Source: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/56273091/Liner-Hanger-With-Slip-Joint-Sealing-Members-And-Method-Of-Use---Patent-7258168
Timestamp: 2014-08-02 09:07:07
Document Index: 411552318

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 000485', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No.\n60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No.\n60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No.\n60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No.\n60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60']

Liner Hanger With Slip Joint Sealing Members And Method Of Use - Patent 7258168
United States Patent: 7258168
7,258,168
An apparatus (200) and method for repairing an opening (130) in a wellbore
casing (110). The apparatus (200) and method couple a floating tubular
(250) member in opposing relation to the opening (130) in the wellbore
casing (110).
Cook; Robert Lance (Katy, TX), Ring; Lev (Houston, TX)
10/311,412
PCT/US01/41446
166/277  ; 166/207; 166/212; 166/384
E21B 43/10&amp;nbsp(20060101); E21B 29/10&amp;nbsp(20060101)
166/206,277,297,384,55,207,214,212,387,382,55.1,118,191,208,242.8,70
Solaeche P. et al.
Thurder et al.
Rhein Knudson et al.
Price-Smith et al.
Frost, Jr. et al.
2005/0056434
2005/0175473
WO90/05598
WO92/01859
WO92/08875
WO93/25800
WO94/21887
WO95/03476
WO96/01937
WO96/21083
WO96/26350
WO97/06346
WO97/11306
WO97/17524
WO97/20130
WO98/00626
WO98/07957
WO98/09053
WO98/22690
WO98/49423
WO99/02818
WO99/04135
WO99/06670
WO99/08827
WO99/08828
WO99/18328
WO99/25524
WO99/25951
WO99/35368
WO99/43923
WO00/01926
WO00/04271
WO00/08301
WO00/26500
WO00/26501
WO00/26502
WO00/31375
WO00/37766
WO00/37767
WO00/37771
WO00/37772
WO00/39432
WO00/46484
WO00/50727
WO00/50732
WO00/50733
WO00/77431
WO02/10550
Truncated Foreign Reference Patent Number -- See image for remainder --
., Trun
Truncated Foreign Reference Country -- See image for remainder --
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1.  A method of repairing a damaged section of a wellbore casing, comprising: removing at least a portion of the damaged section of the wellbore casing to create an opening in
the wellbore casing;  covering at least a portion of the opening in the wellbore casing with a tubular member;  and coupling the tubular member to the wellbore casing with a slip joint.
2.  The method of claim 1, wherein covering at least a portion of the opening in the wellbore casing with a tubular member comprises: radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular member into contact with the wellbore casing.
3.  The method of claim 2, wherein the radially expanded tubular member contacts the wellbore casing above and below the opening.
4.  The method of claim 2, wherein the radially expanded tubular member only contacts the wellbore casing above the opening.
5.  The method of claim 2, wherein the radially expanded tubular member only contacts the wellbore casing below the opening.
6.  An apparatus for repairing an opening in a wellbore casing, comprising: a tubular support member comprising a first passage;  an expansion cone coupled to the tubular support member comprising a second passage fluidicly coupled to the first
passage;  an expansion cone launcher coupled to the expansion cone comprising a shoe having an exhaust passage;  and an expandable tubular member coupled to the expansion cone launcher comprising one or more sealing members having slip joints.
7.  A system for repairing a damaged section of a wellbore casing, comprising: means for removing at least a portion of the damaged section of the wellbore casing to create an opening in the wellbore casing;  means for covering at least a
portion of the opening in the wellbore casing with a tubular member;  and means for coupling the floating tubular member to the wellbore casing with a slip joint.
8.  The system of claim 7, wherein the means for covering at least a portion of the opening in the wellbore casing with a tubular member comprises: means for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular member into contact with the
wellbore casing.
9.  The system of claim 8, wherein the means for radially expanding at least a portion of the tubular member comprises: means for radially expanding the tubular member into contact with the wellbore casing above and below the opening.
10.  The system of claim 8, wherein the radially expanded tubular member only contacts the wellbore casing above the opening.
11.  The system of claim 8, wherein the radially expanded tubular member only contacts the wellbore casing below the opening.
12.  A system for repairing a damaged section of a wellbore casing, comprising: means for removing at least a portion of the damaged section of the wellbore casing to create an opening in the wellbore casing;  means for covering at least a
portion of the opening in the wellbore casing with a floating tubular member;  and means for coupling the tubular member to the wellbore casing with a slip joint.
13.  An apparatus for repairing a damaged tubular member, comprising: a tubular support member comprising a first passage;  a first expansion member coupled to the tubular support member comprising a second passage fluidicly coupled to the first
passage;  a second expansion member coupled to the first expansion member comprising a shoe having an exhaust passage;  and an expandable tubular member coupled to the second expansion member comprising at least one slip joint.
14.  The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the damaged tubular member comprises one selected from the group consisting of a damaged wellbore casing, a damaged pipeline member, and a damaged structural support.
15.  A system for repairing a damaged section of a damaged tubular member, comprising: means for removing at least a portion of the damaged section to create an opening in the damaged tubular member;  and means for covering at least a portion of
the opening with a tubular member;  and means for coupling the tubular member to the damaged tubular member with a slip joint.
