Patent ID: 9567837
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: E21B

Claim:
1. An apparatus for connecting tubular members in a wellbore, the apparatus comprising: a host tubular member for sealingly connecting with a second tubular member, the host tubular member comprising:— a tubular body having an expandable portion adapted to be placed within the second tubular member and being expandable radially outwardly against the second tubular member by imposing radial force within said expandable portion, until one or more sealed joints are formed between the expandable portion and the second tubular member, said one or more sealed joints forming a pressure seal and an axial connection between said host tubular member and said second tubular member; the expandable portion comprising one or more reinforcing annular members mounted around the outer circumference of at least a portion of the axial length of the expandable portion; said one or more reinforcing annular member providing resistance to radial load and defining on the expandable portion one or more annular regions having differing resistance to the radial load, whereby at least one region having lower resistance expands prior to another region having greater resistance when the expandable portion is subjected to radial outward expansion, said expandable portion expanding first elastically and then plastically against said second tubular member, and wherein said one or more reinforcing annular members are arranged in a predetermined sequence, with each subsequent reinforcing annular member having a progressively increased resistance so that the expandable portion starts expanding at a weakest region first and continues to expand sequentially towards a strongest region.