Method and apparatus for installing tubing in a wellbore

Abstract

Disclosed is an improved apparatus and method for completing a wellbore using radially expandable tubing. An expanding tool is used with sets of rollers positioned to progressively expand the tubing by rolling along the interior of the tubing.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method of installing tubing in subterranean portion of a well, comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing a radially expandable tubing assembly;    b. moving the expandable tubing assembly to a predetermined subterranean location in the well; and    c. expanding the tubing assembly by moving a tubing expander axially through the tubing assembly while contacting the interior wall of the tubing assembly with rollers carried on the expander and wherein the rollers are mounted to rotate about an axis transverse to the axis of the tubing assembly.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the expander comprises a plurality of sets of rollers movable between a radially retracted position and a radially extended position and wherein said method additionally comprises the step of extending the roller sets before expanding the tubing assembly.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of expanding the tubing assembly is performed by progressively larger sets of rollers engaging the tubing assembly and rolling along the interior surface thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of providing a radially expandable tubing assembly comprises providing a radially expandable tubular member in the form of a well screen.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of providing a radially expandable tubing assembly comprises providing a radially expandable tubular member in the form of solid wall tubing  
     
     
         6 . A method of installing tubing in subterranean portion of a well, comprising the steps of 
 a. providing a radially expandable tubing assembly;    b. moving the expandable tubing assembly to a predetermined subterranean location in the well; and    c. expanding the tubing by moving a tubing expander axially through the tubing assembly while contacting the interior wall of the tubing assembly with rollers carried on the expander and wherein the rollers are arranged in a plurality of sets and wherein the roller sets do not all have the same effective cross section.    
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the expander comprises a plurality of sets of rollers movable between a radially retracted position and a radially extended position and wherein said method additionally comprises the step of extending the roller sets before expanding the tubing assembly.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the step of expanding the tubing assembly is performed by progressively larger sets of rollers engaging the tubing assembly and rolling along the interior surface thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the step of providing a radially expandable tubing assembly comprises providing a radially expandable tubular member in the form of a well screen.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the step of providing a radially expandable tubing assembly comprises providing a radially expandable tubular member in the form of solid wall tubing.  
     
     
         11 . A method of installing tubing in subterranean portion of a well, comprising the steps of 
 a. providing a radially expandable tubing assembly;    b. moving the expandable tubing assembly to a predetermined subterranean location in the well; and    c. expanding the tubing by moving a tubing expander axially through the tubing assembly and radially expanding the tubing assembly by successively contacting the interior wall of the tubing assembly with roller sets with progressively larger effective cross sections.    
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the expander comprises a plurality of sets of rollers movable between a radially retracted position and a radially extended position and wherein said method additionally comprises the step of extending the roller sets before expanding the tubing assembly.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of expanding the tubing assembly is performed by progressively larger sets of rollers engaging the tubing assembly and rolling along the interior surface thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the step of providing a radially expandable tubing assembly comprises providing a radially expandable tubular member in the form of a well screen.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the step of providing a radially expandable tubing assembly comprises providing a radially expandable tubular member in the form of solid wall tubing.  
     
     
         16 . A method of installing tubing in subterranean portion of a well, comprising the steps of 
 a. providing a radially expandable tubing assembly,    b. moving the expandable tubing assembly to a predetermined subterranean location in the well; and    c. moving a tubing expander axially through the tubing assembly and radially expanding the tubing assembly by contacting the interior wall of the tubing with rollers which rollers are mounted to roll axially along the interior wall.    
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the expander comprises a plurality of sets of rollers movable between a radially retracted position and a radially extended position and wherein said method additionally comprises the step of extending the roller sets before expanding the tubing assembly.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of expanding the tubing assembly is performed by progressively larger sets of rollers engaging the tubing assembly and rolling along the interior surface thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the step of providing a radially expandable tubing assembly comprises providing a radially expandable tubular member in the form of a well screen.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the step of providing a radially expandable tubing assembly comprises providing a radially expandable tubular member in the form of solid wall tubing  
     
     
         21 . A well tubular member expander comprising: 
 a. an elongated body;    b. a plurality of set of roller assemblies carried on the body in longitudinally spaced relationship of a size to contact the interior of the tubing member, at least two of the roller assemblies having the rollers mounted at different radially outward positions; and    c. brackets supporting the roller assemblies to rotate about a transverse axis.    
     
     
         22 . The expander of  claim 21  wherein the rollers are mounted in pairs.  
     
     
         23 . The expander of  claim 21  wherein the brackets are radially movable on the body to move between a radially extended position and a radially retracted position.