Expanding a tubular member

Abstract

A tubular member is expanded by pressurizing an interior region within the tubular member.

1 . An apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member, comprising: 
 a first tubular member;    a second tubular member positioned within the first tubular member;    a third tubular member movably coupled to and positioned within the second tubular member;    a first annular sealing member for sealing an interface between the first and second tubular members;    a second annular sealing member for sealing an interface between the second and third tubular members; and    a mandrel positioned within the first tubular member and coupled to an end of the third tubular member.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including an annular chamber defined by the first tubular member, the second tubular member, the third tubular member, the first annular sealing member, the second annular sealing member, and the mandrel.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including an annular passage defined by the second tubular member and the third tubular member.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a fluid passage contained within the third tubular member and the mandrel.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including one or more sealing members coupled to an exterior surface of the first tubular member.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including: 
 an annular chamber defined by the first tubular member, the second tubular member, the third tubular member, the first annular sealing member, the second annular sealing member, and the mandrel; and    an annular passage defined by the second tubular member and the third tubular member.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the annular chamber and the annular passage are fluidicly coupled.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including one or more slips coupled to the exterior surface of the first tubular member.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mandrel includes a conical surface.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the angle of attack of the conical surface ranges from about 0 to 30 degrees.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the conical surface has a surface hardness ranging from about 58 to 62 Rockwell C.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a tubular member;    a piston adapted to expand the diameter of the tubular member positioned within the tubular member, the piston including a passage for conveying fluids out of the tubular member; and    an annular chamber defined by the piston and tubular member.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the piston includes a conical surface.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the angle of attack of the conical surface ranges from about 0 to 30 degrees.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the conical surface has a surface hardness ranging from about 58 to 62 Rockwell C.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the tubular member includes one or more sealing members coupled to the exterior surface of the tubular member.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a first tubular member, and    a second tubular member coupled to the first tubular member by the process of: 
 positioning the second tubular member in an overlapping relationship to the first tubular member  
 placing a mandrel within the second tubular member;  
 pressurizing an annular region within the second tubular member above the mandrel; and  
 displacing the mandrel with respect to the second tubular member.  
   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the process for coupling the second tubular member to the first tubular member further comprises: 
 removing fluids within the second tubular member that are displaced by the displacement of the mandrel.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the removed fluids pass inside the annular region.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the volume of the annular region increases.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the process for coupling the second tubular member to the first tubular member further comprises sealing off the annular region.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein sealing off the annular region includes sealing a stationary member and sealing a non-stationary member.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the process for coupling the second tubular member to the first tubular member further comprises conveying fluids in opposite directions.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the process for coupling the second tubular member to the first tubular member further comprises conveying a pressurized fluid and a non-pressurized fluid in opposite directions.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the pressurizing is provided at operating pressures ranging from about 0 to 9,000 psi.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the pressuring is provided at flow rates ranging from about 0 to 3,000 gallons/minute.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first tubular member includes a defective portion, and wherein the second tubular member is positioned in opposing relation to the defective portion.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member, comprising: 
 a first tubular member;    a second tubular member coupled to the first tubular member;    a third tubular member coupled to the second tubular member; and    a mandrel positioned within the second tubular member and coupled to an end portion of the third tubular member;    wherein the inside diameter of the second tubular member is greater than the inside diameters of the first and third tubular members.    
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the mandrel includes a fluid passage having an inlet adapted to receive fluid stop member.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further including one or more slips coupled to the exterior surface of the third tubular member.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the mandrel includes a conical surface.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the angle of attack of the conical surface ranges from about 0 to 30 degrees.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the conical surface has a surface hardness ranging from about 58 to 62 Rockwell C.  
   
   
       34 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a tubular member having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion; and    a piston adapted to expand the diameter of the tubular member positioned within the second portion of the tubular member, the piston including a passage for conveying fluids out of the tubular member;    wherein the inside diameter of the second portion of the tubular member is greater than the inside diameters of the first and third portions of the tubular member.    
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the piston includes a conical surface.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the angle of attack of the conical surface ranges from about 0 to 30 degrees.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the conical surface has a surface hardness ranging from about 58 to 62 Rockwell C.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the tubular member includes one or more sealing members coupled to the exterior surface of the tubular member.  
   
   
       39 . An apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member, comprising: 
 a first tubular member;    a second tubular member positioned within the first tubular member;    a third tubular member movably coupled to and positioned within the second tubular member;    a first annular sealing member for sealing an interface between the first and second tubular members;    a second annular sealing member for sealing an interface between the second and third tubular members;    a mandrel positioned within the first tubular member and coupled to an end of the third tubular member;    an annular chamber defined by the first tubular member, the second tubular member, the third tubular member, the first annular sealing member, the second annular sealing member, and the mandrel;    a fluid passage defined by the third tubular member and the mandrel fluidicly coupled to an interior region of the first tubular member below the mandrel; and    an annular passage defined by the second tubular member and the third tubular member fluidicly coupled to the annular chamber.    
   
   
       40 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a first tubular member; and    a second tubular member coupled to the first tubular member by the process of:    positioning the second tubular member in an overlapping relationship to the first tubular member;    placing a mandrel within the second tubular member;    sealing off an annular region within the second tubular member above the mandrel by sealing a stationary member and sealing a non-stationary member;    pressurizing the annular region;    displacing the mandrel with respect to the second tubular member; and    removing fluids within the second tubular member that are displaced by the displacement of the mandrel by passing the removed fluids inside of the annular region.    
   
   
       41 . An apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member, comprising: 
 a first tubular member;    a second tubular member coupled to the first tubular member;    a third tubular member coupled to the second tubular member;    one or more slips coupled to the exterior surface of the third tubular member; and    a mandrel having a conical outer surface including an angle of attack between about 0 to 30 degrees and a surface hardness ranging from about 58 to 62 Rockwell C positioned within the second tubular member and coupled to an end portion of the third tubular member;    wherein the inside diameter of the second tubular member is greater than the inside diameters of the first and third tubular members;    wherein the mandrel includes a fluid passage having an inlet adapted to receive fluid stop member.