Sealing tubing

Abstract

The invention concerns the sealing of tubing, and in particular the sealing of a joint between expandable tubing sections. In one embodiment, there is disclosed expandable tubing such as an expandable liner ( 10 ) comprising at least two expandable tubing sections ( 18 a, 18 b ) which are adapted to be coupled together, and a seal ( 20 ) adapted to be located around the expandable tubing sections ( 18 a, 18 b ), to seal a joint ( 22 ) between the sections.

1 . Expandable tubing comprising: 
 at least two expandable tubing sections adapted to be coupled together; and    a seal adapted to be located around the expandable tubing sections, to seal a joint between the sections.    
   
   
       2 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a connector having first and second portions, each portion adapted to be provided on a respective expandable tubing section.  
   
   
       3 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first and second connector portions are formed integrally with the respective tubing sections.  
   
   
       4 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first and second connector portions are formed separately and subsequently coupled to the tubing sections.  
   
   
       5 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the connector first and second portions comprise respective threaded male and female portions.  
   
   
       6 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal is adapted to be located overlapping the joint between the tubing sections.  
   
   
       7 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal is deformable.  
   
   
       8 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the seal is resilient.  
   
   
       9 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal is adapted to be located around the tubing sections subsequent to coupling of the tubing sections together.  
   
   
       10 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal is adapted to be located around the tubing sections prior to coupling of the tubing sections together.  
   
   
       11 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises at least two seal members, each tubing section having at least one seal member coupled thereto.  
   
   
       12 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the seal includes a first seal member adapted to be coupled to one tubing section and a second seal member adapted to be coupled to an adjacent tubing section, the first and second seal members adapted to be brought into abutment.  
   
   
       13 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the first and second seal members are adapted to be located overlapping respective axial end portions of the tubing sections, such that when the tubing sections are coupled together, ends of the seal members are adapted to be compressed.  
   
   
       14 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the first and second seal members are adapted to be brought into abutment when the tubing sections are coupled together.  
   
   
       15 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the first and second seal members are adapted to be brought into abutment in a separate procedure following coupling of the tubing sections.  
   
   
       16 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the seal members are adapted to be translated along the tubing sections.  
   
   
       17 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the seal includes a first seal member adapted to be coupled to one tubing section and a second seal member adapted to be coupled to an adjacent tubing section, and wherein the seal members are adapted to be located spaced from one another.  
   
   
       18 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the seal members are adapted to be brought into abutment during expansion of the tubing.  
   
   
       19 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the seal members remain spaced post expansion.  
   
   
       20 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal is adapted to be mounted on one of the tubing sections and translated along the tubing sections to a location where the seal seals the joint, following coupling of the tubing sections.  
   
   
       21 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the seal is adapted to be located straddling the joint.  
   
   
       22 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal is adapted to be located extending beyond an end of one of the tubing sections prior to coupling the sections together, and to receive the other tubing section, whereby on coupling the tubing sections, the joint is sealed.  
   
   
       23 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal is moveable from a first, non-sealing configuration to a second, sealing configuration following coupling of the tubing sections together.  
   
   
       24 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the seal is adapted to be located on said tubing section in a folded, non-sealing configuration.  
   
   
       25 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal is adapted to be located in a first configuration extending beyond an end of one of the tubing sections and then moved to a second, non-sealing configuration to expose said end, for coupling the tubing sections together, and to be subsequently returned to the first configuration to seal the joint.  
   
   
       26 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises an elastomeric material.  
   
   
       27 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a rubber material.  
   
   
       28 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal is adapted to swell in the presence of at least one of water and hydrocarbons.  
   
   
       29 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a metal having a low yield strength and modulus of elasticity relative to the tubing sections.  
   
   
       30 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tubing includes a recess in which at least part of the seal is located.  
   
   
       31 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of seals.  
   
   
       32 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising at least two seal portions of materials having different material properties.  
   
   
       33 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the seal portions are of materials having different yield strength and modulus of elasticity.  
   
   
       34 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 32 , comprising an inner seal member, and an outer seal member adapted to be located around the inner seal member.  
   
   
       35 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the outer seal member is of a material having a higher yield strength and modulus of elasticity than the inner seal member.  
   
   
       36 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the outer seal member extends over at least part of an unexpanded length of the inner seal member.  
   
   
       37 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the outer seal member includes a recess in which the inner seal member is mounted.  
   
   
       38 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein a plurality of inner seal members are coupled to the outer seal member, and wherein a seal member is adapted to be located either side of the joint between the tubing sections.  
   
