Tubular liner

Abstract

An apparatus and method according to which a tubular liner is positioned in a preexisting structure such as, for example, a wellbore, a wellbore casing, a pipeline or a structural support, and the tubular liner is anchored to the preexisting structure during radial expansion.

1 . A method comprising:
 positioning a radially expandable tubular liner in a preexisting structure, the tubular liner comprising a first portion defining a first outside diameter and a second portion defining a second outside diameter that is greater than the first outside diameter;   radially expanding the tubular liner; and   anchoring the expandable tubular member to the preexisting structure in response to radially expanding the tubular liner.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 sealing the interface between the tubular liner and the preexisting structure in response to radially expanding the tubular liner.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein anchoring the expandable tubular member to the preexisting structure in response to radially expanding the tubular liner comprises:
 penetratingly engaging the preexisting structure with the second portion of the tubular liner in response to radially expanding the tubular liner.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the preexisting structure comprises a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation, the wellbore comprising a wall; and
 wherein penetratingly engaging the preexisting structure with the second portion of the tubular liner in response to radially expanding the tubular liner comprises:
 penetratingly engaging the wall of the wellbore with the second portion of the tubular liner in response to radially expanding the tubular liner. 
   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein anchoring the expandable tubular member to the preexisting structure in response to radially expanding the tubular liner comprises:
 compressing the second portion between the preexisting structure and the tubular liner in response to radially expanding the tubular liner.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the preexisting structure comprises a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation, the wellbore comprising a wall; and
 wherein compressing the second portion between the preexisting structure and the tubular liner in response to radially expanding the tubular liner comprises:
 compressing the second portion between the wall of the wellbore and the tubular liner in response to radially expanding the tubular liner. 
   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein anchoring the expandable tubular member to the preexisting structure in response to radially expanding the tubular liner comprises:
 penetratingly engaging the preexisting structure with the second portion of the tubular liner in response to radially expanding the tubular liner; and   compressing the second portion between the preexisting structure and the tubular liner in response to radially expanding the tubular liner.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first and second portions of the tubular liner are integral. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first portion comprises an external annular recess. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the second portion comprises a machined pad. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first portion comprises an expandable tubular member and the second portion comprises at least one sleeve, the at least one sleeve coupled to the expandable tubular member so that the expandable tubular member extends through the at least one sleeve. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the at least one sleeve is composed of an elastomeric material. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the at least one sleeve is composed of one or more of the following:
 a metallic material;   a non-metallic material;   a composite material;   polyetheretherketone;   polytetrafluoroethylene; and   a material impregnated with one or more of the following:
 carbide, and 
 wire filament. 
   
   
   
       14 . An apparatus comprising:
 an expandable tubular liner adapted to be positioned in a preexisting structure and radially expanded to line at least a portion of the preexisting structure, the tubular liner comprising:   a first portion defining a first outside diameter; and   a second portion defining a second outside diameter that is greater than the first outside diameter;   wherein the second portion anchors the tubular liner to the preexisting structure in response to the radial expansion of the expandable tubular liner.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the first portion comprises at least one expandable tubular member and the second portion comprises at least one sleeve coupled to the expandable tubular member so that the expandable tubular member extends through the at least one sleeve. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the at least one sleeve is composed of an elastomeric material. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the at least one sleeve is composed of one or more of the following:
 a metallic material;   a non-metallic material;   a composite material;   polyetheretherketone;   polytetrafluoroethylene; and   a material impregnated with one or more of the following:
 carbide, and 
 wire filament. 
   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the first and second portions of the tubular liner are integral. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the first portion comprises an external annular recess. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the second portion comprises a machined pad. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the second portion is adapted to penetratingly engage the preexisting structure in response to the radial expansion of the tubular liner to thereby anchor the tubular liner to the preexisting structure. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the second portion is adapted to be compressed between the preexisting structure and the tubular liner in response to the radial expansion of the tubular liner to thereby anchor the tubular liner to the preexisting structure. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the second portion is adapted to penetratingly engage the preexisting structure in response to the radial expansion of the tubular liner; and
 wherein the second portion is adapted to be compressed between the preexisting structure and the tubular liner in response to the radial expansion of the tubular liner.   
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the second portion seals the interface between the tubular liner and the preexisting structure in response to the radial expansion of the expandable tubular liner. 
   
   
       25 . A method comprising:
 positioning a radially expandable tubular liner in a preexisting structure, the tubular liner comprising a first portion defining a first outside diameter and a second portion defining a second outside diameter that is greater than the first outside diameter;   radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular liner;   anchoring the expandable tubular member to the preexisting structure in response to radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular liner; and   sealing the interface between the tubular liner and the preexisting structure in response to radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular liner;   wherein anchoring the expandable tubular member to the preexisting structure in response to radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular liner comprises at least one of the following:   penetratingly engaging the preexisting structure with the second portion of the tubular liner in response to radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular liner;   compressing the second portion between the preexisting structure and the tubular liner in response to radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular liner; and   compressing the first portion around at least a portion of the second portion in response to radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular liner; and   wherein the preexisting structure comprises one or more of the following: a wellbore; a wellbore casing; a pipeline; and a structural support.