16.  The system of claim 15, wherein the damaged tubular member comprises one selected from the group consisting of a damaged wellbore casing, a damaged pipeline member, and a damaged structural support.
17.  A method of repairing a damaged section of a damaged tubular member, comprising: removing at least a portion of the damaged section to create an opening in the damaged tubular member;  covering at least a portion of the opening with a
floating tubular member;  and coupling the floating tubular member and the damaged tubular member with a slip joint.
18.  The method of claim 17 wherein covering at least a portion of the opening comprises radially expanding at least a portion of the floating tubular member into contact with the damaged tubular member.
19.  The method of claim 18 wherein the radially expanded portion of the floating tubular member contacts the damaged tubular member on at least one of opposing sides of the opening.
20.  The method of claim 18 wherein the radially expanded portion of the floating tubular member contacts the damaged tubular member on each of opposing sides of the opening.
21.  A system for repairing a damaged section of a damaged tubular member, comprising: means for removing at least a portion of the damaged section to create an opening in the damaged tubular member;  means for covering at least a portion of the
opening with a floating tubular member;  and means for coupling the floating tubular member and the damaged tubular member with a slip joint.
22.  The system of claim 21 wherein the covering means comprises means for radially expanding at least a portion of the floating tubular member into contact with the damaged tubular member.
23.  The system of claim 22 wherein the radially expanding means comprises means for radially expanding the floating tubular member into contact with the damaged tubular member on at least one of opposing sides of the opening.
24.  The system of claim 22 wherein the radially expanding means comprises means for radially expanding the floating tubular member into contact with the damaged tubular member on each of opposing sides of the opening.
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on Nov.  15, 1999, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/108,558, filed on Nov.  16, 1998, (5) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/169,434, filed on Jul.  1, 2002, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/183,546,
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US02/20256, filed on Jun.  26, 2002, which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/303,740, filed on Jul.  6, 2001, (39) U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,892,819, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/962,469, filed on
Sep. 25, 2001, which is a divisional of U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/523,468, filed on Mar.  10, 2000, (now U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,640,903 which issued Nov.  4, 2003), which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/124,042, filed on Mar.
11, 1999, (40) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/962,470, filed on Aug.  25, 2001, which is a divisional of U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/523,468, filed on Mar.  10, 2000, (now U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,640,903 which issued Nov.  4, 2003), which
claims priority from provisional application No. 60/124,042, filed on Mar.  11, 1999, (41) U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,739,392, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/962,471, filed on Sep. 25, 2001, which is a divisional of U.S.  patent
application Ser.  No. 09/523,468, filed on Mar.  10, 2000, (now U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,640,903 which issued Nov.  4, 2003), which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/124,042, filed on Mar.  11, 1999, (42) U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,725,919, which was
filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/962,467, filed on Sep. 25, 2001, which is a divisional of U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/523,468, filed on Mar.  10, 2000, (now U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,640,903 which issued Nov.  4, 2003), which claims
priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on Mar.  11, 1999, (43) U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,758,278, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/962,468, filed on Sep. 25, 2001, which is a divisional of U.S.  patent application Ser.
No. 09/523,468, filed on Mar.  10, 2000, (now U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,640,903 which issued Nov.  4, 2003), which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/124,042, filed on Mar.  11, 1999, (44) PCT application US02/25727, filed on Aug.  14, 2002,
which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/317,985, filed on Sep. 6, 2001, and U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/318,386, filed on Sep. 10, 2001, (45) PCT application US02/39425, filed on Dec.
10, 2002, which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/343,674, filed on Dec.  27, 2001, (46) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 09/969,922, filed on Oct.  3, 2001, (now U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,634,431 which
issued Oct.  21, 2003), which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,328,113, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/440,338, filed on Nov.  15, 1999, which claims priority from provisional application No.
60/108,558, filed on Nov.  16, 1998, (47) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/516,467, filed on Dec.  10, 2001, which is a continuation application of U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 09/969,922, filed on Oct.  3, 2001, (now U.S.
Pat.  No. 6,634,431 which issued Oct.  21, 2003), which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,328,113, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/440,338, filed on Nov.  15, 1999, which claims priority from provisional
application No. 60/108,558, filed on Nov.  16, 1998, (48) PCT application US03/00609, filed on Jan.  9, 2003, which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/357,372, filed on Feb.  15, 2002, (49) U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,705,395,
which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/074,703, filed on Feb.  12, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,568,471, which was filed as patent application Ser.  No. 09/512,895, filed on Feb.  24, 2000, which claims priority from
provisional application No. 60/121,841, filed on Feb.  26, 1999, (50) U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,631,759, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/074,244, filed on Feb.  12, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,568,471, which was
filed as patent application Ser.  No. 09/512,895, filed on Feb.  24, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/121,841, filed on Feb.  26, 1999, (51) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/076,660, filed on Feb.  15, 2002, which is a
divisional of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,568,471, which was filed as patent application Ser.  No. 09/512,895, filed on Feb.  24, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/121,841, filed on Feb.  26, 1999, (52) U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,631,769,
which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/076,661, filed on Feb.  15, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,568,471, which was filed as patent application Ser.  No. 09/512,895, filed on Feb.  24, 2000, which claims priority from
provisional application No. 60/121,841, filed on Feb.  26, 1999, (53) U.S.  Pat.  No. 7,063,142, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/076,659, filed on Feb.  15, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,568,471, which was
filed as patent application Ser.  No. 09/512,895, filed on Feb.  24, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/121,841, filed on Feb.  26, 1999, (54) U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,684,947, which as filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No.
