WO2004092530A2 - Radially expanding casing and driling a wellbore - Google Patents

Radially expanding casing and driling a wellbore Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2004092530A2
WO2004092530A2 PCT/US2004/011177 US2004011177W WO2004092530A2 WO 2004092530 A2 WO2004092530 A2 WO 2004092530A2 US 2004011177 W US2004011177 W US 2004011177W WO 2004092530 A2 WO2004092530 A2 WO 2004092530A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
filed
drilling
wellbore
attorney docket
expanding
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2004/011177
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2004092530A3 (en
WO2004092530B1 (en
Inventor
Robert Lance Cook
Randall Mercer Smolen
Gerald Edward Kent
Richard Thomas Hay
Jerry Lavelle Keen, Jr.
Original Assignee
Enventure Global Technology
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Enventure Global Technology filed Critical Enventure Global Technology
Priority to GB0521024A priority Critical patent/GB2416556B/en
Priority to CA002522546A priority patent/CA2522546A1/en
Publication of WO2004092530A2 publication Critical patent/WO2004092530A2/en
Publication of WO2004092530A3 publication Critical patent/WO2004092530A3/en
Publication of WO2004092530B1 publication Critical patent/WO2004092530B1/en
Priority to US11/838,782 priority patent/US20080142213A1/en

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Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21BEARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/02Subsoil filtering
    • E21B43/10Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells
    • E21B43/103Setting of casings, screens, liners or the like in wells of expandable casings, screens, liners, or the like

Definitions

  • patent number 6,568,471 which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no. 25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121 ,841 , filed on 2/26/99, (50)
  • patent number 6,557,640 which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (73) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/199,524, attorney docket no. 25791.100, filed on 7/19/02, which is a continuation of U.S. Patent Number 6,497,289, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial no. 09/454,139, attorney docket no.
  • Patent Number 6,497,289 which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial no. 09/454,139, attorney docket no. 25791.03.02, filed on 12/3/1999, which claims priority from provisional application 60/111 ,293, filed on 12/7/98, (85) U.S. provisional patent application serial no.
  • PCT patent application serial number PCT/US04/ attorney docket number 25791.270.02, filed on 4/2/2004, (129)
  • This invention relates generally to oil and gas exploration, and in particular to forming and repairing wellbore casings to facilitate oil and gas exploration.
  • a relatively large borehole diameter is required at the upper part of the wellbore.
  • Such a large borehole diameter involves increased costs due to heavy casing handling equipment, large drill bits and increased volumes of drilling fluid and drill cuttings.
  • increased drilling rig time is involved due to required cement pumping, cement hardening, required equipment changes due to large variations in hole diameters drilled in the course of the well, and the large volume of cuttings drilled and removed.
  • the present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations of the existing procedures for forming and/or repairing wellbore casings.
  • an apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member and drilling a wellbore within a subterranean formation includes an expandable tubular member, an expansion device coupled to the expandable tubular member adapted to radially expand and plastically deform the expandable tubular member within the wellbore including: a tubular expansion mandrel, and a tubular expansion mandrel launcher for housing the tubular expansion mandrel coupled to the expandable tubular member, a pump coupled to the expansion device adapted to pump fluidic materials through the tubular expansion mandrel into a portion of the tubular expansion mandrel launcher, a drilling device coupled to the expansion device adapted to receive the fluidic materials pumped into the portion of the tubular expansion mandrel launcher and drill the wellbore within the subterranean formation including: one or more flow control elements for controlling the flow of the received fluidic materials, a motor coupled to the flow control elements adapted to be operated by the fluidic materials,
  • a method of radially expanding a wellbore casing within a wellbore and drilling the wellbore through a subterranean formation includes positioning an expandable casing, an expansion device for radially expanding the expandable casing, and a drilling device for extending the wellbore within the wellbore, and operating the expansion device and the drilling device using a method including: selecting drilling or expanding or drilling and expanding, if drilling or expanding is selected, then sequentially performing the following steps in any order: extending the wellbore using the drilling device, and expanding the casing using the expansion device, and if drilling and expanding is selected, then simultaneously performing the following steps: extending the wellbore using the drilling device, and expanding the casing using the expansion device.
  • a system for radially expanding a wellbore casing within a wellbore and drilling the wellbore through a subterranean formation includes means for positioning an expandable casing, an expansion device for radially expanding the expandable casing, and a drilling device for extending the wellbore within the wellbore, and means for operating the expansion device and the drilling device including: means for selecting drilling or expanding or drilling and expanding, if drilling or expanding is selected, then means for sequentially performing the following steps in any order: extending the wellbore using the drilling device, and expanding the casing using the expansion device, and if drilling and expanding is selected, then means for simultaneously performing the following steps: extending the wellbore using the drilling device, and expanding the casing using the expansion device.
  • an apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member and drilling a wellbore within a subterranean formation includes an expandable tubular member, an expansion device coupled to the expandable tubular member adapted to radially expand and plastically deform the expandable tubular member within the wellbore, a drilling device coupled to the expansion device adapted to drill the wellbore within the subterranean formation, and a controller coupled to the expansion device and the drilling device that is programmed to control the expansion device and the drilling device to operate in one of the following modes of operation: (a) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device or expanding the tubular member using the expansion device; or (b) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device and expanding the tubular member using the expansion device simultaneously.
  • FIGs. 1a, 1ba, 1bb, 1bc, 1bd, 1be, 1bf, 1c, and 1d are fragmentary cross sectional illustrations of an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for radially expanding a wellbore casing and drilling a borehole within a subterranean formation.
  • FIG. 1e is a schematic illustration of the apparatus of Figs. 1a, 1ba, 1bb, 1bc, 1bd,
  • Figs. 2a, 2b, and 2c are an exemplary embodiment of a method of operating the apparatus of Figs. 1a, 1ba, 1bb, 1bc, 1bd, 1be, 1bf, 1c, and 1d.
  • an exemplary embodiment of a system 10 for radially expanding a casing and drilling a wellbore includes a casing expansion assembly 12 that is coupled to a wellbore drilling assembly 14.
  • the casing expansion assembly 12 includes a tubular expansion mandrel launcher
  • the tubular expansion mandrel launcher 16 includes a lower portion 16a, an upper portion 16b, and an intermediate tapered portion 16c that is coupled to and positioned between ends of the lower and upper portions.
  • a tubular expansion mandrel 20 that defines a passage 20a and includes an outer tapered expansion surface 20b is positioned within the tubular expansion mandrel launcher
  • the drilling assembly 14 includes a funnel cross over 24 that defines a passage 24a and includes an upper tubular portion 24b that coupled to the lower tubular portion 16a of the tubular expansion mandrel launcher 16, a lower tubular portion 24c, and an intermediate tapered tubular portion 24e that is coupled to and positioned between the upper and lower tubular portions.
  • a flow element 26 that defines a passage
  • the flow element 26a may be positioned within and coupled to the lower tubular portion 24c of the funnel cross over 24.
  • the flow element 26 may further include one or more of the following types of flow elements: orifices 26b, nozzles 26c, passive flow elements 26d, and/or active flow elements 26e for controlling the flow of fluidic materials through the passage 26a.
  • An upper end of a conventional pup joint 28 that defines a passage 28a is coupled to the lower tubular portion 24c of the funnel cross over 24.
  • a lower end of the conventional pup joint 28 is coupled to an upper end of a bi-pressure sub 30 that defines a passage 30a and includes a flow control element 30b for controlling the flow of fluidic materials through the passage 30a.
  • the flow control element 30b is coupled to a controller 32 and is adapted to permit anywhere from 0 to 100% flow through the passage
  • the bi-pressure sub is provided by modifying a conventional adjustable gauge stabilizer in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure.
  • An upper end of a conventional shock tool 34 that defines a passage 34a is coupled to a lower end of the bi-pressure sub 30, and a lower end of the conventional shock tool is coupled to an upper end of a conventional mud motor 36 that defines a passage 36a.
  • a lower end of the conventional mud motor 36 is coupled to an upper end of a conventional cross-over 38 that defines a passage 38a, and a lower end of the conventional cross-over is coupled to an upper end of a conventional underreamer 40 that defines a passage 40a.
  • a lower end of the conventional underreamer is coupled to an upper end of a conventional string stabilizer 42 that defines a passage 42a, and a lower end of the string stabilizer is coupled to an upper end of a near bit stabilizer 44 that defines a passage 44a.
  • a lower end of the near bit stabilizer is coupled to an upper end of a conventional drill bit 46 that defines a passage 46a.
  • the underreamer 40 and/or the drill bit 46 are at least partially operated in a conventional manner by the fluid pressure within the passages
  • the pump 23 is operably coupled to the interior portion of the launcher 16 below the expansion mandrel 20. In this manner, the pump 23 may pressurize the interior portion of the launcher 16 and/or casing 18 below the expansion mandrel 20.
  • the mud motor 36 is controllably coupled to the pump 23 by the flow elements 26 and the flow control valve 30b. In this manner, the mud motor 36, the underreamer 40, and the drill bit 46 may be controllably operated during the operation of the pump 23.
  • the flow elements 26 are selected to define the operational characteristics of the system 10 such as, for example, the frequency response characteristics of the system.
  • the flow control valve 30b may be controllably positioned by the controller 32 to any position from fully open to fully closed.
  • the operating pressure within the interior portion of the launcher 16 and/or casing 18 below the expansion mandrel 20 may be increased by decreasing the flow rate of fluidic materials through the flow elements 26 and/or the flow control valve 30b. As a result, the back pressure in the system 10 is increased.
  • the decreased flow rate through the flow elements 26 may, for example, be caused by the selected frequency response, or other operational, characteristics of the flow elements.
  • the pump 23 may be operated to generate a pressure or flow signal that causes the resistance to flow of the flow elements 26 to increase, or the active flow elements 26d of the flow elements may be operated to increase the resistance to flow.
  • the decreased flow rate through the flow control valve 30b may be caused by operating the controller 32 to decrease the opening position of the flow control valve.
  • the resulting decreased flow rate of fluidic materials through the flow elements 26 and/or the flow control valve 30b in turn will increase the operating pressure in the flow passages and pressure chambers upstream of the flow elements 26 and/or control valve 30b within the system 10.
  • the expansion mandrel 20 may be displaced upwardly relative to the launcher 16 and/or casing 18 thereby causing the expansion mandrel to radially expand and plastically deform the launcher and/or casing.
  • the operating pressure within the interior portion of the launcher 16 and/or casing 18 below the expansion mandrel 20 may be decreased by increasing the flow rate of fluidic materials through the flow elements 26 and/or the flow control valve 30b.
  • the increased flow rate through the flow elements 26 may, for example, be caused by the frequency response, or other operational, characteristics of the flow elements.
