Wellbore Casing

Abstract

A wellbore casing.

1 . A method of joining a third tubular member to a first tubular member and to a second tubular member, the first and second tubular members having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the third tubular member, comprising: 
 positioning an expansion device within an interior region of the third tubular member;    positioning the third tubular member in an overlapping relationship with the first and second tubular members;    pressurizing a portion of the interior region of the third tubular member; and    radially expanding and plastically deforming the third tubular member into engagement with the first and second tubular members;    wherein an interface between the expansion device and the third tubular member does not include a fluid tight seal.    
   
   
       2 . A method of fluidicly isolating a section of downhole tubing, the section of downhole tubing comprising a plurality of preexisting casings, comprising: 
 running a length of expandable tubing into a borehole and positioning the expandable tubing in an overlapping relationship with the plurality of preexisting casings to be fluidicly isolated,    plastically deforming the expandable tubing to increase the diameter of the portion to sealingly engage the preexisting casings to be fluidicly isolated by displacing an expansion device therethrough in the longitudinal direction.    
   
   
       3 . A system for joining a third tubular member to a first tubular member and to a second tubular member, the first and second tubular members having an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the third tubular member, comprising: 
 means for positioning an expansion device within an interior region of the third tubular member;    means for positioning the third tubular member in an overlapping relationship with the first and second tubular members;    means for pressurizing a portion of the interior region of the third tubular member; and    means for radially expanding and plastically deforming the third tubular member into engagement with the first and second tubular members;    wherein an interface between the expansion device and the third tubular member does not include a fluid tight seal.    
   
   
       4 . A system for fluidicly isolating a section of downhole tubing, the section of downhole tubing comprising a plurality of preexisting casings, comprising: 
 means for running a length of expandable tubing into a borehole and positioning the expandable tubing in an overlapping relationship with the plurality of preexisting casings to be fluidicly isolated,    means for plastically deforming the expandable tubing to increase the diameter of the portion to sealingly engage the plurality of preexisting casings to be fluidicly isolated by displacing an expansion device therethrough in the longitudinal direction.    
   
   
       5 . A method of creating a casing in a borehole located in a subterranean formation, the borehole comprising a plurality of preexisting casings, comprising: 
 supporting a tubular liner and an expansion device in the borehole using a support member;    installing the tubular liner in an overlapping relationship with the plurality of preexisting casings,    injecting hardenable fluidic sealing material into an annular region located between the borehole and the exterior of the tubular liner;    injecting non hardenable fluidic material into an interior region of the expansion device;    pressurizing an interior region of the expansion device;    pulling on the expansion device using the support member;    displacing a portion of the expansion device relative to the tubular liner in the longitudinal direction; and    radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular liner into engagement with the plurality of preexisting casings;    wherein one or more sealing elements are disposed on the outer surface of the tubular liner for sealingly engaging the inner surface of the plurality of preexisting casings.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the final displacement of the expansion device is only by pulling on the expansion device using the support member.  
   
   
       7 . A method of creating a casing in a borehole located in a section of a subterranean formation, the borehole comprising a plurality of preexisting casings, comprising: 
 drilling out a new section of the borehole adjacent to the plurality of preexisting casings;    placing a tubular liner and an expandable mandrel into the new section of the borehole;    overlapping the tubular liner with the plurality of preexisting casings;    injecting a hardenable fluidic sealing material into an annular region between the tubular liner and the new section of the borehole;    fluidicly isolating the annular region between the tubular liner and the new section of the borehole from an interior region of the tubular liner below the mandrel;    injecting a non hardenable fluidic material into the interior region of the tubular liner below the mandrel;    extruding the tubular liner off of the expandable mandrel into engagement with the plurality of preexisting casings;    sealing the overlap between the tubular liner and the plurality of preexisting casings;    supporting the tubular liner with the overlap with the plurality of preexisting casings;    removing the mandrel from the borehole;    testing the integrity of the seal of the overlap between the tubular liner and the plurality of preexisting casings;    removing at least a portion of the hardenable fluidic sealing material from the interior of the tubular liner;    curing the remaining portions of the fluidic hardenable fluidic sealing material; and    removing at least a portion of the cured fluidic hardenable sealing material within the tubular liner.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the final displacement of the expansion device is only by pulling on the expansion device using the support member.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for expanding a tubular liner, comprising: 
 a support member defining a first passage;    an expansion cone coupled to the support member, the expansion cone defining a second passage operably coupled to the first passage;    an expandable tubular liner coupled to the expansion cone; and    a shoe coupled to the expandable tubular liner, the shoe defining a third passage operably coupled to the second passage;    wherein the interior portion of the shoe is drillable.    
   
   
       10 . A system for creating a casing in a borehole located in a subterranean formation, the borehole comprising a plurality of preexisting casings, comprising: 
 means for supporting a tubular liner and an expansion device in the borehole using a support member;    means for installing the tubular liner in an overlapping relationship with the plurality of preexisting casings,    means for injecting hardenable fluidic sealing material into an annular region located between the borehole and the exterior of the tubular liner;    means for injecting non hardenable fluidic material into an interior region of the expansion device;    means for pressurizing an interior region of the expansion device;    means for pulling on the expansion device using the support member;    means for displacing a portion of the expansion device relative to the tubular liner in the longitudinal direction; and    means for radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular liner into engagement with the plurality of preexisting casings;    wherein one or more sealing elements are disposed on the outer surface of the tubular liner for sealingly engaging the inner surface of the preexisting casing.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising means for final displacement of the expansion device comprising means for pulling on the expansion device.  
   
   
       12 . A system for creating a casing in a borehole located in a section of a subterranean formation, the borehole comprising a plurality of preexisting casings, comprising: 
 means for drilling out a new section of the borehole adjacent to the plurality of preexisting casings;    means for placing a tubular liner and an expandable mandrel into the new section of the borehole;    means for overlapping the tubular liner with the plurality of preexisting casings;    means for injecting a hardenable fluidic sealing material into an annular region between the tubular liner and the new section of the borehole;    means for fluidicly isolating the annular region between the tubular liner and the new section of the borehole from an interior region of the tubular liner below the mandrel;    means for injecting a non hardenable fluidic material into the interior region of the tubular liner below the mandrel;    means for extruding the tubular liner off of the expandable mandrel into engagement with the plurality of preexisting casings;    means for sealing the overlap between the tubular liner and the plurality of preexisting casings;    means for supporting the tubular liner with the overlap with the plurality of preexisting casings;    means for removing the mandrel from the borehole;    means for testing the integrity of the seal of the overlap between the tubular liner and the plurality of preexisting casings;    means for removing at least a portion of the hardenable fluidic sealing material from the interior of the tubular liner;    means for curing the remaining portions of the fluidic hardenable fluidic sealing material; and    means for removing at least a portion of the cured fluidic hardenable sealing material within the tubular liner.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising means for final displacement of the expansion device comprising means for pulling on the expansion device.