Apparatus for expanding a tubular member

Abstract

An apparatus for expanding a tubular member.

1 . An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member, comprising: 
 a support member comprising a fluid passage;    an expansion device for radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular member movably coupled to the support member for longitudinal displacement relative to the support member;    a plurality of pressure chambers defined by and positioned between the support member and the expansion device fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage; and    one or more releasable supports coupled to the support member adapted to support the tubular member positioned above the expansion device, the one or more releasable supports being operative to prevent upward movement of the tubular member during radial expansion thereof.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming an expandable tubular member, comprising: 
 an expansion device for radially expanding and plastically deforming the expandable tubular member in response to movement of the expansion device in a first axial direction relative to the expandable tubular member;    a multi-stage actuator coupled to the expansion device for displacing the expansion device in the first axial direction relative to the tubular member; and    a releasable support structure for preventing movement of the expandable tubular member in the first axial direction during radial expansion thereof,    wherein the releasable support structure engages a portion of the expandable tubular member above the expansion device.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a plurality of expandable pressure chambers.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the releasable support structure comprises one or more of the following: 
 hydraulic slips;    mechanical slips; or    drag blocks.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the releasable support structure engages a radially non-expanded portion of the tubular member.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the expansion device comprises: 
 an adjustable expansion device.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the expansion device comprises: 
 a non-adjustable expansion device.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the expansion device comprises a tapered outer expansion surface having an angle of attack ranging from about 5 to 30 degrees; wherein the tapered outer expansion surface of the expansion device comprises a D2 steel; and wherein the tapered outer expansion surface of the expansion device comprises a surface hardness ranging from about 58 to 62 Rockwell C.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member, comprising: 
 a support member comprising a fluid passage that defines a throat passage;    an adjustable expansion device for radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular member movably coupled to the support member for longitudinal displacement relative to the support member;    a plurality of pressure chambers defined by and positioned between the support member and expansion device fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage; and    releasable supports coupled to the support member adapted to support the tubular member;    wherein the releasable supports are positioned above the expansion device;    wherein the expansion device comprises: 
 annular pistons that mate with and receive the support member and are received by and mate with the tubular member;  
 a tubular extension coupled to the annular pistons; and  
 an annular tapered expansion cone coupled to an end of the tubular extension.  
   
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member, comprising: 
 a support member comprising a fluid passage that defines a throat passage;    a non-adjustable expansion device for radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular member movably coupled to the support member for longitudinal displacement relative to the support member;    a plurality of pressure chambers defined by and positioned between the support member and expansion device fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage; and    releasable supports coupled to the support member adapted to support the tubular member;    wherein the releasable supports are positioned above the expansion device;    wherein the expansion device comprises: 
 annular pistons that mate with and receive the support member and are received by and mate with the tubular member;  
 a tubular extension coupled to the annular pistons; and  
 an annular tapered expansion cone coupled to an end of the tubular extension.  
   
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member, comprising: 
 a support member comprising a fluid passage that defines a throat passage;    an expansion device for radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular member movably coupled to the support member for longitudinal displacement relative to the support member;    a plurality of pressure chambers defined by and positioned between the support member and expansion device fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage; and    releasable supports coupled to the support member adapted to support the tubular member;    wherein the releasable supports are positioned above the expansion device;    wherein the expansion device comprises: 
 annular pistons that mate with and receive the support member and are received by and mate with the tubular member;  
 a tubular extension coupled to the annular pistons; and  
 an annular tapered expansion cone coupled to an end of the tubular extension;  
   wherein the releasable supports comprise: 
 one or more hydraulic slips coupled to the support member and fluidicly coupled to the fluid passage of the support member for engaging a radially non-expanded portion of the tubular member;  
 one or more mechanical slips coupled to the support member adapted to controllably engage the radially non-expanded portion of the tubular member; and  
 one or more drag blocks coupled to the support member adapted to controllably engage the radially non-expanded portion of the tubular member;  
   wherein the expansion device comprises: 
 an adjustable expansion device;  
   wherein the expansion device comprises a tapered outer expansion surface having an angle of attack ranging from about 5 to 30 degrees; wherein the tapered outer expansion surface of the expansion device comprises a D2 steel; and wherein the tapered outer expansion surface of the expansion device comprises a surface hardness ranging from about 58 to 62 Rockwell C.    
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member, comprising: 
 a support member comprising a fluid passage that defines a throat passage;    an expansion device for radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular member movably coupled to the support member for longitudinal displacement relative to the support member;    a plurality of pressure chambers defined by and positioned between the support member and expansion device fluidicly coupled to the first fluid passage; and    releasable supports coupled to the support member adapted to support the tubular member;    wherein the releasable supports are positioned above the expansion device;    wherein the expansion device comprises: 
 annular pistons that mate with and receive the support member and are received by and mate with the tubular member;  
 a tubular extension coupled to the annular pistons; and  
 an annular tapered expansion cone coupled to an end of the tubular extension;  
   wherein the releasable supports comprise: 
 one or more hydraulic slips coupled to the support member and fluidicly coupled to the fluid passage of the support member for engaging a radially non-expanded portion of the tubular member;  
 one or more mechanical slips coupled to the support member adapted to controllably engage the radially non-expanded portion of the tubular member; and  
 one or more drag blocks coupled to the support member adapted to controllably engage the radially non-expanded portion of the tubular member;  
   wherein the expansion device comprises: 
 a non-adjustable expansion device;  
 wherein the expansion device comprises a tapered outer expansion surface having an angle of attack ranging from about 5 to 30 degrees; wherein the tapered outer expansion surface of the expansion device comprises a D2 steel; and wherein the tapered outer expansion surface of the expansion device comprises a surface hardness ranging from about 58 to 62 Rockwell C.  
   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the expandable tubular member comprises a pipeline member.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the expandable tubular member comprises a pipeline member.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the expandable tubular member comprises a pipeline member.