  • the pump 23 may be operated to generate a pressure or flow signal that causes the resistance to flow of the flow elements to decrease, or the active flow elements 26d of the flow elements may be operated to decrease the resistance to flow.
  • the increased flow rate through the flow control valve 30b may be caused by operating the controller 32 to increase the opening position of the flow control valve.
  • the resulting increased flow rate of fluidic materials through the flow elements 26 and/or the flow control valve 30b in turn will decrease the operating pressure in the flow passages and pressure chambers upstream of the flow elements 26 and/or control valve 30b within the system 10.
  • the expansion mandrel 20 may not be displaced upwardly relative to the launcher 16 and/or casing 18 thereby the radial expansion and plastic deformation of the launcher and/or casing caused by the expansion mandrel may be decreased or stopped.
  • increasing the flow rate of fluidic materials through the flow elements 26 and/or the flow control valve 30b will increase the operation of the mud motor 36, the underreamer 40, and the drill bit 46.
  • decreasing the flow rate of fluidic materials through the flow elements 26 and/or the flow control valve 30b will decrease the operation of the mud motor 36, the underreamer 40, and the drill bit 46.
  • system 10 is initially positioned within a wellbore
  • the system 10 then implements a method of operation 200 in which the operator of the system 10 may select one of the following modes of operation in step
  • drilling or expansion operation permits the system 10 to drill the wellbore 48 or radially expand and plastically deform the casing 18, and the drilling and expansion operation permits the system 10 to simultaneously drill the wellbore and radially expand and plastically deform the casing.
  • step 202 If the operator selects the drilling or expansion operation in step 202, then the operator may then select drilling or expansion in step 204. If the operator selects drilling in step 204, then fluidic materials are injected into the system 10 through the passages 20a,
  • step 206 the controller 32 then operates the flow control element 30b to decrease the back pressure in the passage 30a sufficiently to operate the underreamer 40 and/or the drill bit 46 in a conventional manner and thereby permit the extension of the wellbore 48 in step 208. If the operator does not want to continue drilling in step 210, then the injection of fluidic materials into the system 10 through the passages through the passages 20a, 22a, 24a, 28a, 30a,
  • step 214 then the operation of the system 10 is stopped. Alternatively, if the operator does want to continue the drilling or expansion operation in step 214, the operator may then select drilling or expansion in step 204.
  • step 204 If the operator selects expansion in step 204, then fluidic materials are injected into the system 10 through the passages 20a, 22a, 24a, 28a, 30a, 32a, 34a, 36a, 38a, 40a, 42a,
  • step 216 the controller 32 then operates the flow control element 30b to increase the back pressure in the passage 30a sufficiently to pressurize the interior portion of the portion of the expansion mandrel launcher 16 and/or the casing 18 below the expansion mandrel 20 to displace the expansion mandrel upwardly relative to the launcher and/or casing to thereby permit the radial expansion and plastic deformation of the launcher and/or casing in step 218.
  • step 220 If the operator does not want to continue expansion in step 220, then the injection of fluidic materials into the system 10 through the passages through the passages 20a, 22a, 24a, 28a, 30a, 32a, 34a, 36a, 38a, 40a, 42a, 44a, and 46a is stopped in step 222.
  • step 202 If the operator selects the drilling and expansion operation in step 202, then fluidic materials are injected into the system 10 through the passages 20a, 22a, 24a, 28a, 30a,
  • step 224 the controller 32 then operates the flow control element 30b to adjust the back pressure in the passage 30a to simultaneously (a) operate the underreamer 40 and/or the drill bit 46 is a conventional manner and thereby permit the extension of the wellbore 48; and (b) pressurize the interior portion of the portion of the expansion mandrel launcher 16 and/or casing 18 below the expansion mandrel 20 to displace the expansion mandrel upwardly relative to the launcher and/or casing to thereby permit the radial expansion and plastic deformation of the launcher and/or casing in step 228.
  • step 230 the injection of fluidic materials into the system 10 through the passages through the passages 20a, 22a, 24a, 28a, 30a, 32a, 34a, 36a, 38a, 40a, 42a, 44a, and 46a is stopped in step 230 and the operation of the system 10 is stopped.
  • U.S. patent number 6,568,471 which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no. 25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121,841, filed on 2/26/99, (8)
  • U.S. patent number 6,575,240 which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/511 ,941, attorney docket no. 25791.16.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121 ,907, filed on 2/26/99, (9)
  • U.S. patent number 6,557,640 which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (10) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/981,916, attorney docket no. 25791.18, filed on 10/18/01 as a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent no. 6,328,113, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial number 09/440,338, attorney docket number 25791.9.02, filed on 11/15/99, which claims priority from provisional application 60/108,558, filed on 11/16/98, (11) U.S. patent number 6,604,763, which was filed as application serial no. 09/559,122, attorney docket no. 25791.23.02, filed on
  • patent number 6,568,471 which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no. 25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121,841 , filed on 2/26/99, (50)
  • 1bb, 1bc, 1bd, 1 be, 1bf, 1c, 1d, 1e, 2a, 2b, and 2c are implemented using an expansion mandrel 20 that includes conventional rotary and/or roller expansion elements such as, for example, that disclosed in WO 02/082863, U.S. 6,457,532, and/or U.S. 2002/0139540, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, or any one of the commercially available roller expansion devices available from Weatherford International.
  • An apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member and drilling a wellbore within a subterranean formation includes an expandable tubular member, an expansion device coupled to the expandable tubular member adapted to radially expand and plastically deform the expandable tubular member within the wellbore including: a tubular expansion mandrel, and a tubular expansion mandrel launcher for housing the tubular expansion mandrel coupled to the expandable tubular member, a pump coupled to the expansion device adapted to pump fluidic materials through the tubular expansion mandrel into a portion of the tubular expansion mandrel launcher, a drilling device coupled to the expansion device adapted to receive the fluidic materials pumped into the portion of the tubular expansion mandrel launcher and drill the wellbore within the subterranean formation including: one or more flow control elements for controlling the flow of the received fluidic materials, a motor coupled to the flow control elements adapted to be operated by the fluidic materials, and a drill coupled to the motor
  • the operational characteristics of the flow control elements vary as a function of the operational characteristics of the pumped fluidic materials.
  • the operational characteristics of the flow control elements include a resistance to flow of the fluidic materials.
  • the operational characteristics of the pumped fluidic materials include a frequency component.
  • a method of radially expanding a wellbore casing within a wellbore and drilling the wellbore through a subterranean formation includes positioning an expandable casing, an expansion device for radially expanding the expandable casing, and a drilling device for extending the wellbore within the wellbore, and operating the expansion device and the drilling device using a method including: selecting drilling or expanding or drilling and expanding, if drilling or expanding is selected, then sequentially performing the following steps in any order: extending the wellbore using the drilling device, and expanding the casing using the expansion device, and if drilling and expanding is selected, then simultaneously performing the following steps: extending the wellbore using the drilling device, and expanding the casing using the expansion device.
  • the expansion device includes an expansion mandrel.
  • the expansion device includes a rotating expansion device.
  • a system for radially expanding a wellbore casing within a wellbore and drilling the wellbore through a subterranean formation includes means for positioning an expandable casing, an expansion device for radially expanding the expandable casing, and a drilling device for extending the wellbore within the wellbore, and means for operating the expansion device and the drilling device including: means for selecting drilling or expanding or drilling and expanding, if drilling or expanding is selected, then means for sequentially performing the following steps in any order: extending the wellbore using the drilling device, and expanding the casing using the expansion device, and if drilling and expanding is selected, then means for simultaneously performing the following steps: extending the wellbore using the drilling device, and expanding the casing using the expansion device.
  • An apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member and drilling a wellbore within a subterranean formation includes an expandable tubular member, an expansion device coupled to the expandable tubular member adapted to radially expand and plastically deform the expandable tubular member within the wellbore, a drilling device coupled to the expansion device adapted to drill the wellbore within the subterranean formation, and a controller coupled to the expansion device and the drilling device that is programmed to control the expansion device and the drilling device to operate in one of the following modes of operation: (a) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device or expanding the tubular member using the expansion device; or (b) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device and expanding the tubular member using the expansion device simultaneously.
  • the expansion device includes an expansion mandrel.
  • the expansion device includes an expansion mandrel.
  • the controller includes one or more flow control elements whose operational characteristics are frequency dependent.

Abstract

A method of radially expanding a wellbore casing (18) and drilling a wellbore (48).

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RADIALLY EXPANDING A WELLBORE CASING AND
DRILLING A WELLBORE
Cross Reference To Related Applications
[001] The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/462,750, attorney docket no. 25791.193, filed on April 14, 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[002] This application is a continuation-in-part of one or more of the following: 1) U.S. utility patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on March
10,2000, 2) U.S. utility patent application serial no. 09/962,469, attorney docket no.
25791.62, filed on 9/25/2001 , 3) U.S. utility patent application serial no. 09/962,470, attorney docket no. 25791.63, filed on 9/25/2001 , 4) U.S. utility patent application serial no.
09/962,471, attorney docket no. 25791.64, filed on 9/25/2001 , 5) U.S. utility patent application serial no. 09/962,467, attorney docket no. 25791.65, filed on 9/25/2001 , 6) U.S. utility patent application serial no. 09/962,468, attorney docket no. 25791.66, filed on
9/25/2001 , 7) U.S. utility patent application serial no. 10/421 ,682, attorney docket no.
25791.256, filed on 4/23/2003, and 8) U.S. utility patent application serial no. 10/418,688, attorney docket no. 25791.257, filed on 4/18/2003, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[003] The present application is related to the following: (1) U.S. Patent Number 6,497,289, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial no. 09/454,139, attorney docket no.
25791.03.02, filed on 12/3/1999, which claims priority from provisional application
60/111 ,293, filed on 12/7/98, (2) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/510,913, attorney docket no. 25791.7.02, filed on 2/23/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/121 ,702, filed on 2/25/99, (3) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/502,350, attorney docket no. 25791.8.02, filed on 2/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/119,611 , filed on 2/11/99, (4) U.S. patent no. 6,328,113, which was filed as U.S. Patent
Application serial number 09/440,338, attorney docket number 25791.9.02, filed on
11/15/99, which claims priority from provisional application 60/108,558, filed on 11/16/98, (5)
U.S. patent application serial no. 10/169,434, attorney docket no. 25791.10.04, filed on
7/1/02, which claims priority from provisional application 60/183,546, filed on 2/18/00, (6)
U.S. patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on
3/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99, (7)
U.S. patent number 6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no. 25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121 ,841 , filed on 2/26/99, (8) U.S. patent number 6,575,240, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/511 ,941 , attorney docket no. 25791.16.02, filed on
2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121 ,907, filed on 2/26/99, (9) U.S. patent number 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (10) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/981 ,916, attorney docket no. 25791.18, filed on 10/18/01 as a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent no. 6,328,113, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial number 09/440,338, attorney docket number 25791.9.02, filed on 11/15/99, which claims priority from provisional application 60/108,558, filed on 11/16/98, (11) U.S. patent number 6,604,763, which was filed as application serial no. 09/559,122, attorney docket no. 25791.23.02, filed on
4/26/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/131 ,106, filed on 4/26/99,
(12) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/030,593, attorney docket no. 25791.25.08, filed on
1/8/02, which claims priority from provisional application 60/146,203, filed on 7/29/99, (13)
U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/143,039, attorney docket no. 25791.26, filed on 7/9/99, (14) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/111 ,982, attorney docket no.
