Patent ID: 8430159

Claim:
A method of radially expanding a tubular element in a wellbore formed in an earth formation, the method comprising: a) arranging the tubular element in the wellbore such that a lower end portion of the wall of the tubular element extends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element, whereby an annulus is defined between said expanded and remaining tubular sections; b) axially extending the expanded tubular section by moving the remaining tubular section downward relative to the expanded tubular section so that said lower end portion of the wall bends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction; and c) controlling a diameter of the expanded tubular section by controlling a fluid pressure in the annulus, wherein the fluid pressure in the annulus is controlled simultaneously with moving the remaining tubular section downward relative to the expanded tubular section; wherein an outer surface of the expanded tubular section is subjected to a wellbore fluid pressure, and wherein step c) comprises controlling the fluid pressure in the annulus to be larger than the wellbore fluid pressure and subjecting the fluid pressure in the annulus to a pressure variation so as to create a portion of the expanded tubular section that is expanded against the wellbore wall and is sealed relative to the wellbore wall, wherein the pressure variation comprises a decrease of the fluid pressure to below the wellbore fluid pressure.