Threaded Connection for Expandable Tubulars

Abstract

A threaded connection for expandable tubulars.

1 . An assembly, comprising: 
 a first tubular member comprising external threads; and    a second tubular member comprising internal threads coupled to the external threads of the first tubular member;    wherein at least one of the first and second tubular members define one or more stress concentrators.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an external sleeve coupled to and overlapping with the ends of the first and second tubular members.    
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the stress concentrators comprise surface grooves formed in the surfaces of at least one of the first and second tubular members.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stress concentrators are defined above the internal and external threads of the first and second tubular members.  
   
   
       5 . A method for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 positioning the assembly of  claim 1  within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation;    and    radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole.    
   
   
       6 . A method for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 positioning the assembly of  claim 2  within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation; and    radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole.    
   
   
       7 . A method for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 positioning the assembly of  claim 3  within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation; and    radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole.    
   
   
       8 . A method for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 positioning the assembly of  claim 4  within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation;    and    radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole.    
   
   
       9 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation; and    a wellbore casing positioned within and coupled to the wellbore;    wherein the wellbore casing is coupled to the wellbore by a process comprising: 
 positioning the assembly of  claim 1  within the wellbore; and  
 radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the wellbore.  
   
   
   
       10 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation; and    a wellbore casing positioned within and coupled to the wellbore;    wherein the wellbore casing is coupled to the wellbore by a process comprising: 
 positioning the assembly of  claim 2  within the wellbore; and  
 radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the wellbore.  
   
   
   
       11 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation; and    a wellbore casing positioned within and coupled to the wellbore;    wherein the wellbore casing is coupled to the wellbore by a process comprising: 
 positioning the assembly of  claim 3  within the wellbore; and  
 radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the wellbore.  
   
   
   
       12 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation; and    a wellbore casing positioned within and coupled to the wellbore;    wherein the wellbore casing is coupled to the wellbore by a process comprising: 
 positioning the assembly of  claim 4  within the wellbore; and  
 radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the wellbore.  
   
   
   
       13 . A system for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 means for positioning the assembly of  claim 1  within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation; and    means for radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole.    
   
   
       14 . A system for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 means for positioning the assembly of  claim 2  within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation; and    means for radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole.    
   
   
       15 . A system for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 means for positioning the assembly of  claim 3  within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation; and    means for radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole.    
   
   
       16 . A system for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 means for positioning the assembly of  claim 4  within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation; and    means for radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole.    
   
   
       17 . A method of providing a fluid tight seal between a pair of overlapping tubular members, comprising: 
 forming one or more stress concentrators within at least one of the tubular members; and    radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular members.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the tubular members are threadably coupled; and wherein the stress concentrators are formed above the threaded coupling.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the stress concentrators comprise surface grooves formed in at least one of the tubular members.  
   
   
       20 . An assembly, comprising: 
 a first tubular member comprising external threads;    a second tubular member comprising internal threads coupled to the external threads of the first tubular member; and    an external sleeve coupled to and overlapping with the ends of the first and second tubular members;    wherein at least one of the first and second tubular members define one or more stress concentrators.    
   
   
       21 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein ore or more of the stress concentrators comprise surface grooves formed in the surfaces of at least one of the first and second tubular members.  
   
   
       22 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the stress concentrators are defined above the internal and external threads of the first and second tubular members.  
   
   
       23 . A method for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 positioning an assembly within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation; and    radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole;    wherein the assembly comprises: 
 a first tubular member comprising external threads;  
 a second tubular member comprising internal threads coupled to the external threads of the first tubular member; and  
 an external sleeve coupled to and overlapping with the ends of the first and second tubular members;  
 wherein at least one of the first and second tubular members define one or more stress concentrators.  
   
   
   
       24 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation; and    a wellbore casing positioned within and coupled to the wellbore;    wherein the wellbore casing is coupled to the wellbore by a process comprising:    positioning an assembly within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation; and    radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole;    wherein the assembly comprises:    a first tubular member comprising external threads;    a second tubular member comprising internal threads coupled to the external threads of the first tubular member; and    an external sleeve coupled to and overlapping with the ends of the first and second tubular members;    wherein at least one of the first and second tubular members define one or more stress concentrators.    
   
