CA2268155C - Connector for an expandable tubing string - Google Patents
Connector for an expandable tubing string Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2268155C CA2268155C CA002268155A CA2268155A CA2268155C CA 2268155 C CA2268155 C CA 2268155C CA 002268155 A CA002268155 A CA 002268155A CA 2268155 A CA2268155 A CA 2268155A CA 2268155 C CA2268155 C CA 2268155C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sleeve
- connector
- sections
- adjacent
- tubing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229910003460 diamond Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010432 diamond Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000013536 elastomeric material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
- E21B43/10—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells
- E21B43/103—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like
- E21B43/106—Couplings or joints therefor
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
- E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
- E21B17/08—Casing joints
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
- E21B43/08—Screens or liners
- E21B43/086—Screens with preformed openings, e.g. slotted liners
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
- E21B43/10—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells
- E21B43/103—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/02—Subsoil filtering
- E21B43/10—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells
- E21B43/103—Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like
- E21B43/108—Expandable screens or perforated liners
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L13/00—Non-disconnectable pipe joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive, or caulked joints
- F16L13/14—Non-disconnectable pipe joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive, or caulked joints made by plastically deforming the material of the pipe, e.g. by flanging, rolling
- F16L13/16—Non-disconnectable pipe joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive, or caulked joints made by plastically deforming the material of the pipe, e.g. by flanging, rolling the pipe joint consisting of overlapping extremities having mutually co-operating collars
- F16L13/168—Non-disconnectable pipe joints, e.g. soldered, adhesive, or caulked joints made by plastically deforming the material of the pipe, e.g. by flanging, rolling the pipe joint consisting of overlapping extremities having mutually co-operating collars for screw threaded pipes
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Mutual Connection Of Rods And Tubes (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
Abstract
A connector for interconnecting a pair of adjacent sections (8 and 9) of an expandable tubing string comprises a plastically expandable sleeve (6) that is arranged co-axially around or inside the ends (7) of the interconnected tubing sections (8 and 9) and a series of circumferentially spaced mechanical fasteners (5), such as screws or rivets, for fastening the sleeve to each of said ends (7).
Description
CONNECTOR FOR AN EXPANDABLE TUBING STRING
The invention relates to a connector for use in connecting sections of an expandable tubing string, and in particular but not exclusively for use in the connection of sections of an expandable slotted tubing (EST) string as utilized in downhole applications in oil and gas production operations.
Expandable slotted tubings are known from published International patent application No. WO 93/25800. This prior art reference discloses a slotted tube which may be expanded downhole by running an expansion mandrel through the tubing whereby the slots are expanded to diamond-shaped apertures.
When a tubing is expanded it is desirable that this can be accomplished by a substantially uniform expansion force, also at the locations where adjacent tubing sections are interconnected.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector for an expandable tubing that can be expanded smoothly and made up easily without requiring welding operations.
US patent 2,871,034 discloses a connector formed of a resilient elastomeric material which is in use pressed against the ends of a pair of tubes that are made of a substantially rigid unyielding material. Another deformable connector is known from German Gebrauchsmuster DE 29518333.
This connector comprises an external sleeve which is pressed into the tubing ends connected thereby.
According to the invention there is provided a connector for interconnecting adjacent sections of a tubing string, the connector comprising an expandable sleeve that is in use arranged co-axially relative to an end of each of the adjacent tubing sections, and means for fastening the sleeve to said ends, wherein the sleeve is designed for interconnecting sections of an expandable slotted tubing string and is provided with a series of staggered substantially longitudinal slots which are deformable into diamond-shaped apertures upon expansion of the sleeve.
Preferably the outer surface of an end of each of the adjacent tubing sections has been machined away to form an annular recess in which the sleeve is located.
Alternatively the inner surface of an end of each of the adjacent tubing sections has been machined away to form an annular recess in which the sleeve is located.
It is preferred that the thickness of the sleeve is substantially equal to the depth of the annular recess so that a flush-type connection is created.
It is furthermore preferred that the fastening means comprise a series of circumferentially spaced screws that pass through holes that are drilled through the sleeve and the adjacent wall of ends of the adjacent tubing sections. If desired the screws may be replaced by rivets or other mechanical fasteners.
The connector according to the invention is particularly attractive for interconnecting sections of an expandable string of oil and/or gas well tubulars that may be slotted.
Further aspects, details, objects and advantages of the connector according to the invention will become apparent from the accompanying claims, abstract, drawings and detailed description with reference to the drawings.
- 2a -The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a plastically expandable connector according to the invention which surrounds ends of adjacent expandable slotted tubing sections;
The invention relates to a connector for use in connecting sections of an expandable tubing string, and in particular but not exclusively for use in the connection of sections of an expandable slotted tubing (EST) string as utilized in downhole applications in oil and gas production operations.
Expandable slotted tubings are known from published International patent application No. WO 93/25800. This prior art reference discloses a slotted tube which may be expanded downhole by running an expansion mandrel through the tubing whereby the slots are expanded to diamond-shaped apertures.