25791.27.08, filed on 4/30/02, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/162,671, attorney docket no. 25791.27, filed on 11/1/1999, (15) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/154,047, attorney docket no. 25791.29, filed on 9/16/1999,
(16) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/438,828, attorney docket no. 25791.31 , filed on 1/9/03, (17) U.S. patent number 6,564,875, which was filed as application serial no.
09/679,907, attorney docket no. 25791.34.02, on 10/5/00, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/159,082, attorney docket no. 25791.34, filed on
10/12/1999, (18) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/089,419, filed on 3/27/02, attorney docket no. 25791.36.03, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no.
60/159,039, attorney docket no. 25791.36, filed on 10/12/1999, (19) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/679,906, filed on 10/5/00, attorney docket no. 25791.37.02, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/159,033, attorney docket no.
25791.37, filed on 10/12/1999, (20) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/303,992, filed on
11/22/02, attorney docket no. 25791.38.07, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/212,359, attorney docket no. 25791.38, filed on 6/19/2000, (21) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/165,228, attorney docket no. 25791.39, filed on
11/12/1999, (22) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/455,051, attorney docket no. 25791.40, filed on 3/14/03, (23) PCT application US02/2477, filed on 6/26/02, attorney docket no. 25791.44.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/303,711, attorney docket no. 25791.44, filed on 7/6/01, (24) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/311 ,412, filed on 12/12/02, attorney docket no. 25791.45.07, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/221 ,443, attorney docket no.
25791.45, filed on 7/28/2000, (25) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/, filed on 12/18/02, attorney docket no. 25791.46.07, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/221 ,645, attorney docket no. 25791.46, filed on 7/28/2000, (26) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/322,947, filed on 1/22/03, attorney docket no. 25791.47.03, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/233,638, attorney docket no.
25791.47, filed on 9/18/2000, (27) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/406,648, filed on
3/31/03, attorney docket no. 25791.48.06, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/237,334, attorney docket no. 25791.48, filed on 10/2/2000, (28) PCT application US02/04353, filed on 2/14/02, attorney docket no. 25791.50.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/270,007, attorney docket no.
25791.50, filed on 2/20/2001 , (29) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/465,835, filed on
6/13/03, attorney docket no. 25791.51.06, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/262,434, attorney docket no. 25791.51 , filed on 1/17/2001 , (30) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/465,831 , filed on 6/13/03, attorney docket no. 25791.52.06, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/259,486, attorney docket no. 25791.52, filed on 1/3/2001, (31) U.S. provisional patent application serial no.
60/452,303, filed on 3/5/03, attorney docket no. 25791.53, (32) U.S. patent number
6,470,966, which was filed as patent application serial number 09/850,093, filed on 5/7/01, attorney docket no. 25791.55, as a divisional application of U.S. Patent Number 6,497,289, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial no. 09/454,139, attorney docket no.
25791.03.02, filed on 12/3/1999, which claims priority from provisional application
60/111 ,293, filed on 12/7/98, (33) U.S. patent number 6,561 ,227, which was filed as patent application serial number 09/852,026 , filed on 5/9/01 , attorney docket no. 25791.56, as a divisional application of U.S. Patent Number 6,497,289, which was filed as U.S. Patent
Application serial no. 09/454,139, attorney docket no. 25791.03.02, filed on 12/3/1999, which claims priority from provisional application 60/111 ,293, filed on 12/7/98, (34) U.S. patent application serial number 09/852,027, filed on 5/9/01, attorney docket no. 25791.57, as a divisional application of U.S. Patent Number 6,497,289, which was filed as U.S. Patent
Application serial no. 09/454,139, attorney docket no. 25791.03.02, filed on 12/3/1999, which claims priority from provisional application 60/111 ,293, filed on 12/7/98, (35) PCT Application
US02/25608, attorney docket no. 25791.58.02, filed on 8/13/02, which claims priority from provisional application 60/318,021 , filed on 9/7/01 , attorney docket no. 25791.58, (36) PCT
Application US02/24399, attorney docket no. 25791.59.02, filed on 8/1/02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/313,453, attorney docket no.
25791.59, filed on 8/20/2001 , (37) PCT Application US02/29856, attorney docket no.
25791.60.02, filed on 9/19/02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/326,886, attorney docket no. 25791.60, filed on 10/3/2001 , (38) PCT
Application US02/20256, attorney docket no. 25791.61.02, filed on 6/26/02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/303,740, attorney docket no. 25791.61 , filed on 7/6/2001 , (39) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/962,469, filed on
9/25/01, attorney docket no. 25791.62, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on 3/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99, (40) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/962,470, filed on 9/25/01 , attorney docket no. 25791.63, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on
3/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99,
(41) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/962,471 , filed on 9/25/01 , attorney docket no.
25791.64, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on 3/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99, (42) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/962,467, filed on
9/25/01 , attorney docket no. 25791.65, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on 3/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99, (43) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/962,468, filed on 9/25/01 , attorney docket no. 25791.66, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on
3/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99,
(44) PCT application US 02/25727, filed on 8/14/02, attorney docket no. 25791.67.03, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/317,985, attorney docket no. 25791.67, filed on 9/6/2001 , and U.S. provisional patent application serial no.
60/318,386, attorney docket no. 25791.67.02, filed on 9/10/2001 , (45) PCT application US
02/39425, filed on 12/10/02, attorney docket no. 25791.68.02, which claims priority from
U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/343,674 , attorney docket no. 25791.68, filed on 12/27/2001, (46) U.S. utility patent application serial no. 09/969,922, attorney docket no. 25791.69, filed on 10/3/2001 , which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent no. 6,328,113, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial number 09/440,338, attorney docket number 25791.9.02, filed on 11/15/99, which claims priority from provisional application 60/108,558, filed on 11/16/98, (47) U.S. utility patent application serial no.
10/516,467, attorney docket no. 25791.70, filed on 12/10/01 , which is a continuation application of U.S. utility patent application serial no. 09/969,922, attorney docket no.
25791.69, filed on 10/3/2001, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent no.
6,328,113, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial number 09/440,338, attorney docket number 25791.9.02, filed on 11/15/99, which claims priority from provisional application 60/108,558, filed on 11/16/98, (48) PCT application US 03/00609, filed on 1/9/03, attorney docket no. 25791.71.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/357,372 , attorney docket no. 25791.71 , filed on 2/15/02, (49) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/074,703, attorney docket no. 25791.74, filed on 2/12/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number 6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no. 25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121 ,841 , filed on 2/26/99, (50) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/074,244, attorney docket no. 25791.75, filed on 2/12/02, which is a divisional of
U.S. patent number 6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no. 25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121 ,841, filed on 2/26/99, (51) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/076,660, attorney docket no. 25791.76, filed on 2/15/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number
6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no.
25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/121 ,841 , filed on 2/26/99, (52) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/076,661 , attorney docket no. 25791.77, filed on 2/15/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number
6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no.
25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/121,841 , filed on 2/26/99, (53) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/076,659, attorney docket no. 25791.78, filed on 2/15/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number
6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no.
25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/121,841 , filed on 2/26/99, (54) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/078,928, attorney docket no. 25791.79, filed on 2/20/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number
6,568,471, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no.
25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/121,841, filed on 2/26/99, (55) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/078,922, attorney docket no. 25791.80, filed on 2/20/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number
6,568,471, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no.
25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/121,841, filed on 2/26/99, (56) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/078,921, attorney docket no. 25791.81 , filed on 2/20/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number
6,568,471, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no.
25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/121,841, filed on 2/26/99, (57) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/261,928, attorney docket no. 25791.82, filed on 10/1/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number
6,557,640, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no.
25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (58) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/079,276 , attorney docket no.
25791.83, filed on 2/20/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number 6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no. 25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121 ,841 , filed on 2/26/99,
(59) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/262,009, attorney docket no. 25791.84, filed on
10/1/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (60) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/092,481 , attorney docket no. 25791.85, filed on 3/7/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number 6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no.
09/512,895, attorney docket no. 25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121 ,841 , filed on 2/26/99, (61) U.S. patent application serial no.
10/261 ,926, attorney docket no. 25791.86, filed on 10/1/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (62) PCT application US 02/36157, filed on 11/12/02, attorney docket no. 25791.87.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/338,996, attorney docket no. 25791.87, filed on 11/12/01, (63) PCT application US 02/36267, filed on 11/12/02, attorney docket no. 25791.88.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/339,013, attorney docket no.
25791.88, filed on 11/12/01 , (64) PCT application US 03/11765, filed on 4/16/03, attorney docket no. 25791.89.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/383,917, attorney docket no. 25791.89, filed on 5/29/02, (65) PCT application US
03/15020, filed on 5/12/03, attorney docket no. 25791.90.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/391,703, attorney docket no. 25791.90, filed on
6/26/02, (66) PCT application US 02/39418, filed on 12/10/02, attorney docket no.
25791.92.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no.
60/346,309, attorney docket no. 25791.92, filed on 1/7/02, (67) PCT application US
03/06544, filed on 3/4/03, attorney docket no. 25791.93.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/372,048, attorney docket no. 25791.93, filed on
4/12/02, (68) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/331 ,718, attorney docket no. 25791.94, filed on 12/30/02, which is a divisional U.S. patent application serial no. 09/679,906, filed on
10/5/00, attorney docket no. 25791.37.02, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/159,033, attorney docket no. 25791.37, filed on 10/12/1999, (69)
PCT application US 03/04837, filed on 2/29/03, attorney docket no. 25791.95.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/363,829, attorney docket no. 25791.95, filed on 3/13/02, (70) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/261,927, attorney docket no. 25791.97, filed on 10/1/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number
6,557,640, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no.
