Schlumberger Technology Corporation

Morphpackers Limited

Daniel O'Brien

Peter Wood

Andrew John Joseph Gorrara

Neil Philip Thomson

David Glen Martin

William Luke McElligott

Kevin Stewart

A method and apparatus for creating a joint between tubulars such as tubing, pipes, casing and liner for location in a well bore. A connector () in the form of a sleeve is located over the ends of each tubular () and the ends of the tubulars are morphed onto the sleeve to provide a metal to metal seal. In an embodiment the sleeve () is morphed onto the ends of the tubulars (). The connector may also have a profiled inner surface with circumferential grooves () and a sectioned locating groove () to provide axial and torsional load bearing capacity.

Pipe joint

A coupling system between tubulars such as tubing, pipes, casing and liner for location in a well bore in which profiled sections () on the tubulars () are connected using a radially applied force to form a metal to metal sealed connection. Embodiments are provided in which the profiled sections are grooved and/or tapered, additional profiles are provided to prevent relative rotation of the tubulars, the radial force is applied inwardly, outwardly or in both directions, and a connector is used as an additional tubular member to form the coupling.

Pipe coupling

Apparatus and method for sealingly connecting tubular members in a wellbore. In a connector apparatus where a portion of a tubular member is radially expanded into sealing contact within a second tubular member, and the second tubular member has circumferential recesses on an inner surface, an annular resilient band member is arranged in the recesses. The annular resilient band member is acted on by the portion of the tubular member during expansion and maintains sealing contact to the portion after expansion.

Morphing tubulars

Apparatus and method for connecting tubular members in a wellbore. A host tubular member has annular members mounted within a receiving section to provide regions of differing resistance to the radial load. When a portion of a second tubular member is expanded radially outwardly within the receiving section a joint is formed between the members. Embodiments of host tubular members include recesses for the portion to form protrusions within, collapsible rings, channels and valves to expel fluid from the interface between the members and gripper elements and sealing elements to improve the joint.

Tubular connection

An apparatus () and method, particularly useful for isolating zones in a hydrocarbon open hole well bore (). The apparatus includes a tubular body (), arranged to be run into and secured within the well bore. A sleeve member () is positioned on the exterior of the body and is sealed thereto creating a chamber () therebetween. Pressure is applied through a port () in the body to cause the sleeve member to move outwardly and morph to an inner wall of the well bore. Pressure is trapped in the chamber and maintained at a morphed pressure value by pressure balancing means in the form of a biased piston ().

Isolation barrier

An apparatus and method for providing a tubular connection in the form of a liner tieback connection or a liner hanger in a slim hole well as found in deep wells. When installing the casing sections, a first casing section having a profiled surface distinct from a surface of an adjacent casing section is provided. A liner is run into the first casing section and a part of a portion is radially expanded to morph against the inner surface of the first casing section at the profiled surface and form a sealed joint. Various arrangements of profiled surfaces are provided. The liner may also have a profiled surface. By adapting the casing section to receive the liner directly, a slim hole well construction is achieved.

Apparatus and method for use in slim hole wells

Apparatus and method for connecting tubular members in a wellbore. A host tubular member has reinforcing annular members mounted thereon to provide regions of differing resistance to the radial load. When the host tubular member is expanded radially outwardly, within a second tubular member, each weaker region starts expanding first and seals the host tubular member against the second tubular member prior to the stronger region. Embodiments of host tubular members are described including members of progressive resistance, split rings, gripper elements and sealing elements.

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Stonehaven, United Kingdom

Daniel O'Brien