Radial Expansion of Tubular Members

Abstract

An apparatus and method for coupling a tubular member to a preexisting structure.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a tubular member coupled to a preexisting structure;   wherein the tubular member is coupled to the preexisting structure by the process of:
 positioning the tubular member and an expansion device within the preexisting structure; 
 axially displacing the expansion device relative to the tubular member to radially expand and plastically deform a portion of the tubular member; 
 removing the expansion device; and 
 applying direct radial pressure to the interior surface of the radially expanded portion of the tubular member to further radially expand and plastically deform the portion of the tubular member. 
   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein axially displacing the expansion device includes:
 pressurizing at least a portion of the interior of the tubular member.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein axially displacing the expansion device includes:
 injecting a fluidic material into the tubular member.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein axially displacing the expansion device includes:
 applying a tensile force to the expansion cone.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein axially displacing the expansion device includes:
 displacing the expansion device into the tubular member.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein axially displacing the expansion device includes:
 displacing the expansion device out of the tubular member.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein axially displacing the expansion device radially expands the tubular member by about 10% to 20%. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein applying direct radial pressure to the tubular member radially expands the tubular member by up to about 5%. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein applying direct radial pressure to the tubular member includes applying a radial force at discrete spaced apart locations about the inner circumference of the tubular member. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the preexisting structure includes a wellbore casing. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the preexisting structure includes a pipeline. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the preexisting structure includes a structural support. 
   
   
       13 . A method of radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member, comprising:
 positioning an expansion cone within the tubular member;   axially displacing the expansion cone relative to the tubular member to radially expand and plastically deform a portion of the tubular member; and   then applying direct radial pressure at a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart locations on the interior surface of the radially expanded portion of the tubular member to further radially expand and plastically deform the portion of the tubular member.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein axially displacing the expansion cone radially expands the tubular member by about 10% to 20%. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein applying direct radial pressure at the plurality of circumferentially spaced apart locations on the interior surface of the radially expanded portion of the tubular member further radially expands the tubular member by up to about 5%.