25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (71) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/262,008, attorney docket no. 25791.98, filed on 10/1/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (72) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/261 ,925, attorney docket no. 25791.99, filed on 10/1/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (73) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/199,524, attorney docket no. 25791.100, filed on 7/19/02, which is a continuation of U.S. Patent Number 6,497,289, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial no. 09/454,139, attorney docket no. 25791.03.02, filed on 12/3/1999, which claims priority from provisional application 60/111 ,293, filed on 12/7/98, (74) PCT application US 03/10144, filed on 3/28/03, attorney docket no. 25791.101.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/372,632, attorney docket no. 25791.101 , filed on 4/15/02, (75) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/412,542, attorney docket no. 25791.102, filed on 9/20/02, (76) PCT application US 03/14153, filed on 5/6/03, attorney docket no. 25791.104.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/380,147, attorney docket no. 25791.104, filed on 5/6/02, (77) PCT application US 03/19993, filed on 6/24/03, attorney docket no. 25791.106.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/397,284, attorney docket no. 25791.106, filed on 7/19/02, (78) PCT application US 03/13787, filed on 5/5/03, attorney docket no. 25791.107.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/387,486 , attorney docket no. 25791.107, filed on 6/10/02, (79) PCT application US 03/18530, filed on 6/11/03, attorney docket no. 25791.108.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/387,961, attorney docket no. 25791.108, filed on 6/12/02, (80) PCT application US 03/20694, filed on 7/1/03, attorney docket no. 25791.110.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/398,061, attorney docket no. 25791.110, filed on 7/24/02, (81) PCT application US 03/20870, filed on 7/2/03, attorney docket no. 25791.111.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/399,240, attorney docket no. 25791.111 , filed on 7/29/02, (82) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/412,487, attorney docket no. 25791.112, filed on 9/20/02, (83) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/412,488, attorney docket no. 25791.114, filed on 9/20/02, (84) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/280,356, attorney docket no. 25791.115, filed on 10/25/02, which is a continuation of U.S. patent number 6,470,966, which was filed as patent application serial number 09/850,093, filed on 5/7/01 , attorney docket no. 25791.55, as a divisional application of U.S.
Patent Number 6,497,289, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial no. 09/454,139, attorney docket no. 25791.03.02, filed on 12/3/1999, which claims priority from provisional application 60/111 ,293, filed on 12/7/98, (85) U.S. provisional patent application serial no.
60/412,177, attorney docket no. 25791.117, filed on 9/20/02, (86) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/412,653, attorney docket no. 25791.118, filed on 9/20/02, (87) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/405,610, attorney docket no. 25791.119, filed on
8/23/02, (88) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/405,394, attorney docket no.
25791.120, filed on 8/23/02, (89) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/412,544, attorney docket no. 25791.121 , filed on 9/20/02, (90) PCT application US 03/24779, filed on
8/8/03, attorney docket no. 25791.125.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/407,442, attorney docket no. 25791.125, filed on 8/30/02, (91) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/423,363, attorney docket no. 25791.126, filed on
12/ 0/02, (92) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/412,196, attorney docket no.
25791.127, filed on 9/20/02, (93) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/412,187, attorney docket no. 25791.128, filed on 9/20/02, (94) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/412,371, attorney docket no. 25791.129, filed on 9/20/02, (95) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/382,325, attorney docket no. 25791.145, filed on 3/5/03, which is a continuation of U.S. patent number 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (96) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/624,842, attorney docket no. 25791.151 , filed on 7/22/03, which is a divisional of
U.S. patent application serial no. 09/502,350, attorney docket no. 25791.8.02, filed on
2/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/119,611 , filed on 2/11/99,
(97) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/431 ,184, attorney docket no.
25791.157, filed on 12/5/02, (98) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/448,526, attorney docket no. 25791.185, filed on 2/18/03, (99) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/461,539, attorney docket no. 25791.186, filed on 4/9/03, (100) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/462,750, attorney docket no. 25791.193, filed on 4/14/03,
(101) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/436,106, attorney docket no.
25791.200, filed on 12/23/02, (102) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/442,942, attorney docket no. 25791.213, filed on 1/27/03, (103) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/442,938, attorney docket no. 25791.225, filed on 1/27/03, (104) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/418,687, attorney docket no. 25791.228, filed on 4/18/03,
(105) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/454,896, attorney docket no.
25791.236, filed on 3/14/03, (106) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/450,504, attorney docket no. 25791.238, filed on 2/26/03, (107) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/451 ,152, attorney docket no. 25791.239, filed on 3/9/03, (108) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/455,124, attorney docket no. 25791.241, filed on 3/17/03, (109) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/453,678, attorney docket no.
25791.253, filed on 3/11/03, (110) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/421 ,682, attorney docket no. 25791.256, filed on 4/23/03, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on 3/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99, (111) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/457,965, attorney docket no. 25791.260, filed on 3/27/03,
(112) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/455,718, attorney docket no.
25791.262, filed on 3/18/03, (113) U.S. patent number 6,550,821 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/811,734, filed on 3/19/01, (114) U.S. patent application serial no.
10/436,467, attorney docket no. 25791.268, filed on 5/12/03, which is a continuation of U.S. patent number 6,604,763, which was filed as application serial no. 09/559,122, attorney docket no. 25791.23.02, filed on 4/26/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/131,106, filed on 4/26/99, (115) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/459,776, attorney docket no. 25791.270, filed on 4/2/03, (116) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/461,094, attorney docket no. 25791.272, filed on 4/8/03, (117) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/461 ,038, attorney docket no. 25791.273, filed on 4/7/03,
(118) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/463,586, attorney docket no.
25791.277, filed on 4/17/03, (119) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/472,240, attorney docket no. 25791.286, filed on 5/20/03, (120) U.S. patent application serial no.
10/619,285, attorney docket no. 25791.292, filed on 7/14/03, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. utility patent application serial no. 09/969,922, attorney docket no. 25791.69, filed on
10/3/2001, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent no. 6,328,113, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial number 09/440,338, attorney docket number
25791.9.02, filed on 11/15/99, which claims priority from provisional application 60/108,558, filed on 11/16/98, (121) U.S. utility patent application serial no. 10/418,688, attorney docket no. 25791.257, which was filed on 4/18/03, as a division of U.S. utility patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on 3/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99, (122) PCT patent application serial no. PCT/US04/06246, attorney docket no. 25791.238.02, filed on
2/26/2004, (123) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US04/08170 , attorney docket number 25791.40.02, filed on 3/15/04, (124) PCT patent application serial number
PCT/US04/08171 , attorney docket number 25791.236.02, filed on 3/15/04, (125) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US04/08073, attorney docket number 25791.262.02, filed on
3/18/04, (126) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US04/07711 , attorney docket number 25791.253.02, filed on 3/11/2004, (127) PCT patent application serial number
PCT/US04/ , attorney docket number 25791.260.02, filed on 3/26/2004, (128)
PCT patent application serial number PCT/US04/ , attorney docket number 25791.270.02, filed on 4/2/2004, (129) PCT patent application serial number
PCT/US04/ , attorney docket number 25791.272.02, filed on 4/7/2004, and
(130) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US04/ , attorney docket number
25791.273.02, filed on 4/6/2004, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Background of the Invention
[004] This invention relates generally to oil and gas exploration, and in particular to forming and repairing wellbore casings to facilitate oil and gas exploration.
[005] Conventionally, when a wellbore is created, a number of casings are installed in the borehole to prevent collapse of the borehole wall and to prevent undesired outflow of drilling fluid into the formation or inflow of fluid from the formation into the borehole. The borehole is drilled in intervals whereby a casing which is to be installed in a lower borehole interval is lowered through a previously installed casing of an upper borehole interval. As a consequence of this procedure the casing of the lower interval is of smaller diameter than the casing of the upper interval. Thus, the casings are in a nested arrangement with casing diameters decreasing in downward direction. Cement annuli are provided between the outer surfaces of the casings and the borehole wall to seal the casings from the borehole wall. As a consequence of this nested arrangement a relatively large borehole diameter is required at the upper part of the wellbore. Such a large borehole diameter involves increased costs due to heavy casing handling equipment, large drill bits and increased volumes of drilling fluid and drill cuttings. Moreover, increased drilling rig time is involved due to required cement pumping, cement hardening, required equipment changes due to large variations in hole diameters drilled in the course of the well, and the large volume of cuttings drilled and removed.
[006] The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations of the existing procedures for forming and/or repairing wellbore casings.
Summary of the Invention
[007] According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member and drilling a wellbore within a subterranean formation is provided that includes an expandable tubular member, an expansion device coupled to the expandable tubular member adapted to radially expand and plastically deform the expandable tubular member within the wellbore including: a tubular expansion mandrel, and a tubular expansion mandrel launcher for housing the tubular expansion mandrel coupled to the expandable tubular member, a pump coupled to the expansion device adapted to pump fluidic materials through the tubular expansion mandrel into a portion of the tubular expansion mandrel launcher, a drilling device coupled to the expansion device adapted to receive the fluidic materials pumped into the portion of the tubular expansion mandrel launcher and drill the wellbore within the subterranean formation including: one or more flow control elements for controlling the flow of the received fluidic materials, a motor coupled to the flow control elements adapted to be operated by the fluidic materials, and a drill coupled to the motor adapted to be driven by the motor, and a controller coupled to the expansion device and the drilling device that is programmed to control the expansion device and the drilling device to operate in one of the following modes of operation: (a) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device or expanding the tubular member using the expansion device, or (b) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device and expanding the tubular member using the expansion device simultaneously.
[008] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of radially expanding a wellbore casing within a wellbore and drilling the wellbore through a subterranean formation is provided that includes positioning an expandable casing, an expansion device for radially expanding the expandable casing, and a drilling device for extending the wellbore within the wellbore, and operating the expansion device and the drilling device using a method including: selecting drilling or expanding or drilling and expanding, if drilling or expanding is selected, then sequentially performing the following steps in any order: extending the wellbore using the drilling device, and expanding the casing using the expansion device, and if drilling and expanding is selected, then simultaneously performing the following steps: extending the wellbore using the drilling device, and expanding the casing using the expansion device.
[009] According to another aspect of the present invention, a system for radially expanding a wellbore casing within a wellbore and drilling the wellbore through a subterranean formation is provided that includes means for positioning an expandable casing, an expansion device for radially expanding the expandable casing, and a drilling device for extending the wellbore within the wellbore, and means for operating the expansion device and the drilling device including: means for selecting drilling or expanding or drilling and expanding, if drilling or expanding is selected, then means for sequentially performing the following steps in any order: extending the wellbore using the drilling device, and expanding the casing using the expansion device, and if drilling and expanding is selected, then means for simultaneously performing the following steps: extending the wellbore using the drilling device, and expanding the casing using the expansion device.