10/078,928, filed on Feb.  20, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,568,471, which was filed as patent application Ser.  No. 09/512,895, filed on Feb.  24, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/121,841, filed on Feb. 26, 1999, (55) U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,966,370, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/078,922, filed on Feb.  20, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,568,471, which was filed as patent application Ser.  No. 09/512,895, filed on
Feb.  24, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/121,841, filed on Feb.  26, 1999, (56) U.S.  Pat.  No. 7,044,221, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/078,921, filed on Feb.  20, 2002, which is a divisional
of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,568,471, which was filed as patent application Ser.  No. 09/512,895, filed on Feb.  24, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/121,841, filed on Feb.  26, 1999, (57) U.S.  Pat.  No. 7,011,161, which was filed
as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/261,928, filed on Oct.  1, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application Ser.  No. 09/588,946, filed on Jun.  7, 2000, which claims priority from provisional
application No. 60/137,998, filed on Jun.  7, 1999, (58) U.S.  Pat.  No. 7,040,396, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/079,276, filed on Feb.  20, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,568,471, which was filed as patent
application Ser.  No. 09/512,895, filed on Feb.  24, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/121,841, filed on Feb.  26, 1999, (59) U.S.  Pat.  No. 7,048,062, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/262,009, filed
on Oct.  1, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application Ser.  No. 09/588,946, filed on Jun.  7, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/137,998, filed on Jun.  7, 1999, (60) U.S. Pat.  No. 6,857,473, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/092,481, filed on Mar.  7, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,568,471, which was filed as patent application Ser.  No. 09/512,895, filed on Feb.  24, 2000, which
claims priority from provisional application No. 60/121,841, filed on Feb.  26, 1999, (61) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/261,926, filed on Oct.  1, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application
Ser.  No. 09/588,946, filed on Jun.  7, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/137,998, filed on Jun.  7, 1999, (62) PCT application US02/36157, filed on Nov.  12, 2002, which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent
application Ser.  No. 60/338,996, filed on Nov.  12, 2001, (63) PCT application US02/36267, filed on Nov.  12, 2002, which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/339,013, filed on Nov.  12, 2001, (64) PCT application
US03/11765, filed on Apr.  16, 2003, which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/383,917, filed on May 29, 2002, (65) PCT application US03/15020, filed on May 12, 2003, which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent
application Ser.  No. 60/391,703, filed on Jun.  26, 2002, (66) PCT application US02/39418, filed on Dec.  10, 2002, which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/346,309, filed on Jan.  7, 2002, (67) PCT application
US03/06544, filed on Mar.  4, 2003, which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/372,048, filed on Apr.  12, 2002, (68) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/331,718, filed on Dec.  30, 2002, which is a divisional U.S.
patent application Ser.  No. 09/679,906, filed on Oct.  5, 2000, which claims priority from provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/159,033, filed on Oct.  12, 1999, (69) PCT application US03/04837, filed on Feb.  29, 2003, which claims priority from
U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/363,829, filed on Mar.  13, 2002, (70) U.S.  Pat.  No. 7,077,213, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/261,927, filed on Oct.  1, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S.  Pat.  No.
6,557,640, which was filed as patent application Ser.  No. 09/588,946, filed on Jun.  7, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/137,998, filed on Jun.  7, 1999 (71) U.S.  Pat.  No. 7,036,582, which was filed as U.S.  patent
application Ser.  No. 10/262,008, filed on Oct.  1, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application Ser.  No. 09/588,946, filed on Jun.  7, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No.
60/137,998, filed on Jun.  7, 1999, (72) U.S.  Pat.  No. 7,044,218, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/261,925, filed on Oct.  1, 2002, which is a divisional of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application Ser.
No. 09/588,946, filed on Jun.  7, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/137,998, filed on Jun.  7, 1999, (73) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/199,524, filed on Jul.  19, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S.  Pat.  No.
6,497,289, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/454,139, filed on Dec.  3, 1999, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/111,293, filed on Dec.  7, 1998, (74) PCT application US03/10144, filed on Mar.  28, 2003,
which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/372,632, filed on Apr.  15, 2002, (75) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/412,542, filed on Sep. 20, 2002, (76) PCT application US03/14153, filed on May
6, 2003, which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/380,147, filed on May 6, 2002, (77) PCT application US03/19993, filed on Jun.  24, 2003, which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No.
60/397,284, filed on Jul.  19, 2002, (78) PCT application US03/13787, filed on May 5, 2003, which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/387,486, filed on Jun.  10, 2002, (79) PCT application US03/18530, filed on Jun.  11,
2003, which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/387,961, filed on Jun.  12, 2002, (80) PCT application US03/20694, filed on Jul.  1, 2003, which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No.
60/398,061, filed on Jul.  24, 2002, (81) PCT application US03/20870, filed on Jul.  2, 2003, which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/399,240, filed on Jul.  29, 2002, (82) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.
No. 60/412,487, filed on Sep. 20, 2002, (83) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/412,488, filed on Sep. 20, 2002, (84) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/280,356, filed on Oct.  25, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S.  Pat.  No.
