Pressure cycling to control the material properties of a tubular member

Abstract

A method of controlling the material properties of a tubular member including positioning a pressure source within the tubular member; and operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal.

1 . A method of controlling the material properties of a tubular member, comprising: 
 positioning a pressure source within the tubular member; and    operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member is located in a borehole traversing a subterranean formation.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the tubular member comprises a plastically deformed tubular member.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal comprises one or more of the following: 
 operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal comprising a predetermined spectral content;    operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal that varies between a maximum and a minimum pressure; and    operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal comprising a predetermined number of cycles.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure source is operated to generate a pressure cycle signal comprising one or more of the following: 
 a spectral content selected to control the collapse strength of the expanded tubular member;    a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the collapse strength of the expanded tubular member;    a number of cycles selected to control the collapse strength of the expanded tubular member;    a spectral content selected to control the burst strength of the expanded tubular member;    a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the burst strength of the expanded tubular member;    a number of cycles selected to control the burst strength of the expanded tubular member;    a spectral content selected to control the yield strength of the expanded tubular member;    a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the yield strength of the expanded tubular member;    a number of cycles selected to control the yield strength of the expanded tubular member;    a spectral content selected to control the wall thickness of the expanded tubular member;    a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the wall thickness of the expanded tubular member;    a number of cycles selected to control the wall thickness of the expanded tubular member;    a sinusoidal signal that varies from a maximum value P max  to a minimum value P min  over time;    a square wave signal that varies from a maximum value P max  to a minimum value P min  over time; and    a triangular signal that varies from a maximum value P max  to a minimum value P min  over time.    
   
   
       6 . A method of controlling the material properties of a tubular member located in a borehole traversing a subterranean formation, the tubular member comprising a plastically deformed tubular member, the method comprising: 
 positioning a pressure source within the tubular member; and    operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal comprising: 
 a spectral content selected to control the collapse strength, burst strength, yield strength or wall thickness of the plastically deformed tubular member;  
 a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the collapse strength, burst strength, yield strength or wall thickness of the plastically deformed tubular member;  
 a number of cycles selected to control the collapse strength, burst strength, yield strength or wall thickness of the plastically deformed tubular member; and  
 a sinusoidal signal that varies from a maximum value P max  to a minimum value P min  over time.  
   
   
   
       7 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a tubular member;    a pressure source operably coupled to the interior of the tubular member; and    a controller adapted to control the operation of the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the tubular member is located in a borehole traversing a subterranean formation.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the tubular member comprises a plastically deformed tubular member.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the pressure cycle signal comprises one or more of the following: 
 a predetermined spectral content;    a maximum and a minimum pressure; and    a predetermined number of cycles.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the pressure cycle signal comprises one or more of the following: 
 a spectral content selected to control the collapse strength of the expanded tubular member;    a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the collapse strength of the expanded tubular member;    a number of cycles selected to control the collapse strength of the expanded tubular member;    a spectral content selected to control the burst strength of the expanded tubular member;    a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the burst strength of the expanded tubular member;    a number of cycles selected to control the burst strength of the expanded tubular member;    a spectral content selected to control the yield strength of the expanded tubular member;    a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the yield strength of the expanded tubular member;    a number of cycles selected to control the yield strength of the expanded tubular member;    a spectral content selected to control the wall thickness of the expanded tubular member;    a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the wall thickness of the expanded tubular member;    a number of cycles selected to control the wall thickness of the expanded tubular member;    a sinusoidal signal that varies from a maximum value P max  to a minimum value P min  over time;    a square wave signal that varies from a maximum value P max  to a minimum value P min  over time; and    a triangular signal that varies from a maximum value P max  to a minimum value P min  over time.    
   
