Patent ID: 8056641

Claim:
A method of radially expanding a tubular element in a wellbore and providing a control line that extend along the tubular element, the method comprising (a) inducing the wall of the tubular element to bend radially outward and in axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element, wherein said bending occurs in a bending zone of the tubular element; (b) increasing the length of the expanded tubular section by axially fixing the expanded tubular section and subjecting the remaining tubular section to an axially compressive force so as to induce the bending zone to move in an axial direction relative to the remaining tubular section, wherein said wall includes a material that is plastically deformed in the bending zone during the bending process so that the expanded tubular section retains an expanded shape as a result of said plastic deformation; and (c) extending the control line along the tubular element; wherein the tubular element is a steel liner or casing and said axially compressive force is applied at the upper end of the unexpanded portion thereof.