6,470,966, which was filed as patent application Ser.  No. 09/850,093, filed on May 7, 2001, as a divisional application of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,497,289, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/454,139, filed on Dec.  3, 1999, which claims
priority from provisional application No. 60/111,293, filed on Dec.  7, 1998, (85) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/412,177, filed on Sep. 20, 2002, (86) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/412,653, filed on Sep. 20, 2002,
(87) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/405,610, filed on Aug.  23, 2002, (88) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/405,394, filed on Aug.  23, 2002, (89) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/412,544, filed on
Oct.  20, 2002, (90) PCT application US03/24779, filed on Aug.  8, 2003, which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/407,442, filed on Aug.  30, 2002, (91) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/423,363, filed
on Dec.  10, 2002, (92) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/412,196, filed on Sep. 20, 2002, (93) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/412,187, filed on Sep. 20, 2002, (94) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No.
60/412,371, filed on Sep. 20, 2002, (95) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/382,325, filed on Mar.  5, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application Ser.  No. 09/588,946, filed on Jun.  7, 2000,
which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/137,998, filed on Jun.  7, 1999, (96) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/624,842, filed on Jul.  22, 2003, which is a divisional of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,823,937, which was filed as U.S.  patent
application Ser.  No. 09/502,350, filed on Feb.  10, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/119,611, filed on Feb.  11, 1999, (97) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/431,184, filed on Dec.  5, 2002, (98) U.S.
provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/448,526, filed on Feb.  18, 2003, (99) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/461,539, filed on Apr.  9, 2003, (100) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/462,750, filed on Apr.  14,
2003, (101) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/436,106, filed on Dec.  23, 2002, (102) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/442,942, filed on Jan.  27, 2003, (103) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/442,938,
filed on Jan.  27, 2003, (104) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/418,687, filed on Apr.  18, 2003, (105) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/454,896, filed on Mar.  14, 2003, (106) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.
No. 60/450,504, filed on Feb.  26, 2003, (107) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/451,152, filed on Mar.  9, 2003, (108) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/455,124, filed on Mar.  17, 2003, (109) U.S.  provisional patent
application Ser.  No. 60/453,678, filed on Mar.  11, 2003, (110) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/421,682, filed on Apr.  23, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/523,468, filed on Mar.  10, 2000, (now U.S.  Pat.
No. 6,640,903 which issued Nov.  4, 2003), which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/124,042, filed on Mar.  11, 1999, (111) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/457,965, filed on Mar.  27, 2003, (112) U.S.  provisional
patent application Ser.  No. 60/455,718, filed on Mar.  18, 2003, (113) U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,550,821, which was filed as patent application Ser.  No. 09/811,734, filed on Mar.  19, 2001, (114) U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,968,618, which was filed as U.S.  patent
application Ser.  No. 10/436,467, filed on May 12, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,604,763, which was filed as application Ser.  No. 09/559,122, filed on Apr.  26, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No.
60/131,106, filed on Apr.  26, 1999, (115) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/459,776, filed on Apr.  2, 2003, (116) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/461,094, filed on Apr.  8, 2003, (117) U.S.  provisional patent
application Ser.  No. 60/461,038, filed on Apr.  7, 2003, (118) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/463,586, filed on Apr.  17, 2003, (119) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/472,240, filed on May 20, 2003, (120) U.S.  patent
application Ser.  No. 10/619,285, filed on Jul.  14, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 09/969,922, filed on Oct.  3, 2001, (now U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,634,431 which issued Oct.  21, 2003), which is a
continuation-in-part application of U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,328,113, which was filed as U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/440,338, filed on Nov.  15, 1999, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/108,558, filed on Nov.  16, 1998, (121)
U.S.  Pat.  No. 7,055,608, which was filed as U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/418,688, which was filed on Apr.  18, 2003, as a division of U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 09/523,468, filed on Mar.  10, 2000, (now U.S.  Pat.  No.
6,640,903 which issued Nov.  4, 2003), which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/124,042, filed on Mar.  11, 1999; (122) PCT patent application Ser.  No. PCT/US2004/06246, filed on Feb.  26, 2004; (123) PCT patent application Ser.  No.
PCT/US2004/08170, filed on Mar.  15, 2004; (124) PCT patent application Ser.  No. PCT/US2004/08171, filed on Mar.  15, 2004; (125) PCT patent application Ser.  No. PCT/US2004/08073, filed on Mar.  18, 2004; (126) PCT patent application Ser.  No.
PCT/US2004/07711, filed on Mar.  11, 2004; (127) PCT patent application Ser.  No. PCT/US2004/029025, filed on Mar.  26, 2004; (128) PCT patent application Ser.  No. PCT/US2004/010317, filed on Apr.  2, 2004; (129) PCT patent application Ser.  No.
PCT/US2004/010712, filed on Apr.  6, 2004; (130) PCT patent application Ser.  No. PCT/US2004/010762, filed on Apr.  6, 2004; (131) PCT patent application Ser.  No. PCT/US2004/011973, filed on Apr.  15, 2004; (132) U.S.  provisional patent application
Ser.  No. 60/495,056, filed on Aug.  14, 2003; (133) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/600,679, filed on Aug.  11, 2004; (134) PCT patent application Ser.  No. PCT/US2005/027318, filed on Jul.  29, 2005; (135) PCT patent application Ser.
