Tubular assembly and method of deploying a downhole device using a tubular assembly

Abstract

A tubular assembly is disclosed for use in a wellbore () of an oil, gas or water well, typically for landing a downhole device in the wellbore. The assembly has a sleeve () adapted to receive the body of the downhole device. The sleeve is deployed into a conduit in the wellbore and expanded, so that the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve is radially expanded against the inner surface of the conduit. The sleeve has a bore with an inner circumferential surface comprising an inwardly facing formation adapted to engage with an outwardly facing formation on the body of the downhole device when the body of the downhole device is disposed in the bore of the sleeve. The sleeve is typically deployed in the wellbore at the desired location and is radially expanded by an expander device () that is deployed within the bore of the sleeve. The expanded sleeve plastically deforms and retains its expanded configuration after the radial expansion force is removed from the sleeve. The sleeve provides a modular anchoring or landing point in the wellbore that can be retrospectively set in the conduit at different locations, and various downhole devices can then be deployed into the sleeves at predictable depths and a reliable connection can be made with the sleeve. The assembly can typically pass through a smaller diameter before being morphed to seal and anchor in a larger diameter.