When a tubing is expanded it is desirable that this can be accomplished by a substantially uniform expansion force, also at the locations where adjacent tubing sections are interconnected.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector for an expandable tubing that can be expanded smoothly and made up easily without requiring welding operations.
US patent 2,871,034 discloses a connector formed of a resilient elastomeric material which is in use pressed against the ends of a pair of tubes that are made of a substantially rigid unyielding material. Another deformable connector is known from German Gebrauchsmuster DE 29518333.
This connector comprises an external sleeve which is pressed into the tubing ends connected thereby.
According to the invention there is provided a connector for interconnecting adjacent sections of a tubing string, the connector comprising an expandable sleeve that is in use arranged co-axially relative to an end of each of the adjacent tubing sections, and means for fastening the sleeve to said ends, wherein the sleeve is designed for interconnecting sections of an expandable slotted tubing string and is provided with a series of staggered substantially longitudinal slots which are deformable into diamond-shaped apertures upon expansion of the sleeve.
Preferably the outer surface of an end of each of the adjacent tubing sections has been machined away to form an annular recess in which the sleeve is located.
Alternatively the inner surface of an end of each of the adjacent tubing sections has been machined away to form an annular recess in which the sleeve is located.
It is preferred that the thickness of the sleeve is substantially equal to the depth of the annular recess so that a flush-type connection is created.
It is furthermore preferred that the fastening means comprise a series of circumferentially spaced screws that pass through holes that are drilled through the sleeve and the adjacent wall of ends of the adjacent tubing sections. If desired the screws may be replaced by rivets or other mechanical fasteners.
The connector according to the invention is particularly attractive for interconnecting sections of an expandable string of oil and/or gas well tubulars that may be slotted.
Further aspects, details, objects and advantages of the connector according to the invention will become apparent from the accompanying claims, abstract, drawings and detailed description with reference to the drawings.
- 2a -The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a plastically expandable connector according to the invention which surrounds ends of adjacent expandable slotted tubing sections;
Fig. 2 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a flush-type connector according to the invention which surrounds ends of adjacent expandable tubing sections; and Fig. 3 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a flush-type connector according to the invention which is surrounded by ends of adjacent expandable tubing sections.
Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a connector comprising a plastically deformable slotted sleeve 1 that co-axially surrounds ends of a pair of adjacent slotted tubing sections 2 and 3. The sleeve 1 and tubing sections are each provided with a series of staggered and partially overlapping slots 9 that deform to substantially diamond shaped apertures (not shown) upon expansion of the assembly by e.g. running an expansion mandrel (not shown) through the interior of the tubing sections 2 and 3.
One or more series of circumferentially spaced Allen-type or other locking screws 5 fasten the sleeve 1 to each of the tubing sections 2 and 3 such that the inner surface of the sleeve 1 engages the outer surface of the end of each tubing section 2 and 3 both before, during and after the expansion process. The screws 5 are located in nodes between slots 4.
Referring now to Fig. 2 there is shown a flush-type t connector comprising a plastically deformable solid or slotted sleeve 6 that surrounds ends 7 of adjacent solid or slotted tubing sections 8 and 9, which ends 7 have been machined away to form an annular recess 10 in which the sleeve 6 is located. The thickness of the sleeve 6 substantially equals the depth of the recess 10 to form a flush-type connector.
_q_ The connector furthermore comprises a series of circumferentially spaced Allen-type or other locking screws 11 to fasten the sleeve 6 to each of the tubing sections 8 and 9 such that the inner surface of the sleeve 6 engages the outer surface of the ends 7 of the adjacent tubing sections 8 and 9 both before, during and after the expansion process.
Referring now to Figure 3 there is shown a flush-type connector comprising a plastically deformable solid or slotted sleeve 16 that is surrounded by ends 17 of adjacent solid or slotted tubing sections 18 and 19, respectively, which ends 17 have been machined away to form an annular recess 20 in which the sleeve 16 is located. The thickness of the sleeve substantially equals the depth of the recess 20 to form a flush-type connector that smoothly deforms plasti-cally together with the ends of the tubing sections 18 and 19 during the expansion process.
The connector of Fig. 3 furthermore comprises a series of circumferentially spaced Allen-type locking screws 21 to fasten the sleeve 16 to each of the tubing sections 18 and 19 such that the outer surface of the sleeve 16 firmly engages the inner surface of the ends 17 of the adjacent tubing sections 8 and 9 both before, during and after the expansion process.
Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a connector comprising a plastically deformable slotted sleeve 1 that co-axially surrounds ends of a pair of adjacent slotted tubing sections 2 and 3. The sleeve 1 and tubing sections are each provided with a series of staggered and partially overlapping slots 9 that deform to substantially diamond shaped apertures (not shown) upon expansion of the assembly by e.g. running an expansion mandrel (not shown) through the interior of the tubing sections 2 and 3.