   
       39 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one restraining member adapted to restrain the seal against axial movement in at least one axial direction.  
   
   
       40 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the restraining member is coupled to one of the tubing sections and adapted to receive the seal.  
   
   
       41 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the seal and the restraining member take the form of an inner seal member, and an outer seal member adapted to be located around the inner seal member.  
   
   
       42 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one support member adapted to support the seal by providing a clamping force to securely clamp the seal to the tubing.  
   
   
       43 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein a support member is provided integrally with the seal.  
   
   
       44 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein a support member is mounted in the seal.  
   
   
       45 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein a support member is provided externally of the seal.  
   
   
       46 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein a support member is mounted on a radially outer surface of the seal.  
   
   
       47 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the support member comprises a sleeve.  
   
   
       48 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the support member comprises a wire.  
   
   
       49 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the seal and the support member take the form of an inner seal member, and an outer seal member adapted to be located around the inner seal member.  
   
   
       50 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a plurality of seal members of different material properties.  
   
   
       51 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein the seal members are adapted to cooperate with corresponding seal members on the tubing sections.  
   
   
       52 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a plurality of seal members spaced axially along the tubing.  
   
   
       53 . Expandable tubing as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein adjacent seals have different material properties.  
   
   
       54 . A string of expandable tubing comprising: 
 a plurality of expandable tubing sections coupled together; and    a plurality of seals located around a selected at least one of the joints between the tubing sections.    
   
   
       55 . A connector for expandable tubing sections, the connector comprising: 
 first and second portions each adapted to be provided on a respective expandable tubing section, the first and second portions adapted to be coupled together; and    a seal adapted to be located around the first and second portions to seal a joint between the portions.    
   
   
       56 . A seal for expandable tubing sections, the seal adapted to be located around adjacent expandable tubing sections to seal a joint between the sections.  
   
   
       57 . A method of sealing a joint between expandable tubing sections, the method comprising the steps of: 
 coupling expandable tubing sections together; and    locating a seal around the expandable tubing sections.    
   
   
       58 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , comprising coupling the tubing sections together and then locating the seal around the tubing sections.  
   
   
       59 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , comprising locating the seal overlapping the joint between the tubing sections.  
   
   
       60 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , comprising mounting the seal on one of the tubing sections and translating the seal to a location sealing the joint.  
   
   
       61 . A method as claimed in  claim 60 , comprising translating the seal to a location straddling the joint.  
   
   
       62 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , comprising coupling a seal member to each one of the tubing sections and subsequently coupling the tubing sections together, to compress the seal members.  
   
   
       63 . A method as claimed in  claim 62 , comprising locating the seal members overlapping axial end portions of the respective tubing sections.  
   
   
       64 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , comprising locating a seal comprising an inner seal member around the tubing sections and an outer seal member, of a material having a higher yield strength and modulus of elasticity than the inner seal member, around the inner seal member.  
   
   
       65 . A method as claimed in  claim 64 , comprising locating the outer seal member around the inner seal member subsequent to coupling the tubing sections together.  
   
   
       66 . A method as claimed in  claim 64 , comprising providing the inner and outer seal members as a seal unit and locating the unit around the tubing sections.  
   
   
       67 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , comprising locating the seal with a portion extending beyond an end of one of the tubing sections prior to coupling the sections together, and then locating the other tubing section in said portion and coupling the tubing sections together.  
   
   
       68 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , comprising mounting the seal on one of the tubing sections in a first configuration and then moving the seal to a second, non-sealing configuration.  
   
   
       69 . A method as claimed in  claim 68 , further comprising subsequently coupling the tubing sections together and returning the seal to the first configuration, to seal the tubing sections.  
   
   
       70 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , comprising mounting the seal on one of the tubing sections in a first, non-sealing configuration, coupling the tubing sections together and then moving the seal to a second, sealing configuration.  
   
   
       71 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , further comprising restraining the seal against axial movement in at least one direction.  
   
   
       72 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , further comprising clamping the seal to a tubing section.  
   
   
       73 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the step of locating the seal around the expandable tubing sections provides at least an initial seal of a joint between the sections.  
   
   
       74 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , further comprising expanding the tubing sections to compress the seal and seal the joint.  
   
   
       75 . A method of locating an expandable tubing in a borehole, the method comprising the steps of: 
 coupling a plurality of expandable tubing sections together;    locating a seal around a selected at least one joint between adjacent tubing sections;    locating the expandable tubing in the borehole; and    expanding at least part of the expandable tubing, compressing the at least one seal between the borehole and the expandable tubing.