Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for drilling and lining a wellbore

US6543552B1 · kind B1 · utility

236Cited by
122References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 22, 1999
Grant dateApr 8, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 22, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49911
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for drilling and lining a wellbore in one downhole trip. The method comprises mounting a drill bit on a drill string including a section of expandable tubing and providing a tubing expander in the string, then rotating the drill bit and advancing the drill string through a bore, then passing the expander through the expandable tubing to expand the tubing, wherein the expandable tubing is deformed by compressive plastic deformation of the tubing with a localised reduction in wall thickness, resulting in a subsequent increase in tubing diameter, and then retrieving the drill bit from the bore through the expanded tubing. The apparatus comprises a drill string including a section of expandable tubing, a drill bit mounted on the string, and a tubing expander mounted on the string, wherein the expandable tubing is deformed by compressive plastic deformation of the tubing with a localised reduction in wall thickness, resulting in a subsequent increase in tubing diameter and wherein the drill bit may be retrieved through the expanded tubing.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.