EXPANDABLE TRANSLATING JOINT
An expandable translating joint comprises a first expandable tubular member having a lower end with a recessed inner wall portion and a second expandable tubular member having an upper end with a recessed outer wall portion. The second expandable tubular member is partially disposed within the first expandable tubular member such that the recessed inner wall portion at least partially surrounds the recessed outer wall portion. A retainer is coupled to the recessed inner wall portion of the first expandable tubular member and disposed within the recessed outer wall portion of the lower second expandable tubular member. An expansion cone is operable to move axially through and radially expand the first and second expandable tubulars. The first expandable tubular can translate relative to the second tubular member both before and after expansion.
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BACKGROUNDThis disclosure relates generally to methods and apparatus for lining wellbores. More specifically, this disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for providing a wellbore tubular that can accommodate axial expansion or contraction after radial expansion and installation into a wellbore.
During hydrocarbon exploration and production, a wellbore typically traverses a number of zones within a subterranean formation. A tubing string, such as a casing or liner, may be established in the wellbore to create flow paths from the multiple producing zones to the surface of the wellbore. Efficient production is highly dependent on the inner diameter of the tubing string, with greater inner diameters producing more hydrocarbons or allowing inserted equipment with appropriate pressure ratings to be used in well completions. To provide larger inner diameters to installed tubing strings, technologies have been developed that allow for tubing strings to be radially expanded after installation in a wellbore. Radially expanding tubing strings in the wellbore allows installation of larger diameter tubulars than would otherwise be possible.
In the case of wells of substantial depth, and particularly wells where the downhole temperatures are substantially in excess of or below the surface temperatures, problems have been encountered due to excessive axial expansion or contraction of the elongated tubing string. For example, in the treatment or stimulation of the well, it is common to introduce fluids at surface ambient temperature into the tubing string. In some cases, the fluid is introduced as steam at elevated temperatures. When the major portions of the tubing string are at a much higher temperature initially, this inherently results in a cooling, and hence a substantial contraction of the tubing string, resulting in the production of substantial tensile stress in the tubing string between its surface connection and the set packer. Similarly, in the production phase of such wells, the production fluid is normally at a temperature substantially in excess of the temperature of the majority of the tubing string, resulting in a substantial expansion of the tubing string and the production of a substantial compressive force on the tubing string. Additionally, changes in fluid pressure inside and outside the tubing string play a major role in the development of substantial tension or compressive forces in the tubing string.
To address the described expansion or contraction of the downhole tubulars, a translating joint, or expansion joint can be disposed in the tubing string. A translating joint is an axially moveable or telescoping device or component designed to enable relative movement between two fixed assemblies in the event of thermal expansion or contraction. Further, the translating joint may have rotational or torque transmitting capability so that rotation can be accomplished through the joint to the right or to the left in order to perform required operations on various pieces of apparatus carried by the tubing string.
The principles of the present disclosure are directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations of the existing apparatus and processes for increasing fluid injection or hydrocarbon production during treatment, completion and production of subterranean wells.
Thus, there is a continuing need in the art for methods and apparatus that enable a radially expanded tubular string to compensate for axial loads applied after installation into a wellbore.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREAn expandable translating joint comprises a first expandable tubular member having a lower end with a recessed inner wall portion and a second expandable tubular member having an upper end with a recessed outer wall portion. The second expandable tubular member is partially disposed within the first expandable tubular member such that the recessed inner wall portion at least partially surrounds the recessed outer wall portion. A retainer is coupled to the recessed inner wall portion of the first expandable tubular member and disposed within the recessed outer wall portion of the lower second expandable tubular member. An expansion cone is operable to move axially through and radially expand the first and second expandable tubulars. The first expandable tubular can translate relative to the second tubular member both before and after expansion.
