Method of Installing an Expandable Tubular in a Wellbore

Abstract

A method of installing an expandable tubular element in a wellbore comprises lowering the tubular element into the wellbore such that an annular space is formed between the tubular element and the wellbore wall, locating a first compound in the annular space, the first compound being adapted to cooperate with a second compound upon contact therewith so as to form an annular body anchoring the tubular element in the wellbore, radially expanding a section of the tubular element, and inducing the second compound to enter a portion of the annular space surrounding said expanded tubular section. An unexpanded section of the tubular element is disconnected from the expanded tubular section and removed from the expanded tubular section.

1 . A method of installing an expandable tubular element in a wellbore, the method comprising:
 a) lowering the tubular element into the wellbore whereby an annular space is formed between the tubular element and the wellbore wall;   b) locating a first compound in the annular space, the first compound being adapted to cooperate with a second compound upon contact therewith so as to form an annular body anchoring the tubular element in the wellbore;   c) radially expanding a section of the tubular element;   d) inducing the second compound to enter a portion of the annular space surrounding said expanded tubular section; and   e) after inducing the second compound to enter said portion of the annular space, disconnecting an unexpanded section of the tubular element from said expanded tubular section, and removing the unexpanded tubular section from the expanded tubular section.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular element is provided with container means containing said second compound, and wherein the container means is induced to release the second compound into said portion of the annular space upon radial expansion of said section of the tubular element. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the container means is induced to release the second compound into said portion of the annular space upon deformation of the container means due to radial expansion of said section of the tubular element. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the container means includes at least one annular container surrounding the tubular element. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the container means includes a plurality of annular containers surrounding the tubular element, said annular containers being axially spaced along the tubular element. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the tubular element includes an inlet section for inflow of hydrocarbon fluid into the tubular element, and wherein the container means is absent from said inlet section. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises removing said first compound from a portion of the annular space surrounding said inlet section. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second compound is an activating compound and the first compound is a fluidic compound adapted to harden upon contact with the activating compound. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the fluidic compound is adapted to harden upon contact with the activating compound in a first period of time, and wherein the fluidic compound is adapted to harden in the absence of the activating compound in a second period of time longer than the first period of time. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the fluidic compound and the activating compound are adapted to chemically react with each other so as to form said annular body. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of disconnecting the unexpanded section of the tubular element from the expanded section of the tubular element comprises cutting the tubular element. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of removing said unexpanded section from said expanded section comprises retrieving the unexpanded section from the wellbore. 
   
   
       13 . (canceled)