   
       12 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a tubular member adapted to be located in a borehole traversing a subterranean formation, the tubular member comprising a plastically deformed tubular member;    a pressure source operably coupled to the interior of the tubular member; and    a controller adapted to control the operation of the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal;    wherein the pressure cycle signal comprises: 
 a spectral content selected to control the collapse strength, burst strength, yield strength or wall thickness of the plastically deformed tubular member;  
 a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the collapse strength, burst strength, yield strength or wall thickness of the plastically deformed tubular member;  
 a number of cycles selected to control the collapse strength, burst strength, yield strength or wall thickness of the plastically deformed tubular member; and  
 a sinusoidal signal that varies from a maximum value P max  to a minimum value P min  over time.  
   
   
   
       13 . A method of determining optimum pressure cycle signal parameter at which to control the material properties of a tubular member, the parameters comprising spectral content, maximum magnitude of pressure and number of cycles, the material properties comprising collapse strength, burst strength, yield strength and wall thickness, the method comprising: 
 positioning a pressure source within a tubular member;    a) operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal having pressure cycle parameters comprising a first spectral content, a maximum magnitude of pressure, and a number of cycles;    b) determining the material properties of the tubular member in which the pressure source was operated to generate a pressure cycle signal having pressure cycle parameters comprising the first spectral content, the maximum magnitude of pressure, and the number of cycles;    c) incrementing one of the pressure cycle signal parameters and holding the other parameters constant and operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal comprising the incremented pressure cycle parameter;    d) determining the material properties of the tubular member in which the pressure source was operated to generate a pressure signal comprising the incremented pressure cycle parameter;    repeating the procedure a)-d) above until the last increment of the incremented pressure cycle parameter is reached;    comparing the material properties of the tubular member for each increment of the incremented pressure cycle parameter;    determining what is the optimum material property and what is the corresponding increment of the incremented pressure cycle parameter; and    operating the pressure source at the increment of the incremented pressure cycle parameter corresponding to the optimum material property.    
   
   
       14 . A method comprising: 
 providing a pressure source; and    determining one or more pressure cycle signal parameters at which to operate the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal within a tubular member to control at least one of the material properties of the tubular member;    wherein at least one of the one or more pressure cycle signal parameters is a function of the following factors: 
 ID pre =internal diameter of the unexpanded tubular member;  
 OD pre =outside diameter of the unexpanded tubular member;  
   ID post =internal diameter of the expanded tubular member; and    OD post =outside diameter of the expanded tubular member.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one of the one or more pressure cycle signal parameters comprises one or more of the following: 
 a spectral content of the pressure cycle signal;    a maximum magnitude of pressure of the pressure cycle signal; and    a number of cycles of the pressure cycle signal; and    wherein the at least one of the material properties of the tubular member    comprises one or more of the following:    the collapse strength of the tubular member;    the burst strength of the tubular member;    the yield strength of the tubular member; and    the wall thickness of the tubular member.    
   
   
       16 . A method of coupling a tubular member to an existing tubular member in a borehole located in a subterranean formation comprising: 
 installing a tubular liner and an expansion device in the borehole;    overlapping the tubular liner with an existing tubular member;    injecting fluidic material into the borehole;    pressurizing a portion of an interior region of the tubular liner;    radially expanding at least a portion of the liner in the borehole by extruding at least a portion of the liner off of the expansion device;    positioning a pressure source within the liner; and    operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal comprises one or more of the following: 
 operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal comprising a predetermined spectral content;    operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal that varies between a maximum and a minimum pressure; and    operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal comprising a predetermined number of cycles.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pressure source is operated to generate a pressure cycle signal comprising one or more of the following: 
 a spectral content selected to control the collapse strength of the expanded tubular member;    a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the collapse strength of the expanded tubular member;    a number of cycles selected to control the collapse strength of the expanded tubular member;    a spectral content selected to control the burst strength of the expanded tubular member;    a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the burst strength of the expanded tubular member;    a number of cycles selected to control the burst strength of the expanded tubular member;    a spectral content selected to control the yield strength of the expanded tubular member;    a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the yield strength of the expanded tubular member;    a number of cycles selected to control the yield strength of the expanded tubular member;    a spectral content selected to control the wall thickness of the expanded tubular member;    a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the wall thickness of the expanded tubular member;    a number of cycles selected to control the wall thickness of the expanded tubular member;    a sinusoidal signal that varies from a maximum value P max  to a minimum value P min  over time;    a square wave signal that varies from a maximum value P max  to a minimum value P min  over time; and    a triangular signal that varies from a maximum value P max  to a minimum value P min  over time.    
   