In some embodiments, a seal groove is disposed proximate to the upper end of the second expandable tubular member. In some embodiments, the seal groove is disposed between the upper end and the recessed outer wall portion of the second expandable tubular member. In some embodiments, a seal member is disposed in the seal groove and in sealing engagement with the recessed inner wall portion of the first expandable tubular member. In some embodiments, the first expandable tubular member is rotationally constrained relative to the second expandable tubular member. In some embodiments, a plurality of axial tabs extend from the upper end of the second expandable tubular member and are engaged with a corresponding plurality of axial grooves formed in the first expandable tubular member. In some embodiments, a plurality of retainer pins couple the retainer to the first expandable tubular member. In some embodiments, the retainer is welded to the first expandable tubular member.
An expansion system comprises an upper tubular member having a lower end with a recessed inner wall portion and a lower tubular member having an upper end with a recessed outer wall portion. The lower tubular member is partially disposed within the upper tubular member such that the recessed inner wall portion at least partially surrounds the recessed outer wall portion. A retainer is coupled to the upper tubular member and disposed within the recessed outer wall portion of the lower tubular member. An expansion cone is operable to move axially through and radially expand the upper and lower tubulars, wherein the upper tubular can translate relative to the lower tubular member both before and after expansion.
In some embodiments, a seal groove is disposed proximate to the upper end of the lower tubular member. In some embodiments, the seal groove is disposed between the upper end and the recessed outer wall portion of the lower tubular member. In some embodiments, a seal member is disposed in the seal groove and in sealing engagement with the recessed inner wall portion of the upper tubular member. In some embodiments, the upper tubular member is rotationally constrained relative to the lower tubular member. In some embodiments, a plurality of axial tabs extends from the upper end of the lower tubular member and engages a corresponding plurality of axial grooves formed in the upper tubular member. In some embodiments, a plurality of retainer pins couples the retainer to the upper tubular member. In some embodiments, the retainer is welded to the upper tubular member.
A method comprises inserting an upper end of a lower tubular member into a recessed inner wall portion of an upper tubular member, coupling a retainer to a lower end of the upper tubular member, wherein the retainer is disposed within a recessed outer wall portion of the lower tubular member, and axially translating an expansion cone through the upper and lower tubular members so as to radially expand the upper and lower tubular members, wherein the upper tubular can translate relative to the lower tubular member both before and after expansion.
In some embodiments, the method also includes forming a seal between the lower tubular member and the recessed inner wall portion of the upper tubular member. In some embodiments, the method also includes rotationally constraining the upper tubular member relative to the lower tubular member both before and after expansion. In some embodiments, the retainer is coupled to the upper tubular member by a plurality of retainer pins.
For a more detailed description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
It is to be understood that the following disclosure describes several exemplary embodiments for implementing different features, structures, or functions of the invention. Exemplary embodiments of components, arrangements, and configurations are described below to simplify the present disclosure; however, these exemplary embodiments are provided merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various exemplary embodiments and across the Figures provided herein. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various exemplary embodiments and/or configurations discussed in the various figures. Moreover, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed interposing the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. Finally, the exemplary embodiments presented below may be combined in any combination of ways, i.e., any element from one exemplary embodiment may be used in any other exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Additionally, certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, various entities may refer to the same component by different names, and as such, the naming convention for the elements described herein is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, unless otherwise specifically defined herein. Further, the naming convention used herein is not intended to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. Additionally, in the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to.” All numerical values in this disclosure may be exact or approximate values unless otherwise specifically stated. Accordingly, various embodiments of the disclosure may deviate from the numbers, values, and ranges disclosed herein without departing from the intended scope. Furthermore, as it is used in the claims or specification, the term “or” is intended to encompass both exclusive and inclusive cases, i.e., “A or B” is intended to be synonymous with “at least one of A and B,” unless otherwise expressly specified herein.
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Once translating joint 10 is fully assembled, the lower tubular member 12 can move axially relative to the upper tubular member 14 as limited by the travel of the retainer 16 within the recessed outer wall section 28 of the main body. The engagement of the axial tabs 20 and the axial grooves 22 prevents rotation of the upper tubular member 14 relative to the lower tubular member 12. The seal member 24 is compressed between the upper tubular member 14 and the lower tubular member 12 so as to maintain pressure integrity of the translating joint 10.