No. PCT/US2005/028936, filed on Aug.  12, 2005; (136) PCT patent application Ser.  No. PCT/US2005/028669, filed on Aug.  11, 2005; (137) PCT patent application Ser.  No. PCT/US2005/028453, filed on Aug.  11, 2005; (138) PCT patent application Ser.  No.
PCT/US2005/028641, filed on Aug.  11, 2005; (139) PCT patent application Ser.  No. PCT/US2005/028819, filed on Aug.  11, 2005; (140) PCT patent application Ser.  No. PCT/US2005/028446, filed on Aug.  11, 2005; (141) PCT patent application Ser.  No.
PCT/US2005/028642, filed on Aug.  11, 2005; (142) PCT patent application Ser.  No. PCT/US2005/028451, filed on Aug.  11, 2005, (143); PCT patent application Ser.  No. PCT/US2005/028473, filed on Aug.  11, 2005, (144) U.S.  utility patent application Ser. No. 10/546,082, filed on Aug.  16, 2005, (145) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/546,076, filed on Aug.  16, 2005, (146) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/545,936, filed on Aug.  16, 2005, (147) U.S.  utility patent application
Ser.  No. 10/546,079, filed on Aug.  16, 2005(148) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/545,941, filed on Aug.
16, 2005, (149) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/546,078, filed on Aug.  17, 2005, (150) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/545,941, filed on Aug.  16, 2005, (151) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/249,967,
filed on Oct.  13, 2005, (152) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/734,302, filed on Nov.  7, 2005, (153) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/725,181, filed on Oct.  11, 2005, (154) PCT patent application Ser.  No.
PCT/US2005/023391, filed Jun.  29, 2005 which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/585,370, filed on Jul.  2, 2004, (155) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/721,579, filed on Sep. 28, 2005, (156) U.S.
provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/717,391, filed on Sep. 15, 2005, (157) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/702,935, filed on Jul.  27, 2005, (158) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/663,913, filed on Mar.  21,
2005, (159) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/652,564, filed on Feb.  14, 2005, (160) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/645,840, filed on Jan.  21, 2005, (161) PCT patent application Ser.  No. PCT/US2005/43122, filed on
Nov.  29, 2005 which claims priority from U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/631,703, filed on Nov.  30, 2004, (162) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/752,787, filed on Dec.  22, 2005; and (163) U.S.  National Stage
application Ser.  No. 10/548,934, filed on Sep. 12, 2005; (164) U.S.  National Stage application Ser.  No. 10/549,410, filed on Sep. 13, 2005; (165) U.S.  Provisional Patent Application No. 60/717,391, filed on Sep. 15, 2005; (166) U.S.  National Stage
application Ser.  No. 10/550,906, filed on Sep. 27, 2005; (167) U.S.  National Stage application Ser.  No. 10/551,880, filed on Sep. 30, 2005; (168) U.S.  National Stage application Ser.  No. 10/552,253, filed on Oct.  4, 2005; (169) U.S.  National Stage
application Ser.  No. 10/552,790, filed on Oct.  11, 2005; (170) U.S.  Provisional Patent Application No. 60/725,181, filed on Oct.  11, 2005; (171) U.S.  National Stage application Ser.  No. 10/553,094, filed on Oct.  13, 2005; (172) U.S.  National
Stage application Ser.  No. 10/553,566, filed on Oct.  17, 2005; (173) PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2006/002449, filed on Jan.  20, 2006, (174) PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2006/004809, filed on Feb.  9, 2006; (175) U.S.  Utility Patent
application Ser.  No. 11/356,899, filed on Feb.  17, 2006, (176) U.S.  National Stage application Ser.  No. 10/568,200, filed on Feb.  13, 2006, (177) U.S.  National Stage application Ser.  No. 10/568,719, filed on Feb.  16, 2006, (178) U.S.  National
Stage application Ser.  No. 10/569,323, filed on Feb.  17, 2006, (179) U.S.  National State patent application Ser.  No. 10/571,041, filed on Mar.  3, 2006; (180) U.S.  National State patent application Ser.  No.10/571,017, filed on Mar.  3, 2006; (181)
U.S.  National State patent application Ser.  No. 10/571,086, filed on Mar.  6, 2006; and (182) U.S.  National State patent application Ser.  No. 10/571,085, filed on Mar.  6, 2006, (183) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/938,788, filed on
Sep. 10, 2004, (184) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/938,225, filed on Sep. 10, 2004, (185) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/952,288, filed on Sep. 28, 2004, (186) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/952,416, filed on
Sep. 28, 2004, (187) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/950,749, filed on Sep. 27, 2004, (188)U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/950,869, filed on Sep. 27, 2004; (189) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/761,324, filed
on Jan.  23, 2006, (190) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/754,556, filed on Dec.  28, 2005, (191) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/380,051, filed on Apr.  25, 2006, (192) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No.
11/380,055, filed on Apr.  25, 2006, (193) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/522,039, filed on Mar.  10, 2006; (194) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/746,813, filed on May 9, 2006; (195) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.
No. 11/456,584, filed on Jul.  11, 2006; and (196) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/456,587, filed on Jul.  11, 2006; (197) PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2006/009886, filed on Mar.  21, 2006; (198) PCT Patent Application No.