   
       19 . A method of coupling a tubular member to an existing tubular member in a borehole located in a subterranean formation, the method comprising: 
 installing a tubular liner and an expansion device in the borehole;    overlapping the tubular liner with an existing tubular member;    injecting fluidic material into the borehole;    pressurizing a portion of an interior region of the tubular liner;    radially expanding at least a portion of the liner in the borehole by extruding at least a portion of the liner off of the expansion device;    positioning a pressure source within the liner; and    operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal, the pressure cycle signal comprising: 
 a spectral content selected to control the collapse strength, burst strength, yield strength or wall thickness of the plastically deformed tubular member;  
 a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the collapse strength, burst strength, yield strength or wall thickness of the plastically deformed tubular member;  
 a number of cycles selected to control the collapse strength, burst strength, yield strength or wall thickness of the plastically deformed tubular member; and  
 a sinusoidal signal that varies from a maximum value P max  to a minimum value P min  over time.  
   
   
   
       20 . A system for coupling a tubular member to an existing tubular member in a borehole located in a subterranean formation, the system comprising: 
 means for installing a tubular liner and an expansion device in the borehole;    means for overlapping the tubular liner with an existing tubular member;    means for injecting fluidic material into the borehole;    means for pressurizing a portion of an interior region of the tubular liner;    means for radially expanding at least a portion of the liner in the borehole by extruding at least a portion of the liner off of the expansion device;    means for positioning a pressure source within the liner; and    means for operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein means for operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal comprises one or more of the following: 
 means for operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal comprising a predetermined spectral content;    means for operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal that varies between a maximum and a minimum pressure; and    means for operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal comprising a predetermined number of cycles.    
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the pressure cycle signal comprises one or more of the following: 
 a spectral content selected to control the collapse strength of the expanded tubular member;    a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the collapse strength of the expanded tubular member;    a number of cycles selected to control the collapse strength of the expanded tubular member;    a spectral content selected to control the burst strength of the expanded tubular member;    a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the burst strength of the expanded tubular member;    a number of cycles selected to control the burst strength of the expanded tubular member;    a spectral content selected to control the yield strength of the expanded tubular member;    a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the yield strength of the expanded tubular member;    a number of cycles selected to control the yield strength of the expanded tubular member;    a spectral content selected to control the wall thickness of the expanded tubular member;    a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the wall thickness of the expanded tubular member;    a number of cycles selected to control the wall thickness of the expanded tubular member;    a sinusoidal signal that varies from a maximum value P max  to a minimum value P min  over time;    a square wave signal that varies from a maximum value P max  to a minimum value P min  over time; and    a triangular signal that varies from a maximum value P max  to a minimum value P min  over time.    
   
   
       23 . A system for coupling a tubular member to an existing tubular member in a borehole located in a subterranean formation, the system comprising: 
 means for installing a tubular liner and an expansion device in the borehole;    means for overlapping the tubular liner with an existing tubular member;    means for injecting fluidic material into the borehole;    means for pressurizing a portion of an interior region of the tubular liner;    means for radially expanding at least a portion of the liner in the borehole by extruding at least a portion of the liner off of the expansion device;    means for positioning a pressure source within the liner; and    means for operating the pressure source to generate a pressure cycle signal, the pressure cycle signal comprising: 
 a spectral content selected to control the collapse strength, burst strength, yield strength or wall thickness of the plastically deformed tubular member;  
 a maximum magnitude of pressure selected to control the collapse strength, burst strength, yield strength or wall thickness of the plastically deformed tubular member;  
 a number of cycles selected to control the collapse strength, burst strength, yield strength or wall thickness of the plastically deformed tubular member; and  
 a sinusoidal signal that varies from a maximum value P max  to a minimum value P min  over time.