[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member and drilling a wellbore within a subterranean formation is provided that includes an expandable tubular member, an expansion device coupled to the expandable tubular member adapted to radially expand and plastically deform the expandable tubular member within the wellbore, a drilling device coupled to the expansion device adapted to drill the wellbore within the subterranean formation, and a controller coupled to the expansion device and the drilling device that is programmed to control the expansion device and the drilling device to operate in one of the following modes of operation: (a) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device or expanding the tubular member using the expansion device; or (b) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device and expanding the tubular member using the expansion device simultaneously.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0011] Figs. 1a, 1ba, 1bb, 1bc, 1bd, 1be, 1bf, 1c, and 1d are fragmentary cross sectional illustrations of an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for radially expanding a wellbore casing and drilling a borehole within a subterranean formation.
[0012] Fig. 1e is a schematic illustration of the apparatus of Figs. 1a, 1ba, 1bb, 1bc, 1bd,
1be, 1bf, 1c, and 1d.
[0013] Figs. 2a, 2b, and 2c are an exemplary embodiment of a method of operating the apparatus of Figs. 1a, 1ba, 1bb, 1bc, 1bd, 1be, 1bf, 1c, and 1d.
Detailed Description of the Illustrative Embodiments
[0014] Referring to Figs. 1a, 1b, 1ca, 1cb, 1cc, 1cd, 1ce, 1cf, and 1d, an exemplary embodiment of a system 10 for radially expanding a casing and drilling a wellbore includes a casing expansion assembly 12 that is coupled to a wellbore drilling assembly 14.
[0015] The casing expansion assembly 12 includes a tubular expansion mandrel launcher
16 and an expandable tubular casing 18 that is coupled to an upper end of the tubular expansion mandrel launcher, and a lower end of the tubular expansion mandrel launcher 16 is coupled to an upper end of the drilling assembly 14. In an exemplary embodiment, the tubular expansion mandrel launcher 16 includes a lower portion 16a, an upper portion 16b, and an intermediate tapered portion 16c that is coupled to and positioned between ends of the lower and upper portions.
[0016] A tubular expansion mandrel 20 that defines a passage 20a and includes an outer tapered expansion surface 20b is positioned within the tubular expansion mandrel launcher
16, and an end of a tubular support member 22 that defines a passage 22a is coupled to an upper end of the tubular expansion mandrel 20.
[0017] The drilling assembly 14 includes a funnel cross over 24 that defines a passage 24a and includes an upper tubular portion 24b that coupled to the lower tubular portion 16a of the tubular expansion mandrel launcher 16, a lower tubular portion 24c, and an intermediate tapered tubular portion 24e that is coupled to and positioned between the upper and lower tubular portions. In an exemplary embodiment, a flow element 26 that defines a passage
26a may be positioned within and coupled to the lower tubular portion 24c of the funnel cross over 24. The flow element 26 may further include one or more of the following types of flow elements: orifices 26b, nozzles 26c, passive flow elements 26d, and/or active flow elements 26e for controlling the flow of fluidic materials through the passage 26a. [0018] An upper end of a conventional pup joint 28 that defines a passage 28a is coupled to the lower tubular portion 24c of the funnel cross over 24. A lower end of the conventional pup joint 28 is coupled to an upper end of a bi-pressure sub 30 that defines a passage 30a and includes a flow control element 30b for controlling the flow of fluidic materials through the passage 30a. In an exemplary embodiment, the flow control element 30b is coupled to a controller 32 and is adapted to permit anywhere from 0 to 100% flow through the passage
30a under the control of the controller. In an exemplary embodiment, the bi-pressure sub is provided by modifying a conventional adjustable gauge stabilizer in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure.
[0019] An upper end of a conventional shock tool 34 that defines a passage 34a is coupled to a lower end of the bi-pressure sub 30, and a lower end of the conventional shock tool is coupled to an upper end of a conventional mud motor 36 that defines a passage 36a. A lower end of the conventional mud motor 36 is coupled to an upper end of a conventional cross-over 38 that defines a passage 38a, and a lower end of the conventional cross-over is coupled to an upper end of a conventional underreamer 40 that defines a passage 40a. A lower end of the conventional underreamer is coupled to an upper end of a conventional string stabilizer 42 that defines a passage 42a, and a lower end of the string stabilizer is coupled to an upper end of a near bit stabilizer 44 that defines a passage 44a. A lower end of the near bit stabilizer is coupled to an upper end of a conventional drill bit 46 that defines a passage 46a.
[0020] The design and operation of the pup joint 28, the shock tool 34, mud motor 36, the cross over 38, the underreamer 40, the string stabilizer 42, the near bit stabilizer 44, and the bit 46 are considered well known to persons having ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, the connectivity and cooperative functionality of the pup joint 28, the shock tool 34, mud motor
36, the cross over 38, the underreamer 40, the string stabilizer 42, the near bit stabilizer 44, and the bit 46 are also considered to be well known to persons having ordinary skill in the art. In several exemplary embodiments, the underreamer 40 and/or the drill bit 46 are at least partially operated in a conventional manner by the fluid pressure within the passages
40a and/or 46a.
[0021] As illustrated in Fig. 1e, in an exemplary embodiment, the pump 23 is operably coupled to the interior portion of the launcher 16 below the expansion mandrel 20. In this manner, the pump 23 may pressurize the interior portion of the launcher 16 and/or casing 18 below the expansion mandrel 20. The mud motor 36 is controllably coupled to the pump 23 by the flow elements 26 and the flow control valve 30b. In this manner, the mud motor 36, the underreamer 40, and the drill bit 46 may be controllably operated during the operation of the pump 23. In an exemplary embodiment, the flow elements 26 are selected to define the operational characteristics of the system 10 such as, for example, the frequency response characteristics of the system. In an exemplary embodiment, the flow control valve 30b may be controllably positioned by the controller 32 to any position from fully open to fully closed. [0022] In an exemplary embodiment, the operating pressure within the interior portion of the launcher 16 and/or casing 18 below the expansion mandrel 20 may be increased by decreasing the flow rate of fluidic materials through the flow elements 26 and/or the flow control valve 30b. As a result, the back pressure in the system 10 is increased. The decreased flow rate through the flow elements 26 may, for example, be caused by the selected frequency response, or other operational, characteristics of the flow elements. For example, the pump 23 may be operated to generate a pressure or flow signal that causes the resistance to flow of the flow elements 26 to increase, or the active flow elements 26d of the flow elements may be operated to increase the resistance to flow. The decreased flow rate through the flow control valve 30b may be caused by operating the controller 32 to decrease the opening position of the flow control valve. The resulting decreased flow rate of fluidic materials through the flow elements 26 and/or the flow control valve 30b in turn will increase the operating pressure in the flow passages and pressure chambers upstream of the flow elements 26 and/or control valve 30b within the system 10. As a result, the expansion mandrel 20 may be displaced upwardly relative to the launcher 16 and/or casing 18 thereby causing the expansion mandrel to radially expand and plastically deform the launcher and/or casing.
[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, the operating pressure within the interior portion of the launcher 16 and/or casing 18 below the expansion mandrel 20 may be decreased by increasing the flow rate of fluidic materials through the flow elements 26 and/or the flow control valve 30b. As a result, the back pressure in the system 10 is decreased. The increased flow rate through the flow elements 26 may, for example, be caused by the frequency response, or other operational, characteristics of the flow elements. For example, the pump 23 may be operated to generate a pressure or flow signal that causes the resistance to flow of the flow elements to decrease, or the active flow elements 26d of the flow elements may be operated to decrease the resistance to flow. The increased flow rate through the flow control valve 30b may be caused by operating the controller 32 to increase the opening position of the flow control valve. The resulting increased flow rate of fluidic materials through the flow elements 26 and/or the flow control valve 30b in turn will decrease the operating pressure in the flow passages and pressure chambers upstream of the flow elements 26 and/or control valve 30b within the system 10. As a result, the expansion mandrel 20 may not be displaced upwardly relative to the launcher 16 and/or casing 18 thereby the radial expansion and plastic deformation of the launcher and/or casing caused by the expansion mandrel may be decreased or stopped. [0024] In an exemplary embodiment, increasing the flow rate of fluidic materials through the flow elements 26 and/or the flow control valve 30b will increase the operation of the mud motor 36, the underreamer 40, and the drill bit 46. Alternatively, in an exemplary embodiment, decreasing the flow rate of fluidic materials through the flow elements 26 and/or the flow control valve 30b will decrease the operation of the mud motor 36, the underreamer 40, and the drill bit 46.
[0025] In an exemplary embodiment, the system 10 is initially positioned within a wellbore
48 that traverses a subterranean formation 50. Referring to Fig. 2a, 2b, and 2c, in an exemplary embodiment, the system 10 then implements a method of operation 200 in which the operator of the system 10 may select one of the following modes of operation in step
202: (a) drilling or expansion operation; or (b) drilling and expansion operation. In an exemplary embodiment, the drilling or expansion operation permits the system 10 to drill the wellbore 48 or radially expand and plastically deform the casing 18, and the drilling and expansion operation permits the system 10 to simultaneously drill the wellbore and radially expand and plastically deform the casing.
[0026] If the operator selects the drilling or expansion operation in step 202, then the operator may then select drilling or expansion in step 204. If the operator selects drilling in step 204, then fluidic materials are injected into the system 10 through the passages 20a,
22a, 24a, 28a, 30a, 32a, 34a, 36a, 38a, 40a, 42a, 44a, and 46a in step 206, and the controller 32 then operates the flow control element 30b to decrease the back pressure in the passage 30a sufficiently to operate the underreamer 40 and/or the drill bit 46 in a conventional manner and thereby permit the extension of the wellbore 48 in step 208. If the operator does not want to continue drilling in step 210, then the injection of fluidic materials into the system 10 through the passages through the passages 20a, 22a, 24a, 28a, 30a,
32a, 34a, 36a, 38a, 40a, 42a, 44a, and 46a is stopped in step 212.
[0027] If the operator does not want to continue the drilling or expansion operation in step
214, then the operation of the system 10 is stopped. Alternatively, if the operator does want to continue the drilling or expansion operation in step 214, the operator may then select drilling or expansion in step 204.
[0028] If the operator selects expansion in step 204, then fluidic materials are injected into the system 10 through the passages 20a, 22a, 24a, 28a, 30a, 32a, 34a, 36a, 38a, 40a, 42a,
44a, and 46a in step 216, and the controller 32 then operates the flow control element 30b to increase the back pressure in the passage 30a sufficiently to pressurize the interior portion of the portion of the expansion mandrel launcher 16 and/or the casing 18 below the expansion mandrel 20 to displace the expansion mandrel upwardly relative to the launcher and/or casing to thereby permit the radial expansion and plastic deformation of the launcher and/or casing in step 218. If the operator does not want to continue expansion in step 220, then the injection of fluidic materials into the system 10 through the passages through the passages 20a, 22a, 24a, 28a, 30a, 32a, 34a, 36a, 38a, 40a, 42a, 44a, and 46a is stopped in step 222.