PCT/US2006/010674, filed on Mar.  21, 2006; (199) U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,409,175 which issued Jun.  25, 2002, (200) U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,550,821 which issued Apr.  22, 2003, (201) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/767,953, filed Jan.  29, 2004, now U.S.
Pat.  No. 7,077,211 which issued Jul.  18, 2006; (202) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/769,726, filed Jan.  30, 2004, (203) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/770,363 filed Feb.  2, 2004, (204) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No.
11/068,595, filed on Feb.  28, 2005; (205) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/070,147, filed on Mar.  2, 2005; (206) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/071,409, filed on Mar.  2, 2005; (207) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.
No. 11/071,557, filed on Mar.  3, 2005; (208) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/072,578, filed on Mar.  4, 2005; (209) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/072,893, filed on Mar.  4, 2005; (210) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.
No. 11/072,594, filed on Mar.  4, 2005; (211) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/074,366, filed on Mar.  7, 2005; (212) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/074,266, filed on Mar.  7, 2005, (213) U.S.  provisional patent application
Ser.  No. 60/832,909, filed on Jul.  24, 2006, (214) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/536,302, filed Sep. 28, 2006, (215) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/538,228, filed Oct.  3, 2006, and (216) U.S.  utility patent application
Ser.  No. 11/552,703, filed on Oct.  25, 2006; and (163) U.S.  National Stage application Ser.  No. 10/548,934, filed on Sep. 12, 2005; (164) U.S.  National Stage application Ser.  No. 10/549,410, filed on Sep. 13, 2005; (165) U.S.  Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/717,391, filed on Sep. 15, 2005; (166) U.S.  National Stage application Ser.  No. 10/550,906, filed on Sep. 27, 2005; (167) U.S.  National Stage application Ser.  No. 10/551,880, filed on Sep. 30, 2005; (168) U.S.  National Stage
application Ser.  No. 10/552,253, filed on Oct.  4, 2005; (169) U.S.  National Stage application Ser.  No. 10/552,790, filed on Oct.  11, 2005; (170) U.S.  Provisional Patent Application No. 60/725,181, filed on Oct.  11, 2005; (171) U.S.  National Stage
application Ser.  No. 10/553,094, filed on Oct.  13, 2005; (172) U.S.  National Stage application Ser.  No. 10/553,566, filed on Oct.  17, 2005; (173) PCT Patent Application No. PC/US2006/002449, filed on Jan.  20, 2006; (174) PCT Patent Application No.
PCT/US2006/004809, filed on Feb.  9, 2006; (175) U.S.  Utility Patent application Ser.  No. 11/356,899, filed on Feb.  17, 2006; (176) U.S.  National Stage application Ser.  No. 10/568,200, filed on Feb.  13, 2006; (177) U.S.  National Stage application
Ser.  No. 10/568,719, filed on Feb.  16, 2006; (178) U.S.  National Stage application Ser.  No. 10/569,323, filed on Feb.  17, 2006; (179) U.S.  National State patent application Ser.  No. 10/571,041, filed on Mar.  3, 2006; (180) U.S.  National State
patent application Ser.  No. 10/571,017, filed on Mar.  3, 2006; (181) U.S.  National State patent application Ser.  No. 10/571,086, filed on Mar.  6, 2006; and (182) U.S.  National State patent application Ser.  No. 10/571,085, filed on Mar.  6, 2006;
(183) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/938,788, filed on Sep. 10, 2004; (184) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/938,225, filed on Sep. 10, 2004; (185) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/952,288, filed on Sep. 28, 2004;
(186) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/952,416, filed on Sep. 28, 2004; (187) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/950,749, filed on Sep. 27, 2004; (188) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/950,869, filed on Sep. 27, 2004;
(189) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/761,324, filed on Jan.  23, 2006; (190) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/754,556, filed on Dec.  28, 2005; (191) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.
No. 11/380,051, filed on Apr.  25, 2006; (192) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/380,055, filed on Apr.  25, 2006; (193) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 10/522,039, filed on Mar.  10, 2006; (194) U.S.  provisional patent
application Ser.  No. 60/746,813, filed on May 9, 2006; (195) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/456,584, filed on Jul.  11, 2006; and (196) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/456,587, filed on Jul.  11, 2006; (197) PCT Patent
Application No. PCT/US2006/009886, filed on Mar.
21, 2006; (198) PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2006/010674, filed on Mar.  21, 2006; (199) U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,409,175, which issued Jun.  25, 2002, (200) U.S.  Pat.  No. 6,550,821, which issued Apr.  22, 2003, (201) U.S.  patent application
Ser.  No. 10/767,953, filed Jan.  29, 2004, now U.S.  Pat.  No. 7,077,211, which issued Jul.  18, 2006; (202) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/769,726, filed Jan.  30, 2004, (203) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 10/770,363, filed Feb.  2, 2004,
(204) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/068,595, filed on Feb.  28, 2005; (205) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/070,147, filed on Mar.  2, 2005; (206) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/071,409, filed on Mar.  2,
2005; (207) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/071,557, filed on Mar.  3, 2005; (208) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/072,578, filed on Mar.  4, 2005; (208) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/072,893, filed on Mar.  4,
2005; (210) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/072,594, filed on Mar.  4, 2005; (211) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/074,366, filed on Mar.  7, 2005; (212) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/074,266, filed on Mar.  7,
2005; (213) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/832,909, filed on Jul.  24, 2006; (214) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/536,302, filed Sep. 28, 2006; (215) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/538,228, filed Oct.  3,
2006; and (216) U.S.  utility patent application Ser.  No. 11/552,703, filed on Oct.  25, 2006.
