Patent EA-003385-B1 (EA)
Title: Apparatus for and method of anchoring a first conduit to second conduit
Inventor: OOSTERLING PETER
IPC: E21B43/10
Filed: 2000-09-06
Abstract: 1. Apparatus for anchoring a first conduit to a second conduit, the apparatus comprising an inflatable device for engaging with the first conduit, wherein the inflatable device is inflatable to facilitate anchoring of the first conduit to the second conduit. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first conduit is an expandable conduit. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first conduit comprises any type of expandable conduit that is capable of sustaining plastic and/or elastic deformation. 4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the first conduit comprises an expandable liner, casing or the like. 5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the second conduit comprises a liner, casing, borehole or the like. 6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the inflatable device comprises an inflatable balloon-type portion coupled to a ring. 7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the inflatable device includes an expander device. 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the expander device is telescopically coupled to the inflatable device, so that when the expander device is moved a certain distance, the inflatable device is deflated and subsequently moves with the expander device. 9. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the expander device is releasably attached to the inflatable device. 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the expander device is releasably attached to the inflatable device using a latch mechanism. 11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the inflatable device is located within the expandable conduit. 12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the inflatable device is coupled at or near an upper end of the expandable conduit, or at or near a lower end of the expandable conduit. 13. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the inflatable device is inflated to expand the expandable conduit whereby the expandable conduit contacts the second conduit, thereby providing an anchor. 14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the expandable conduit is provided with a slotted portion to facilitate expansion. 15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the inflatable device is inflated whereby a portion thereof directly contacts the second conduit to provide an anchor. 16. A method of anchoring a first conduit to a second conduit, the method comprising the steps of providing a first conduit, providing an inflatable device in contact with the first conduit, running the first conduit and inflatable device into the second conduit, and subsequently inflating the inflatable device to facilitate anchoring of the first conduit to the second conduit. 17. A method of anchoring an expandable conduit to a second conduit, the method comprising the steps of providing an expandable conduit, running the first conduit into the second conduit, passing an inflatable device into the conduit, and subsequently inflating the inflatable device to facilitate anchoring of the expandable conduit to the second conduit. 18. A method according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the method includes one, some or all of the additional steps of inserting an expander device into the expandable conduit, operating the expander device to expand the expandable conduit, deflating the inflatable device, and removing the expander device and/or the inflatable device from the expandable conduit and/or the second conduit. 19. A method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the method includes one, some or all of the additional steps of attaching an expander device to the inflatable device, operating the expander device to expand the expandable conduit, re-attaching the expander device to the inflatable device, deflating the inflatable device, and removing the expander device and/or the inflatable device from the expandable conduit and/or second conduit.