[0029] If the operator selects the drilling and expansion operation in step 202, then fluidic materials are injected into the system 10 through the passages 20a, 22a, 24a, 28a, 30a,
32a, 34a, 36a, 38a, 40a, 42a, 44a, and 46a in step 224, and the controller 32 then operates the flow control element 30b to adjust the back pressure in the passage 30a to simultaneously (a) operate the underreamer 40 and/or the drill bit 46 is a conventional manner and thereby permit the extension of the wellbore 48; and (b) pressurize the interior portion of the portion of the expansion mandrel launcher 16 and/or casing 18 below the expansion mandrel 20 to displace the expansion mandrel upwardly relative to the launcher and/or casing to thereby permit the radial expansion and plastic deformation of the launcher and/or casing in step 228.
[0030] If the operator does not want to continue the drilling and expansion operation in step
228, then the injection of fluidic materials into the system 10 through the passages through the passages 20a, 22a, 24a, 28a, 30a, 32a, 34a, 36a, 38a, 40a, 42a, 44a, and 46a is stopped in step 230 and the operation of the system 10 is stopped.
[0031] In several alternative embodiments, the exemplary embodiments of Figs. 1a, 1ba,
1bb, 1bc, 1bd, 1be, 1bf, 1c, 1d, 1e, 2a, 2b, and 2c are implemented using the methods and/or apparatus disclosed one or more of the following: (1) U.S. Patent Number 6,497,289, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial no. 09/454,139, attorney docket no.
25791.03.02, filed on 12/3/1999, which claims priority from provisional application
60/111,293, filed on 12/7/98, (2) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/510,913, attorney docket no. 25791.7.02, filed on 2/23/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/121 ,702, filed on 2/25/99, (3) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/502,350, attorney docket no. 25791.8.02, filed on 2/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/119,611 , filed on 2/11/99, (4) U.S. patent no. 6,328,113, which was filed as U.S. Patent
Application serial number 09/440,338, attorney docket number 25791.9.02, filed on
11/15/99, which claims priority from provisional application 60/108,558, filed on 11/16/98, (5)
U.S. patent application serial no. 10/169,434, attorney docket no. 25791.10.04, filed on
7/1/02, which claims priority from provisional application 60/183,546, filed on 2/18/00, (6)
U.S. patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on
3/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99, (7)
U.S. patent number 6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no. 25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121,841, filed on 2/26/99, (8) U.S. patent number 6,575,240, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/511 ,941, attorney docket no. 25791.16.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121 ,907, filed on 2/26/99, (9)
U.S. patent number 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (10) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/981,916, attorney docket no. 25791.18, filed on 10/18/01 as a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent no. 6,328,113, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial number 09/440,338, attorney docket number 25791.9.02, filed on 11/15/99, which claims priority from provisional application 60/108,558, filed on 11/16/98, (11) U.S. patent number 6,604,763, which was filed as application serial no. 09/559,122, attorney docket no. 25791.23.02, filed on
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(12) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/030,593, attorney docket no. 25791.25.08, filed on
1/8/02, which claims priority from provisional application 60/146,203, filed on 7/29/99, (13)
U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/143,039, attorney docket no. 25791.26, filed on 7/9/99, (14) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/111 ,982, attorney docket no.
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09/679,907, attorney docket no. 25791.34.02, on 10/5/00, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/159,082, attorney docket no. 25791.34, filed on
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60/159,039, attorney docket no. 25791.36, filed on 10/12/1999, (19) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/679,906, filed on 10/5/00, attorney docket no. 25791.37.02, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/159,033, attorney docket no.
25791.37, filed on 10/12/1999, (20) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/303,992, filed on
11/22/02, attorney docket no. 25791.38.07, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/212,359, attorney docket no. 25791.38, filed on 6/19/2000, (21) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/165,228, attorney docket no. 25791.39, filed on
11/12/1999, (22) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/455,051, attorney docket no. 25791.40, filed on 3/14/03, (23) PCT application US02/2477, filed on 6/26/02, attorney docket no. 25791.44.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/303,711, attorney docket no. 25791.44, filed on 7/6/01 , (24) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/311,412, filed on 12/12/02, attorney docket no. 25791.45.07, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/221 ,443, attorney docket no.
25791.45, filed on 7/28/2000, (25) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/, filed on 12/18/02, attorney docket no. 25791.46.07, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/221,645, attorney docket no. 25791.46, filed on 7/28/2000, (26) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/322,947, filed on 1/22/03, attorney docket no. 25791.47.03, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/233,638, attorney docket no.
25791.47, filed on 9/18/2000, (27) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/406,648, filed on
3/31/03, attorney docket no. 25791.48.06, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/237,334, attorney docket no. 25791.48, filed on 10/2/2000, (28) PCT application US02/04353, filed on 2/14/02, attorney docket no. 25791.50.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/270,007, attorney docket no.
25791.50, filed on 2/20/2001 , (29) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/465,835, filed on
6/13/03, attorney docket no. 25791.51.06, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/262,434, attorney docket no. 25791.51 , filed on 1/17/2001, (30) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/465,831, filed on 6/13/03, attorney docket no. 25791.52.06, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/259,486, attorney docket no. 25791.52, filed on 1/3/2001 , (31) U.S. provisional patent application serial no.
60/452,303, filed on 3/5/03, attorney docket no. 25791.53, (32) U.S. patent number
6,470,966, which was filed as patent application serial number 09/850,093, filed on 5/7/01 , attorney docket no. 25791.55, as a divisional application of U.S. Patent Number 6,497,289, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial no. 09/454,139, attorney docket no.
25791.03.02, filed on 12/3/1999, which claims priority from provisional application
60/111 ,293, filed on 12/7/98, (33) U.S. patent number 6,561 ,227, which was filed as patent application serial number 09/852,026 , filed on 5/9/01 , attorney docket no. 25791.56, as a divisional application of U.S. Patent Number 6,497,289, which was filed as U.S. Patent
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Application serial no. 09/454,139, attorney docket no. 25791.03.02, filed on 12/3/1999, which claims priority from provisional application 60/111,293, filed on 12/7/98, (35) PCT Application
US02/25608, attorney docket no. 25791.58.02, filed on 8/13/02, which claims priority from provisional application 60/318,021 , filed on 9/7/01 , attorney docket no. 25791.58, (36) PCT
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25791.59, filed on 8/20/200 , (37) PCT Application US02/29856, attorney docket no.
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9/25/01 , attorney docket no. 25791.62, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on 3/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99, (40) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/962,470, filed on 9/25/01 , attorney docket no. 25791.63, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on
3/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99,
(41) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/962,471 , filed on 9/25/01 , attorney docket no.
25791.64, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on 3/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99, (42) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/962,467, filed on
9/25/01 , attorney docket no. 25791.65, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on 3/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99, (43) U.S. patent application serial no. 09/962,468, filed on 9/25/01, attorney docket no. 25791.66, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on
3/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99,
(44) PCT application US 02/25727, filed on 8/14/02, attorney docket no. 25791.67.03, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/317,985, attorney docket no. 25791.67, filed on 9/6/2001 , and U.S. provisional patent application serial no.
60/318,386, attorney docket no. 25791.67.02, filed on 9/10/2001 , (45) PCT application US
02/39425, filed on 12/10/02, attorney docket no. 25791.68.02, which claims priority from
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10/516,467, attorney docket no. 25791.70, filed on 12/10/01 , which is a continuation application of U.S. utility patent application serial no. 09/969,922, attorney docket no.
25791.69, filed on 10/3/2001, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent no.
6,328,113, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial number 09/440,338, attorney docket number 25791.9.02, filed on 11/15/99, which claims priority from provisional application 60/108,558, filed on 11/16/98, (48) PCT application US 03/00609, filed on 1/9/03, attorney docket no. 25791.71.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/357,372 , attorney docket no. 25791.71 , filed on 2/15/02, (49) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/074,703, attorney docket no. 25791.74, filed on 2/12/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number 6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no. 25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121,841 , filed on 2/26/99, (50) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/074,244, attorney docket no. 25791.75, filed on 2/12/02, which is a divisional of
U.S. patent number 6,568,471, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no. 25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121 ,841, filed on 2/26/99, (51) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/076,660, attorney docket no. 25791.76, filed on 2/15/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number
6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no.
25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/121 ,841 , filed on 2/26/99, (52) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/076,661 , attorney docket no. 25791.77, filed on 2/15/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number
6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no.
25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/121 ,841 , filed on 2/26/99, (53) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/076,659, attorney docket no. 25791.78, filed on 2/15/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number
6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no.
25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/121 ,841, filed on 2/26/99, (54) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/078,928, attorney docket no. 25791.79, filed on 2/20/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number
6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no.
25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/121 ,841 , filed on 2/26/99, (55) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/078,922, attorney docket no. 25791.80, filed on 2/20/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number
6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no.
25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/121 ,841, filed on 2/26/99, (56) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/078,921 , attorney docket no. 25791.81, filed on 2/20/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number
6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no.
25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/121 ,841, filed on 2/26/99, (57) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/261 ,928, attorney docket no. 25791.82, filed on 10/1/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number
6,557,640, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no.
25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (58) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/079,276 , attorney docket no.
25791.83, filed on 2/20/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number 6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/512,895, attorney docket no. 25791.12.02, filed on
2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121 ,841 , filed on 2/26/99,
(59) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/262,009, attorney docket no. 25791.84, filed on
10/1/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (60) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/092,481, attorney docket no. 25791.85, filed on 3/7/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number 6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application serial no.
09/512,895, attorney docket no. 25791.12.02, filed on 2/24/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121 ,841 , filed on 2/26/99, (61) U.S. patent application serial no.
10/261 ,926, attorney docket no. 25791.86, filed on 10/1/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (62) PCT application US 02/36157, filed on 11/12/02, attorney docket no. 25791.87.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/338,996, attorney docket no. 25791.87, filed on 11/12/01, (63) PCT application US 02/36267, filed on 11/12/02, attorney docket no. 25791.88.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/339,013, attorney docket no.
25791.88, filed on 11/12/01 , (64) PCT application US 03/11765, filed on 4/16/03, attorney docket no. 25791.89.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/383,917, attorney docket no. 25791.89, filed on 5/29/02, (65) PCT application US
03/15020, filed on 5/12/03, attorney docket no. 25791.90.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/391,703, attorney docket no. 25791.90, filed on
6/26/02, (66) PCT application US 02/39418, filed on 12/10/02, attorney docket no.