Conventionally, when a wellbore casing is damaged, a tubular liner is positioned within the damaged section of the wellbore casing in order to provide structural support and prevent the undesired outflow of drilling fluid into the formation or
inflow of fluid from the formation into the borehole.  However, conventional tubular liners used for repairing damaged sections of wellbore casings suffer from a number of serious drawback.  For example, conventional tubular liners used for repairing
damaged sections of wellbore casings are not designed to accommodate variable loading conditions.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of repairing a damaged section of a wellbore casing is provided that includes removing at least a portion of the damaged section of the wellbore casing to create an opening in the
wellbore casing, and covering at least a portion of the opening in the wellbore casing with a floating tubular member.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a radially expandable tubular member for repairing an opening in a wellbore casing is provided that includes a tubular member and a slip joint coupled to the exterior surface of the tubular
According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for repairing an opening in a wellbore casing is provided that includes a tubular support member including a first passage, an expansion cone coupled to the tubular support member
including a second passage fluidicly coupled to the first passage, an expansion cone launcher coupled to the expansion cone including a shoe having an exhaust passage, and an expandable tubular member coupled to the expansion cone launcher including one
or more sealing members having slip joints.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a system for repairing a damaged section of a wellbore casing is provided that includes means for removing at least a portion of the damaged section of the wellbore casing to create an opening
in the wellbore casing, and means for covering at least a portion of the opening in the wellbore casing with a floating tubular member.
An apparatus and method for repairing an opening in a damaged section of a wellbore casing within a subterranean formation is provided.  The apparatus and method provides a system for repairing an opening in a damaged section of a wellbore casing
within a subterranean formation in which a tubular member is radially expanded into contact with the wellbore casing.  The physical connection between the radially expanded tubular member and the wellbore casing is preferably compliant and permits
movement of the radially expanded tubular member relative to the wellbore casing in at least the longitudinal direction.  In this manner, the radially expanded tubular member is capable of absorbing a wide range of loading conditions.
Referring initially to FIG. 1, a wellbore 100 positioned within a subterranean formation 105 includes a preexisting casing 110 that traverses a producing formation 115.  The portion of the casing 110 that traverses the producing formation 115
includes a damaged section 120.  As will be recognized by persons having ordinary skill in the art, the damaged section 120 may be caused by, for example, structural instabilities in the producing formation 115 such as, for example, subsidence that can
cause buckling of the wellbore casing 110.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in order to repair the damaged section 120 of the wellbore casing 110, a conventional milling device 125 is then inserted into the wellbore casing 110.  The milling device 125 is then used to remove at least a portion
of the damaged section 120 of the wellbore casing 110 and thereby form an opening 130 in the wellbore casing 110.
The apparatus 200 includes a tubular support member 205 having a longitudinal passage 210 and a transverse passage 215 that is coupled to an expansion cone 220 having a longitudinal passage 225 that is fluidicly coupled to the longitudinal
passage 210.  The expansion cone 220 is at least partially received within an expansion cone launcher 230 that includes a thin-walled annular member 235 and a shoe 240 having an exhaust passage 245.  An expandable tubular member 250 extends from the
expansion cone launcher 230 that includes upper and lower sealing members 255a and 255b affixed to the exterior surface of the expandable tubular member.  A sealing cup 260 is attached to the exterior surface of the tubular support member 205 for
preventing foreign materials from entering the interior of the expandable tubular member 250.
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus 200 is provided as disclosed in one or more of the following: (1) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/440,338, filed on Nov.  15, 1999, which claimed benefit of the filing date of U.S.  provisional
patent application Ser.  No. 60/108,558, filed on Nov.  16, 1998, (2) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/454,139, filed on Dec.  3, 1999, which claimed benefit of the filing date of U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/111,293, filed on
Dec.  7, 1998, (3) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/502,350, filed on Feb.  10, 2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/119,611, filed on Feb.  11, 1999, (4) U.S.  patent application
Ser.  No. 09/510,913, filed on Feb.  23, 2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/121,702, filed on Feb.  25, 1999, (5) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/511,941, filed on Feb.  24, 2000,
which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S.  provisional patent application No. 60/121,907, filed on Feb.  26, 1999, (6) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/523,460, filed on Mar.  10, 2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/124,042, filed on Mar.  11, 1999, (7) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/559,122, filed on Apr.  26, 2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No.
60/131,106, filed on Apr.  26, 1999, (8) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/588,946, filed on Jun.  7, 2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/137,998, filed on Jun.  7, 1999, (9) U.S.
provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/143,039, filed on Jul.  9, 1999, (10) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/146,203, filed on Jul.  29, 1999, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference; (11) U.S.  provisional patent
application Ser.  No. 60/183,546, filed on Feb.  18, 2000; (12) U.S.  patent application Ser.  No. 09/512,895, filed on Feb.  24, 2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/121,841, filed on
Feb.  26, 1999; (13) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/212,359, filed on Jun.  19, 2000; (14) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/162,671, filed on Nov.  1, 1999; (15) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No.
