section of reduced bending stiffness, each section of reduced bending stiffness defining a hinge allowing the inner tube to move between a collapsed mode in which the inner tube has a relatively small cross-sectional size and an expanded mode in which the inner tube has a relatively large cross-sectional size.

Abstract: There is provided a method of radially expanding a tubular element extending into a wellbore, the tubular element having a first section to be expanded to a first diameter and a second section to be expanded to a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter. The method involves arranging an expander in the wellbore, the expander including a first expander member and a second expander member, wherein the first member has a larger outer diameter than the second member, said members being releasably interconnected. The expander is moved through the first tubular section thereby expanding the first tubular section to the first diameter, whereafter the second expander member is released from the first expander member. The second expander member is then moved through the second tubular section so as to expand the latter to the second diameter.

Abstract: A method is provided of radially expanding a connector (24) for interconnecting a first tube (18) to a second tube (20), the connector including a pin member (26) extending into a box member (28). The pin and box members have cooperating support means (26, 28) arranged to support the pin member so as to prevent radially inward movement of said end portion of the pin member relative to the box member. The method comprises radially expanding the connector (24), and supporting the pin member so as to prevent radially inward movement of said end portion of the pin member relative to the box member.