   
       25 . A system for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 means for positioning an assembly within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation;    and    means for radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole;    wherein the assembly comprises:    a first tubular member comprising external threads;    a second tubular member comprising internal threads coupled to the external threads of the first tubular member; and    an external sleeve coupled to and overlapping with the ends of the first and second tubular members;    wherein at least one of the first and second tubular members define one or more stress concentrators.    
   
   
       26 . An assembly, comprising: 
 a first tubular member comprising external threads; and    a second tubular member comprising internal threads coupled to the external threads of the first tubular member;    wherein the first and second tubular members each define one or more stress concentrators.    
   
   
       27 . The assembly of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 an external sleeve coupled to and overlapping with the ends of the first and second tubular members.    
   
   
       28 . The assembly of  claim 26 , wherein one or more of the stress concentrators comprise surface grooves formed in the surfaces of at least one of the first and second tubular members.  
   
   
       29 . The assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the stress concentrators are defined above the internal and external threads of the first and second tubular members.  
   
   
       30 . A method for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 positioning the assembly of  claim 26  within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation; and    radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole.    
   
   
       31 . A method for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 positioning the assembly of  claim 27  within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation; and    radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole.    
   
   
       32 . A method for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 positioning the assembly of  claim 28  within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation; and    radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole.    
   
   
       33 . A method for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 positioning the assembly of  claim 29  within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation; and    radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole.    
   
   
       34 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation; and    a wellbore casing positioned within and coupled to the wellbore;    wherein the wellbore casing is coupled to the wellbore by a process comprising: 
 positioning the assembly of  claim 26  within the wellbore; and  
 radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the wellbore.  
   
   
   
       35 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation; and    a wellbore casing positioned within and coupled to the wellbore;    wherein the wellbore casing is coupled to the wellbore by a process comprising: 
 positioning the assembly of  claim 27  within the wellbore; and  
 radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the wellbore.  
   
   
   
       36 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation; and    a wellbore casing positioned within and coupled to the wellbore;    wherein the wellbore casing is coupled to the wellbore by a process comprising: 
 positioning the assembly of  claim 28  within the wellbore; and  
 radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the wellbore.  
   
   
   
       37 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a wellbore that traverses a subterranean formation; and    a wellbore casing positioned within and coupled to the wellbore;    wherein the wellbore casing is coupled to the wellbore by a process comprising: 
 positioning the assembly of  claim 29  within the wellbore; and  
 radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the wellbore.  
   
   
   
       38 . A system for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 means for positioning the assembly of  claim 26  within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation; and    means for radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole.    
   
   
       39 . A system for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 means for positioning the assembly of  claim 27  within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation; and    means for radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole.    
   
   
       40 . A system for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 means for positioning the assembly of  claim 28  within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation; and    means for radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole.    
   
   
       41 . A system for forming a wellbore casing, comprising: 
 means for positioning the assembly of  claim 29  within a borehole that traverses a subterranean formation; and    means for radially expanding and plastically deforming the assembly within the borehole.    
   
   
       42 . A method of providing a fluid tight seal between a pair of overlapping tubular members, comprising: 
 forming one or more stress concentrators within each of the tubular members; and    radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular members.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the tubular members are threadably coupled; and wherein the stress concentrators are formed above the threaded coupling.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the stress concentrators comprise surface grooves formed in at least one of the tubular members.  
   
   
       45 . A method of providing a fluid tight seal between a pair of overlapping tubular members, comprising: 
 concentrating compressive stresses onto the overlapping portions of the tubular members; and    radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular members.    
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the tubular members are threadably coupled; and wherein the compressive stresses are concentrated onto the threaded coupling during the radial expansion and plastic deformation.  
   
   
       49 - 73 . (canceled)