Patent ID: 8726985
Filing Date: 2014-05-20
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method of radially expanding a tubular element in a wellbore using an expander located in the tubular element, the expander comprising: an expansion member; an anchor which is moveable between a radially retracted position wherein the anchor is free from an inner surface of the tubular element and a radially expanded position wherein the anchor engages the inner surface; a suspension actuator which is connected to the expansion member and is operable to move the expansion member relative to the anchor; and a plurality of segments spaced in circumferential direction around the expansion member, the segments being movable between a radially refracted position and a radially expanded position by axial movement of the expansion member relative to the segments; the method including a plurality of successive expansion cycles, wherein each expansion cycle comprises the steps of: (a) moving the expander in axially forward direction through the tubular element whereby the segments are in the radially retracted position; (b) operating the anchoring device so as to anchor the expander to the tubular element, and lowering the expander with the tubular suspended therefrom into the wellbore; and (c) radially expanding the tubular element by moving the segments to the radially expanded position by axially moving the expansion member relative to the segments.