Apparatus for and a method of anchoring an expandable conduit

Abstract

The present invention provides apparatus and a method of anchoring an expandable conduit. A formation is provided on an outer surface of the conduit, the formation comprising a number of bands of a friction and/or sealing material. When the expandable conduit is radially expanded, the friction and/or sealing material engages a second conduit in which the expandable conduit is located. The engagement of the friction and/or sealing material provides an anchor for the expandable conduit.

1 . A method of expanding a tubular in a wellbore, comprising: 
 expanding a portion of the tubular, the tubular having at least one resilient member disposed around its outer surface in the expanded area; and    causing the resilient member to contact the wellbore in a sealing and frictional relationship while leaving an annular area defined between the outer tubular wall and the wellbore.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising setting an anchor that temporarily retains the tubular prior to causing the resilient member to contact the wellbore.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising setting a slip that temporarily retains the tubular prior to causing the resilient member to contact the wellbore.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 setting an anchor that temporarily retains the tubular prior to causing the resilient member to contact the wellbore; and    releasing the anchor after causing the resilient member to contact the wellbore.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient member includes a plurality of resilient members.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , where the at least one resilient member includes a plurality of resilient members spaced from one another.  
     
     
         6 . The expandable liner hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient member includes profiles on an outer surface thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The expandable liner hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient member includes ribs on an outer surface thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The expandable liner hanger of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient member is a rubber material.  
     
     
         9 . An expandable liner hanger for use in a wellbore, comprising: 
 a tubular body, the body expandable at an upper end thereof;    an resilient ring disposed around the upper end; and    the hanger constructed and arranged to retain and seal the expanded body in the wellbore while leaving an annular area between an outer wall of the expanded body and the wellbore.    
     
     
         10 . The expandable liner hanger of  claim 9 , wherein the resilient ring includes profiles on an outer surface thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The expandable liner hanger of  claim 9 , wherein the resilient ring includes ribs on an outer surface thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The expandable liner hanger of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one additional resilient ring disposed around the upper end.  
     
     
         13 . The expandable liner hanger of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one additional resilient ring disposed around the upper end, the resilient rings spaced from one another.  
     
     
         14 . The expandable liner hanger of  claim 9 , further comprising a temporary anchor separate from the resilient ring.  
     
     
         15 . The expandable liner hanger of  claim 9 , further comprising a temporary anchor separate from the resilient ring, wherein the temporary anchor includes a slip.  
     
     
         16 . The expandable liner hanger of  claim 9 , wherein the resilient ring is a rubber material.  
     
     
         17 . A method of expanding a first tubular in a second tubular located in a wellbore, comprising: 
 locating a portion of the first tubular within the second tubular, the portion of the first tubular having a resilient member on a section of an outside surface thereof; and    expanding the first tubular at least along the section to a predetermined diameter, the predetermined diameter selected to compress the resilient member in a sealing and frictional relationship between the first and second tubular that remain concentrically spaced from one another.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the resilient member includes profiles on an outer surface thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one additional resilient member, the resilient members spaced from one another.