High performance expandable tubular system
A method and apparatus for tubular expansion are disclosed. In an embodiment, an apparatus for radially expanding a tubular comprises at least two expansion swages. At least one expansion swage is axially movable relative to other expansion swages. In addition, the apparatus includes sealing means capable of providing fluid tight pressure chambers between the expansion swages and an expanded portion of the tubular.
1. An apparatus for radially expanding a tubular comprising:
at least two expansion swages, wherein at least one expansion swage is axially movable relative to other expansion swages;
sealing means capable of providing fluid tight pressure chambers between the expansion swages and an expanded portion of the tubular; and
at least one hydraulic valve adapted to selectively control the flow of operating fluid to at least one of the pressure chambers between the expansion swages and fluid outflow from the chambers depending on the relative positions of the expansion swages.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a shaft having at least two longitudinal bores for flow of operating liquid to and from the pressure chambers.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least one expansion swage is axially movable along the shaft and another expansion swage is connected to the shaft.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sealing means comprise a pressure plug in the expanded portion of the tubular.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a shaft, wherein the hydraulic valve comprises:
a valve cylinder slidably positioned on the shaft;
a position control device capable of selectively and releasably securing end positions of the valve cylinder on the shaft; and
at least one spring capable of shifting the valve cylinder between the end positions.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least two expansion swages comprise a first expansion swage and a second expansion swage.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein a diameter of the first expansion swage is D 1 and a diameter of the second exnansion swage is D 2 , and wherein D 1 and D 2 are defined by
(
D
1
-
Do
)
(
(
D
1
)
2
-
(
Ds
)
2
)
=
(
D
2
-
D
1
)
(
D
2
)
2
where Do is an inside diameter of unexpanded tubular and Ds is a diameter of the shaft.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least two expansion swages are sequentially movable under a continuous supply of pressurized fluid through a pressure line.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one expansion swage axially movable relative to the other expansion swages comprises an elongated arm.
10. An apparatus for radially expanding a tubular comprising:
two expansion swages and a shaft, wherein one expansion swage is axially movable along the shaft relative to the other expansion swage and the other expansion swage is connected to the shaft; and
at least one actuator capable of providing a force for providing longitudinal movement of at least one of the expansion swages inside the tubular to plastically radially expand the tubular, wherein the at least one actuator comprises an actuator attached to the expansion swage axially movable along the shaft.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising at least one anchoring device for selective and releasable anchoring of selected parts of the apparatus to an inner surface of the tubular.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the diameter of one expansion swage is D 1 and a diameter of the other expansion swage is D 2 , and wherein D 1 and D 2 are defined by
D
1
=
Do
+
D
2
2
where Do is an inside diameter of the tubular before expansion.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , comprising two actuators, wherein each actuator is capable of providing a force for providing longitudinal movement of at least one of the expansion swages inside the tubular to plastically radially expand the tubular.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein one of the actuators comprises a two position hydraulic valve.
15. An apparatus for radially expanding a tubular comprising:
at least two expansion swages, wherein at least one expansion swage is axially movable relative to the other expansion swages; and
at least one actuator capable of providing a tbrce for providing longitudinal movement of at least one of the expansion swages inside the tubular to plastically radially expand the tubular, wherein the at least one actuator comprises:
one or more annular pistons attached to a shaft;
a cylinder slidingly arranged over the pistons; and
at least one pressure chamber per piston.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a shaft having at least two longitudinal bores for flow of operating liquid to and from the pressure chambers.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the at least one expansion swage is axially movable along the shaft, and wherein at least one expansion swage is connected to the shaft.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a sealing means.
19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the at least one expansion swage axially movable relative to the other expansion swages comprises an elongated arm.
20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the at least two expansion swages are sequentially movable under a continuous supply of pressurized fluid through a pressure line.