The lower tubular member 12 and the upper tubular member 14 may include threads on their respective distal ends for assembling the translating joint 10 into a string of casing, or other wellbore tubular. Once assembled into a wellbore tubular, the tubular and translating joint 10 can be run into a wellbore and radially expanded using any number of expansion methods. As illustrated in
While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and description. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. An expandable translating joint comprising:
- a first expandable tubular member having a lower end with a recessed inner wall portion;
- a second expandable tubular member having an upper end with a recessed outer wall portion, wherein the second expandable tubular member is partially disposed within the first expandable tubular member such that the recessed inner wall portion at least partially surrounds the recessed outer wall portion;
- a retainer coupled to the recessed inner wall portion of the first expandable tubular member and disposed within the recessed outer wall portion of the lower second expandable tubular member; and
- an expansion cone disposed within the second expandable tubular member and operable to move axially through and radially expand the first and second expandable tubulars, wherein the first expandable tubular can translate relative to the second tubular member both before and after expansion.
2. The expandable translating joint of claim 1, further comprising a seal groove disposed proximate to the upper end of the second expandable tubular member.
3. The expandable translating joint of claim 2, wherein the seal groove is disposed between the upper end and the recessed outer wall portion of the second expandable tubular member.
4. The expandable translating joint of claim 2, further comprising a seal member disposed in the seal groove and in sealing engagement with the recessed inner wall portion of the first expandable tubular member.
5. The expandable translating joint of claim 1, wherein the first expandable tubular member is rotationally constrained relative to the second expandable tubular member.
6. The expandable translating joint of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of axial tabs extending from the upper end of the second expandable tubular member that are engaged with a corresponding plurality of axial grooves formed in the first expandable tubular member.
7. The expandable translating joint of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of retainer pins that couple the retainer to the first expandable tubular member.
8. The expandable translating joint of claim 1, wherein the retainer is welded to the first expandable tubular member.
9. An expansion system comprising:
- an upper tubular member having a lower end with a recessed inner wall portion;
- a lower tubular member having an upper end with a recessed outer wall portion, wherein the lower tubular member is partially disposed within the upper tubular member such that the recessed inner wall portion at least partially surrounds the recessed outer wall portion;
- a retainer coupled to the upper tubular member and disposed within the recessed outer wall portion of the lower tubular member; and
- an expansion cone operable to move axially through and radially expand the upper and lower tubulars, wherein the upper tubular can translate relative to the lower tubular member both before and after expansion.
10. The expansion system of claim 9, further comprising a seal groove disposed proximate to the upper end of the lower tubular member.
11. The expansion system of claim 10, wherein the seal groove is disposed between the upper end and the recessed outer wall portion of the lower tubular member.
12. The expansion system of claim 10, further comprising a seal member disposed in the seal groove and in sealing engagement with the recessed inner wall portion of the upper tubular member.
13. The expansion system of claim 9, wherein the upper tubular member is rotationally constrained relative to the lower tubular member.
14. The expansion system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of axial tabs extending from the upper end of the lower tubular member that are engaged with a corresponding plurality of axial grooves formed in the upper tubular member.
15. The expansion system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of retainer pins that couple the retainer to the upper tubular member.
16. The expansion system of claim 9, wherein the retainer is welded to the upper tubular member.
17. A method comprising:
- inserting an upper end of a lower tubular member into a recessed inner wall portion of an upper tubular member;
- coupling a retainer to a lower end of the upper tubular member, wherein the retainer is disposed within a recessed outer wall portion of the lower tubular member; and
- axially translating an expansion cone through the upper and lower tubular members so as to radially expand the upper and lower tubular members, wherein the upper tubular can translate relative to the lower tubular member both before and after expansion.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising forming a seal between the lower tubular member and the recessed inner wall portion of the upper tubular member.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising rotationally constraining the upper tubular member relative to the lower tubular member both before and after expansion.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein the retainer is coupled to the upper tubular member by a plurality of retainer pins.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 17, 2013
Publication Date: Dec 18, 2014
Inventor: Eric James CONNOR (Katy, TX)
Application Number: 13/919,750
International Classification: E21B 17/08 (20060101); E21B 33/12 (20060101);