25791.92.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no.
60/346,309, attorney docket no. 25791.92, filed on 1/7/02, (67) PCT application US
03/06544, filed on 3/4/03, attorney docket no. 25791.93.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/372,048, attorney docket no. 25791.93, filed on
4/12/02, (68) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/331 ,718, attorney docket no. 25791.94, filed on 12/30/02, which is a divisional U.S. patent application serial no. 09/679,906, filed on
10/5/00, attorney docket no. 25791.37.02, which claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/159,033, attorney docket no. 25791.37, filed on 10/12/1999, (69)
PCT application US 03/04837, filed on 2/29/03, attorney docket no. 25791.95.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/363,829, attorney docket no. 25791.95, filed on 3/13/02, (70) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/261 ,927, attorney docket no. 25791.97, filed on 10/1/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number
6,557,640, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (71) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/262,008, attorney docket no.
25791.98, filed on 10/1/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on
6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (72)
U.S. patent application serial no. 10/261,925, attorney docket no. 25791.99, filed on
10/1/02, which is a divisional of U.S. patent number 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (73) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/199,524, attorney docket no. 25791.100, filed on 7/19/02, which is a continuation of U.S. Patent Number 6,497,289, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial no. 09/454,139, attorney docket no. 25791.03.02, filed on 12/3/1999, which claims priority from provisional application 60/111,293, filed on 12/7/98, (74) PCT application US
03/10144, filed on 3/28/03, attorney docket no. 25791.101.02, which claims priority from
U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/372,632, attorney docket no. 25791.101 , filed on 4/15/02, (75) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/412,542, attorney docket no. 25791.102, filed on 9/20/02, (76) PCT application US 03/14153, filed on 5/6/03, attorney docket no. 25791.104.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/380,147, attorney docket no. 25791.104, filed on 5/6/02, (77) PCT application US 03/19993, filed on 6/24/03, attorney docket no. 25791.106.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/397,284, attorney docket no.
25791.106, filed on 7/19/02, (78) PCT application US 03/13787, filed on 5/5/03, attorney docket no. 25791.107.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/387,486 , attorney docket no. 25791.107, filed on 6/10/02, (79) PCT application
US 03/18530, filed on 6/11/03, attorney docket no. 25791.108.02, which claims priority from
U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/387,961 , attorney docket no. 25791.108, filed on 6/12/02, (80) PCT application US 03/20694, filed on 7/1/03, attorney docket no.
25791.110.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no.
60/398,061, attorney docket no. 25791.110, filed on 7/24/02, (81) PCT application US
03/20870, filed on 7/2/03, attorney docket no. 25791.111.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/399,240, attorney docket no. 25791.111 , filed on
7/29/02, (82) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/412,487, attorney docket no.
25791.112, filed on 9/20/02, (83) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/412,488, attorney docket no. 25791.114, filed on 9/20/02, (84) U.S. patent application serial no.
10/280,356, attorney docket no. 25791.115, filed on 10/25/02, which is a continuation of
U.S. patent number 6,470,966, which was filed as patent application serial number
09/850,093, filed on 5/7/01 , attorney docket no. 25791.55, as a divisional application of U.S. Patent Number 6,497,289, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial no. 09/454,139, attorney docket no. 25791.03.02, filed on 12/3/1999, which claims priority from provisional application 60/111 ,293, filed on 12/7/98, (85) U.S. provisional patent application serial no.
60/412,177, attorney docket no. 25791.117, filed on 9/20/02, (86) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/412,653, attorney docket no. 25791.118, filed on 9/20/02, (87) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/405,610, attorney docket no. 25791.119, filed on
8/23/02, (88) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/405,394, attorney docket no.
25791.120, filed on 8/23/02, (89) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/412,544, attorney docket no. 25791.121 , filed on 9/20/02, (90) PCT application US 03/24779, filed on
8/8/03, attorney docket no. 25791.125.02, which claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/407,442, attorney docket no. 25791.125, filed on 8/30/02, (91) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/423,363, attorney docket no. 25791.126, filed on
12/10/02, (92) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/412,196, attorney docket no.
25791.127, filed on 9/20/02, (93) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/412,187, attorney docket no. 25791.128, filed on 9/20/02, (94) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/412,371 , attorney docket no. 25791.129, filed on 9/20/02, (95) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/382,325, attorney docket no. 25791.145, filed on 3/5/03, which is a continuation of U.S. patent number 6,557,640, which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/588,946, attorney docket no. 25791.17.02, filed on 6/7/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (96) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/624,842, attorney docket no. 25791.151, filed on 7/22/03, which is a divisional of
U.S. patent application serial no. 09/502,350, attorney docket no. 25791.8.02, filed on
2/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/119,611, filed on 2/11/99,
(97) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/431 ,184, attorney docket no.
25791.157, filed on 12/5/02, (98) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/448,526, attorney docket no. 25791.185, filed on 2/18/03, (99) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/461,539, attorney docket no. 25791.186, filed on 4/9/03, (100) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/462,750, attorney docket no. 25791.193, filed on 4/14/03,
(101) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/436,106, attorney docket no.
25791.200, filed on 12/23/02, (102) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/442,942, attorney docket no. 25791.213, filed on 1/27/03, (103) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/442,938, attorney docket no. 25791.225, filed on 1/27/03, (104) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/418,687, attorney docket no. 25791.228, filed on 4/18/03,
(105) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/454,896, attorney docket no.
25791.236, filed on 3/14/03, (106) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/450,504, attorney docket no. 25791.238, filed on 2/26/03, (107) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/451,152, attorney docket no. 25791.239, filed on 3/9/03, (108) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/455,124, attorney docket no. 25791.241 , filed on 3/17/03,
(109) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/453,678, attorney docket no.
25791.253, filed on 3/11/03, (110) U.S. patent application serial no. 10/421 ,682, attorney docket no. 25791.256, filed on 4/23/03, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on 3/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99, (111) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/457,965, attorney docket no. 25791.260, filed on 3/27/03,
(112) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/455,718, attorney docket no.
25791.262, filed on 3/18/03, (113) U.S. patent number 6,550,821 , which was filed as patent application serial no. 09/811 ,734, filed on 3/19/01 , (114) U.S. patent application serial no.
10/436,467, attorney docket no. 25791.268, filed on 5/12/03, which is a continuation of U.S. patent number 6,604,763, which was filed as application serial no. 09/559,122, attorney docket no. 25791.23.02, filed on 4/26/2000, which claims priority from provisional application
60/131 ,106, filed on 4/26/99, (115) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/459,776, attorney docket no. 25791.270, filed on 4/2/03, (116) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/461,094, attorney docket no. 25791.272, filed on 4/8/03, (117) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/461 ,038, attorney docket no. 25791.273, filed on 4/7/03,
(118) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/463,586, attorney docket no.
25791.277, filed on 4/17/03, (119) U.S. provisional patent application serial no. 60/472,240, attorney docket no. 25791.286, filed on 5/20/03, (120) U.S. patent application serial no.
10/619,285, attorney docket no. 25791.292, filed on 7/14/03, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. utility patent application serial no. 09/969,922, attorney docket no. 25791.69, filed on
10/3/2001, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent no. 6,328,113, which was filed as U.S. Patent Application serial number 09/440,338, attorney docket number
25791.9.02, filed on 11/15/99, which claims priority from provisional application 60/108,558, filed on 11/16/98, (121) U.S. utility patent application serial no. 10/418,688, attorney docket no. 25791.257, which was filed on 4/18/03, as a division of U.S. utility patent application serial no. 09/523,468, attorney docket no. 25791.11.02, filed on 3/10/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99, (122) PCT patent application serial no. PCT/US04/06246, attorney docket no. 25791.238.02, filed on
2/26/2004, (123) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US04/08170 , attorney docket number 25791.40.02, filed on 3/15/04, (124) PCT patent application serial number
PCT/US04/08171, attorney docket number 25791.236.02, filed on 3/15/04, (125) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US04/08073, attorney docket number 25791.262.02, filed on
3/18/04, (126) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US04/07711 , attorney docket number 25791.253.02, filed on 3/11/2004, (127) PCT patent application serial number
PCT/US04/ , attorney docket number 25791.260.02, filed on 3/26/2004, (128) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US04/ , attorney docket number
25791.270.02, filed on 4/2/2004, (129) PCT patent application serial number
PCT/US04/ , attorney docket number 25791.272.02, filed on 4/7/2004, and
(130) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US04/ , attorney docket number
25791.273.02, filed on 4/6/2004, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0032] In several alternative embodiments, the exemplary embodiments of Figs. 1a, 1ba,
1bb, 1bc, 1bd, 1 be, 1bf, 1c, 1d, 1e, 2a, 2b, and 2c are implemented using an expansion mandrel 20 that includes conventional rotary and/or roller expansion elements such as, for example, that disclosed in WO 02/082863, U.S. 6,457,532, and/or U.S. 2002/0139540, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, or any one of the commercially available roller expansion devices available from Weatherford International.
[0033] An apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member and drilling a wellbore within a subterranean formation has been described that includes an expandable tubular member, an expansion device coupled to the expandable tubular member adapted to radially expand and plastically deform the expandable tubular member within the wellbore including: a tubular expansion mandrel, and a tubular expansion mandrel launcher for housing the tubular expansion mandrel coupled to the expandable tubular member, a pump coupled to the expansion device adapted to pump fluidic materials through the tubular expansion mandrel into a portion of the tubular expansion mandrel launcher, a drilling device coupled to the expansion device adapted to receive the fluidic materials pumped into the portion of the tubular expansion mandrel launcher and drill the wellbore within the subterranean formation including: one or more flow control elements for controlling the flow of the received fluidic materials, a motor coupled to the flow control elements adapted to be operated by the fluidic materials, and a drill coupled to the motor adapted to be driven by the motor, and a controller coupled to the expansion device and the drilling device that is programmed to control the expansion device and the drilling device to operate in one of the following modes of operation: (a) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device or expanding the tubular member using the expansion device, or (b) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device and expanding the tubular member using the expansion device simultaneously. In an exemplary embodiment, the operational characteristics of the flow control elements vary as a function of the operational characteristics of the pumped fluidic materials. In an exemplary embodiment, the operational characteristics of the flow control elements include a resistance to flow of the fluidic materials. In an exemplary embodiment, the operational characteristics of the pumped fluidic materials include a frequency component.
