Patent ID: 7017670

Claim:
An apparatus for expanding and fixing a tubular member into an inner surface of a liner or borehole, the apparatus comprising: a body adapted to be located co-axially within the tubular member wherein a pair of seal means are mounted upon the body and are adapted to be selectively energised to seal against the inner surface of the tubular member to be expanded; and a pressure control means operable to increase the pressure of fluid within the tubular member between the pair of energised seal means, such that operation of the pressure control means causes the tubular member to move radially outwardly such that the tubular member undergoes elastic deformation and also plastic deformation, to expand the tubular member beyond it's yield point, to bear against the inner surface of the liner or borehole wall; wherein the seal means are capable of being de-energised and the body and pair of seal means are capable of being removed from within the tubular member and liner or borehole such that the tubular member remains fixed to the inner surface of the liner or borehole.