60/159,039, filed on Oct.  12, 1999; (16) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/159,033, filed on Oct.  12, 1999; and (17) U.S.  provisional patent application Ser.  No. 60/165,228, filed on Nov.  12, 1999, the disclosures of which are
As illustrated in FIG. 4, during placement of the apparatus 200 within the wellbore casing 110, fluidic materials displaced by the apparatus 200 are conveyed through the longitudinal passages 210 and 225 to the transverse passage 215.  In this
manner, surge pressures during the placement of the apparatus 200 within the wellbore casing 110 are minimized.  Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the apparatus 200 is preferably positioned with the tubular member 250 in opposing relation to the
opening 130 in the wellbore casing 110.  In this manner, the upper and lower sealing members 255a and 255b may engage portions of the wellbore casing 110 above and below the opening 130 after radially expanding the tubular member 250.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the transverse passage 215 may then be closed and fluidic materials injected into the apparatus 200 through the longitudinal passage 210.  In this manner, any blockages within any of the passages 210, 225, and 245 may be
detected by monitoring the operating pressure whereby an increase in operating pressure above nominal, or predetermined, conditions may indicate a blockage of one of the passages.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, a plug 265 or other conventional stop member may then be introduced into the fluidic materials injected into the apparatus 200 through the passage 210, and the plug 265 may be positioned within the passage 245.  In this
manner, the passage 245 may be sealed off.  Thus, continued injection of fluidic materials into the apparatus 200 through the passage 210 may thereby pressurize a region 270 below the expansion cone 220.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, continued pressurization of the region 270 causes the expansion cone 220 to radially expand the expandable tubular member 250 off of the expansion cone.  In this manner, the upper and lower sealing members 255a and 255b
preferably engage the interior walls of the wellbore casing 110 above and below the opening 130 thereby sealing off the opening.  In a preferred embodiment, during the radial expansion process, the tubular support member 205 is raised out of the wellbore
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the shoe 240 may then be removed using a conventional milling device.  In this manner, exploration and production of subterranean regions beyond the opening 130 in the wellbore casing 110 may be conducted.
In several alternative embodiments, the upper sealing member 255a or the lower sealing member 255b are omitted from the tubular member 250, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B.  In this manner, the radially expanded tubular member 250 is permitted to
float relative to the wellbore casing 110.  Furthermore, in this manner, relative longitudinal and/or transverse movements of the sections of the wellbore casing 110 above and below the opening 130 may be optimally accommodated by the radially expanded
tubular member 250.  Finally, in this manner, damage to the radially expanded tubular member 250 that can be caused by longitudinal stresses, such as buckling, may be minimized or eliminated.
In another alternative embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the upper sealing member 255a and/or the lower sealing member 255b include internal slip joints 300a and 300b in order to permit the radially expanded tubular member 250 to float
relative to the wellbore casing 110.  In this manner, relative longitudinal and/or transverse movements of the sections of the wellbore casing 110 above and below the opening 130 may be optimally accommodated.  Furthermore, in this manner, damage to the
radially expanded tubular member 250 that can be caused by longitudinal stresses, such as buckling, may be minimized or eliminated.
In a preferred embodiment, the sealing members 255a and 255b permit the radially expanded tubular member 250 to move in the longitudinal direction while also maintaining a fluidic seal.  In several alternative embodiments, the sealing members
255a and 255b are fabricated from a resilient material such as, for example, synthetic or natural rubber.
It is understood that variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention.  For example, the apparatus 200 may be used to repair, for example, a wellbore casing, a pipeline, or a structural support.
Liner hanger with slip joint sealing members and method of use, Cook, et al., Robert Lance Cook, Lev Ring, Application number 10 311-412, Wells, wherein said, tubular members, Radial expansion, Global Technology, Shell Oil Company, Patent Attorney, patent application, vehicle seat, infant head, restraint apparatus
This application is related to the following applications: (1) U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,289, which was filed as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/454,139, filed on Dec. 3, 1999, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/111,293,filed on Dec. 7, 1998, (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,913, filed on Feb. 23, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/121,702, filed on Feb. 25, 1999, (3) U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,937, which was filed as U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/502,350, filed on Feb. 10, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/119,611, filed on Feb. 11, 1999, (4) U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,113, which was filed as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/440,338, filedon Nov. 15, 1999, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/108,558, filed on Nov. 16, 1998, (5) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/169,434, filed on Jul. 1, 2002, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/183,546,filed on Feb. 18, 2000, (6) U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,903 which was filed as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/523,468, filed on Mar. 10, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/124,042, filed on Feb. 11, 1999, (7) U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,471, which was filed as patent application Ser. No. 09/512,895, filed on Feb. 24, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/121,841, filed on Feb. 26, 1999, (8) U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,240, which was filed as patentapplication Ser. No. 09/511,941, filed on Feb. 24, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/121,907, filed on Feb. 26, 1999, (9) U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application Ser. No. 09/588,946, filed onJun. 7, 2000, which claims priority from provisional application No. 60/137,998, filed on Jun. 7, 1999, (10) U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,154, which was filed as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/981,916, filed on Oct. 18, 2001 as a continuatio
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