One or more series of circumferentially spaced Allen-type or other locking screws 5 fasten the sleeve 1 to each of the tubing sections 2 and 3 such that the inner surface of the sleeve 1 engages the outer surface of the end of each tubing section 2 and 3 both before, during and after the expansion process. The screws 5 are located in nodes between slots 4.
Referring now to Fig. 2 there is shown a flush-type t connector comprising a plastically deformable solid or slotted sleeve 6 that surrounds ends 7 of adjacent solid or slotted tubing sections 8 and 9, which ends 7 have been machined away to form an annular recess 10 in which the sleeve 6 is located. The thickness of the sleeve 6 substantially equals the depth of the recess 10 to form a flush-type connector.
_q_ The connector furthermore comprises a series of circumferentially spaced Allen-type or other locking screws 11 to fasten the sleeve 6 to each of the tubing sections 8 and 9 such that the inner surface of the sleeve 6 engages the outer surface of the ends 7 of the adjacent tubing sections 8 and 9 both before, during and after the expansion process.
Referring now to Figure 3 there is shown a flush-type connector comprising a plastically deformable solid or slotted sleeve 16 that is surrounded by ends 17 of adjacent solid or slotted tubing sections 18 and 19, respectively, which ends 17 have been machined away to form an annular recess 20 in which the sleeve 16 is located. The thickness of the sleeve substantially equals the depth of the recess 20 to form a flush-type connector that smoothly deforms plasti-cally together with the ends of the tubing sections 18 and 19 during the expansion process.
The connector of Fig. 3 furthermore comprises a series of circumferentially spaced Allen-type locking screws 21 to fasten the sleeve 16 to each of the tubing sections 18 and 19 such that the outer surface of the sleeve 16 firmly engages the inner surface of the ends 17 of the adjacent tubing sections 8 and 9 both before, during and after the expansion process.
Claims (6)
1. A connector for interconnecting adjacent sections of a tubing string, the connector comprising an expandable sleeve (1,6,16) that is in use arranged co-axially relative to an end of each of the adjacent tubing sections (2,3,8,9,18,19), and means (5,11,21) for fastening the sleeve (1,6,16) to said ends, wherein the sleeve (1,6,16) is designed for interconnecting sections (2,3,8,9,18,19) of an expandable slotted tubing string and is provided with a series of staggered substantially longitudinal slots (4) which are deformable into diamond-shaped apertures upon expansion of the sleeve (1,6,16).
2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the sleeve (1,6,16) is designed for interconnecting sections (2,3,8,9,18,19) of an expandable string of oil and/or gas well tubulars.
3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of an end of each of the adjacent tubing sections (8,9) has been machined away to form an annular recess (10) in which the sleeve (6) is located.
4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of an end of each of the adjacent tubing sections (18,19) has been machined away to form an annular recess (20) in which the sleeve (16) is located.
5. The connector of claim 3 or 4, wherein the thickness of the sleeve (6,16) is substantially equal to the depth of the annular recess (10,20).
6. The connector of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fastening means (5,11,21) comprise a series of circumferentially spaced screws that pass through holes that are drilled through the sleeve (1,6,16) and the adjacent wall of ends of the adjacent tubing sections (2, 3, 8, 9, 18, 19).
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP96203272 | 1996-11-22 | ||
| EP96203272.8 | 1996-11-22 | ||
| PCT/EP1997/006671 WO1998022690A1 (en) | 1996-11-22 | 1997-11-21 | Connector for an expandable tubing string |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2268155A1 CA2268155A1 (en) | 1998-05-28 |
| CA2268155C true CA2268155C (en) | 2006-04-18 |
Family
ID=8224611
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002268155A Expired - Lifetime CA2268155C (en) | 1996-11-22 | 1997-11-21 | Connector for an expandable tubing string |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2268155C (en) |
| EA (1) | EA000689B1 (en) |
| ID (1) | ID22040A (en) |
| MY (1) | MY123838A (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ334751A (en) |
| OA (1) | OA11119A (en) |
| UA (1) | UA72434C2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2565947B (en) * | 2016-07-14 | 2021-07-28 | Halliburton Energy Services Inc | Alignment sub with deformable sleeve |
-
1997
- 1997-11-20 MY MYPI9705591 patent/MY123838A/en unknown
- 1997-11-21 EA EA199900488A patent/EA000689B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1997-11-21 ID IDW990384A patent/ID22040A/en unknown
- 1997-11-21 UA UA99063465A patent/UA72434C2/en unknown
- 1997-11-21 NZ NZ33475197A patent/NZ334751A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1997-11-21 CA CA002268155A patent/CA2268155C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1999
- 1999-05-19 OA OA9900101A patent/OA11119A/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2268155A1 (en) | 1998-05-28 |
| EA199900488A1 (en) | 1999-12-29 |
| NZ334751A (en) | 2000-11-24 |
| EA000689B1 (en) | 2000-02-28 |
| MY123838A (en) | 2006-06-30 |
| OA11119A (en) | 2003-04-04 |
| UA72434C2 (en) | 2005-03-15 |
| ID22040A (en) | 1999-08-26 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20171121 |