Method of connecting expandable tubulars

• Main Author: HASHEM GHAZI J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.11.2009
• Subjects: BLASTING; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; CHEMISTRY; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATIONOR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY IONIMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION INGENERAL; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; LIGHTING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVINGMATERIAL; METALLURGY; MINING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PIPES; PUNCHING METAL; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THESURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS; WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS ORPROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL

A method and apparatus for providing an expandable threaded connection between segments of expandable tubulars. Threaded connections are machined into pre-expanded ends of tubulars. Once the threaded connections are machined into the pre-expanded ends, two joints of tubulars are connected using the threads, thus creating a pre-expanded threaded connection. After a tubular string is made up and lowered into a wellbore, the entire length of the string is expanded using known methods for expanding tubulars. During the downhole expansion operation, the pre-expanded threaded connections experience minimal expansion. The minimal downhole expansion of the pre-expanded threaded connections allows the threaded connections to maintain their sealing ability and coupling strength.