Patent ID: 8522885

Claim:
A method of expanding tubing, comprising: securing an expansion tool to the tubing, wherein the expansion tool includes an expander, a jack, and first and second tubing holding devices disposed respectively ahead of the expander and behind the expander; actuating the expander of the expansion tool to an extended configuration from a collapsed configuration having a smaller outer diameter than the extended configuration; supplying fluid pressure to the jack to move the expander through the tubing while the first tubing holding device engages the tubing; expanding the tubing; and accommodating an axial length change of the tubing during expansion such that the tubing moves past the first tubing holding device in a direction toward the expander but the first tubing holding device restrains the tubing from moving in an opposite direction; and wherein at least a portion of the expander and the second tubing holding devices are initially disposed below the tubing while being lowered into a wellbore.