Patent ID: 7559365
Filing Date: 2009-07-14
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming an expandable tubular member, comprising: an upper tubular support member defining a first passage; one or more cup seals coupled to the exterior surface of the upper tubular support member for sealing an interface between the upper tubular support member and the expandable tubular member; an upper cam assembly coupled to the upper tubular support member comprising: a tubular base coupled to the upper tubular support member; and a plurality of cam arms extending from the tubular base in a downward longitudinal direction, each cam arm defining an inclined surface; a plurality of upper expansion cone segments interleaved with the cam arms of the upper cam assembly and pivotally coupled to the tubular support member; a lower tubular support member defining a second passage fluidicly coupled to the first passage releasably coupled to the upper tubular support member; a lower cam assembly coupled to the lower tubular support member comprising: a tubular base coupled to the lower tubular support member; and a plurality of cam arms extending from the tubular base in an upward longitudinal direction, each cam arm defining an inclined surface that mates with the inclined surface of a corresponding one of the upper expansion cone segments; wherein the cams arms of the upper cam assembly are interleaved with and overlap the cam arms of the lower cam assembly; and a plurality of lower expansion cone segments interleaved with cam arms of the lower cam assembly, each lower expansion cone segment pivotally coupled to the lower tubular support member and mating with the inclined surface of a corresponding one of the cam arms of the upper cam assembly; wherein the lower expansion cone segments interleave and overlap the upper expansion cone segments; and wherein the upper and lower expansion cone segments together define an arcuate spherical external surface for plastically deforming and radially expanding the expandable tubular member.