[0034] A method of radially expanding a wellbore casing within a wellbore and drilling the wellbore through a subterranean formation has been described that includes positioning an expandable casing, an expansion device for radially expanding the expandable casing, and a drilling device for extending the wellbore within the wellbore, and operating the expansion device and the drilling device using a method including: selecting drilling or expanding or drilling and expanding, if drilling or expanding is selected, then sequentially performing the following steps in any order: extending the wellbore using the drilling device, and expanding the casing using the expansion device, and if drilling and expanding is selected, then simultaneously performing the following steps: extending the wellbore using the drilling device, and expanding the casing using the expansion device. In an exemplary embodiment, the expansion device includes an expansion mandrel. In an exemplary embodiment, the expansion device includes a rotating expansion device.
[0035] A system for radially expanding a wellbore casing within a wellbore and drilling the wellbore through a subterranean formation has been described that includes means for positioning an expandable casing, an expansion device for radially expanding the expandable casing, and a drilling device for extending the wellbore within the wellbore, and means for operating the expansion device and the drilling device including: means for selecting drilling or expanding or drilling and expanding, if drilling or expanding is selected, then means for sequentially performing the following steps in any order: extending the wellbore using the drilling device, and expanding the casing using the expansion device, and if drilling and expanding is selected, then means for simultaneously performing the following steps: extending the wellbore using the drilling device, and expanding the casing using the expansion device.
[0036] An apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member and drilling a wellbore within a subterranean formation has been described that includes an expandable tubular member, an expansion device coupled to the expandable tubular member adapted to radially expand and plastically deform the expandable tubular member within the wellbore, a drilling device coupled to the expansion device adapted to drill the wellbore within the subterranean formation, and a controller coupled to the expansion device and the drilling device that is programmed to control the expansion device and the drilling device to operate in one of the following modes of operation: (a) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device or expanding the tubular member using the expansion device; or (b) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device and expanding the tubular member using the expansion device simultaneously. In an exemplary embodiment, the expansion device includes an expansion mandrel. In an exemplary embodiment, the expansion device includes an expansion mandrel. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller includes one or more flow control elements whose operational characteristics are frequency dependent.
[0037] It is understood that variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the teachings of the present illustrative embodiments may be used to provide a wellbore casing, a pipeline, or a structural support. Furthermore, the underreamer 40 and/or the bit 46 may be omitted and/or replaced by equivalent devices.
[0038] Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, changes and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure. In some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.

Claims

ClaimsWhat is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member and drilling a wellbore within a subterranean formation, comprising: an expandable tubular member; an expansion device coupled to the expandable tubular member adapted to radially expand and plastically deform the expandable tubular member within the wellbore comprising: a tubular expansion mandrel; and a tubular expansion mandrel launcher for housing the tubular expansion mandrel coupled to the expandable tubular member; a pump coupled to the expansion device adapted to pump fluidic materials through the tubular expansion mandrel into a portion of the tubular expansion mandrel launcher; a drilling device coupled to the expansion device adapted to receive the fluidic materials pumped into the portion of the tubular expansion mandrel launcher and drill the wellbore within the subterranean formation comprising: one or more flow control elements for controlling the flow of the received fluidic materials; a motor coupled to the flow control elements adapted to be operated by the fluidic materials; and a drill coupled to the motor adapted to be driven by the motor; and a controller coupled to the expansion device and the drilling device that is programmed to control the expansion device and the drilling device to operate in one of the following modes of operation: (a) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device or expanding the tubular member using the expansion device; or (b) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device and expanding the tubular member using the expansion device simultaneously.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operational characteristics of the flow control elements vary as a function of the operational characteristics of the pumped fluidic materials.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the operational characteristics of the flow control elements comprise a resistance to flow of the fluidic materials.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the operational characteristics of the pumped fluidic materials comprise a frequency dependent component.
5. A method of radially expanding a wellbore casing within a wellbore and drilling the wellbore through a subterranean formation, comprising: positioning an expandable casing, an expansion device for radially expanding the expandable casing, and a drilling device for extending the wellbore within the wellbore; and operating the expansion device and the drilling device using a method comprising: selecting drilling or expanding or drilling and expanding; if drilling or expanding is selected, then sequentially performing the following steps in any order: extending the wellbore using the drilling device; and expanding the casing using the expansion device; and if drilling and expanding is selected, then simultaneously performing the following steps: extending the wellbore using the drilling device; and expanding the casing using the expansion device.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the expansion device comprises an expansion mandrel.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the expansion device comprises a rotating expansion device.
8. The method of claim 5, further comprising: varying the operational characteristics of at least one of the drilling device and the expansion device as a function of the operational characteristics of pumped fluidic materials.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the operational characteristics of at least one of the drilling device and the expansion device comprise a resistance to flow of the fluidic materials.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the operational characteristics of at least one of the drilling device and the expansion device comprise a frequency dependent component.
11. A system for radially expanding a wellbore casing within a wellbore and drilling the wellbore through a subterranean formation, comprising: means for positioning an expandable casing, an expansion device for radially expanding the expandable casing, and a drilling device for extending the wellbore within the wellbore; and means for operating the expansion device and the drilling device comprising: means for selecting drilling or expanding or drilling and expanding; if drilling or expanding is selected, then means for sequentially performing the following steps in any order: extending the wellbore using the drilling device; and expanding the casing using the expansion device; and if drilling and expanding is selected, then means for simultaneously performing the following steps: extending the wellbore using the drilling device; and expanding the casing using the expansion device.
12. The system of claims 11 , further comprising: means for varying the operational characteristics of at least one of the drilling device and the expansion device as a function of the operational characteristics of the pumped fluidic materials.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the operational characteristics of at least one of the drilling device and the expansion device comprise a resistance to flow of the fluidic materials.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the operational characteristics of at least one of the drilling device and the expansion device comprise a frequency dependent component.
15. An apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member and drilling a wellbore within a subterranean formation, comprising: an expandable tubular member; an expansion device coupled to the expandable tubular member adapted to radially expand and plastically deform the expandable tubular member within the wellbore; a drilling device coupled to the expansion device adapted to drill the wellbore within the subterranean formation; and a controller coupled to the expansion device and the drilling device that is programmed to control the expansion device and the drilling device to operate in one of the following modes of operation: (a) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device or expanding the tubular member using the expansion device; or (b) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device and expanding the tubular member using the expansion device simultaneously.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the expansion device comprises an expansion mandrel.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the expansion device comprises a rotating expansion device.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controller comprises one or more flow control elements whose operational characteristics are frequency dependent.
19. An apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member and drilling a wellbore within a subterranean formation, comprising: an expandable tubular member; an expansion device coupled to the expandable tubular member adapted to radially expand and plastically deform the expandable tubular member within the wellbore comprising: a tubular expansion mandrel; and a tubular expansion mandrel launcher for housing the tubular expansion mandrel coupled to the expandable tubular member; a pump coupled to the expansion device adapted to pump fluidic materials through the tubular expansion mandrel into a portion of the tubular expansion mandrel launcher; a drilling device coupled to the expansion device adapted to receive the fluidic materials pumped into the portion of the tubular expansion mandrel launcher and drill the wellbore within the subterranean formation comprising: one or more flow control elements for controlling the flow of the received fluidic materials; a motor coupled to the flow control elements adapted to be operated by the fluidic materials; and a drill coupled to the motor adapted to be driven by the motor; and a controller coupled to the expansion device and the drilling device that is programmed to control the expansion device and the drilling device to operate in one of the following modes of operation: (a) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device or expanding the tubular member using the expansion device; or (b) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device and expanding the tubular member using the expansion device simultaneously; wherein the operational characteristics of the flow control elements vary as a function of the operational characteristics of the pumped fluidic materials; wherein the operational characteristics of the flow control elements comprise a resistance to flow of the fluidic materials; and wherein the operational characteristics of the pumped fluidic materials comprise a frequency component.
20. A method of radially expanding a wellbore casing within a wellbore and drilling the wellbore through a subterranean formation, comprising: positioning an expandable casing, an expansion device for radially expanding the expandable casing, and a drilling device for extending the wellbore within the wellbore; and operating the expansion device and the drilling device using a method comprising: selecting drilling or expanding or drilling and expanding; if drilling or expanding is selected, then sequentially performing the following steps in any order: extending the wellbore using the drilling device; and expanding the casing using the expansion device; if drilling and expanding is selected, then simultaneously performing the following steps: extending the wellbore using the drilling device; and expanding the casing using the expansion device; and varying the operational characteristics of at least one of the drilling device and the expansion device as a function of the operational characteristics of pumped fluidic materials; wherein the operational characteristics of at least one of the drilling device and the expansion device comprise a resistance to flow of the fluidic materials; and wherein the operational characteristics of at least one of the drilling device and the expansion device comprise a frequency dependent component.
21. A system for radially expanding a wellbore casing within a wellbore and drilling the wellbore through a subterranean formation, comprising: means for positioning an expandable casing, an expansion device for radially expanding the expandable casing, and a drilling device for extending the wellbore within the wellbore; means for operating the expansion device and the drilling device comprising: means for selecting drilling or expanding or drilling and expanding; if drilling or expanding is selected, then means for sequentially performing the following steps in any order: extending the wellbore using the drilling device; and expanding the casing using the expansion device; and if drilling and expanding is selected, then means for simultaneously performing the following steps: extending the wellbore using the drilling device; and expanding the casing using the expansion device; and means for varying the operational characteristics of at least one of the drilling device and the expansion device as a function of the operational characteristics of pumped fluidic materials; wherein the operational characteristics of at least one of the drilling device and the expansion device comprise a resistance to flow of the fluidic materials; and wherein the operational characteristics of at least one of the drilling device and the expansion device comprise a frequency dependent component.
22. An apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member and drilling a wellbore within a subterranean formation, comprising: an expandable tubular member; an expansion device coupled to the expandable tubular member adapted to radially expand and plastically deform the expandable tubular member within the wellbore; a drilling device coupled to the expansion device adapted to drill the wellbore within the subterranean formation; and a controller coupled to the expansion device and the drilling device that is programmed to control the expansion device and the drilling device to operate in one of the following modes of operation: (a) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device or expanding the tubular member using the expansion device; or (b) drilling the wellbore using the drilling device and expanding the tubular member using the expansion device simultaneously; wherein the controller comprises one or more flow control elements whose operational characteristics are frequency dependent.
PCT/US2004/011177 2002-11-12 2004-04-13 Radially expanding casing and driling a wellbore WO2004092530A2 (en)

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GB0521024A GB2416556B (en) 2003-04-14 2004-04-13 Apparatus and method for radially expanding a wellbore casing and drilling a wellbore
CA002522546A CA2522546A1 (en) 2003-04-14 2004-04-13 Radially expanding casing and drilling a wellbore
US11/838,782 US20080142213A1 (en) 2002-11-12 2007-08-14 Radial expansion of a wellbore casing against a formation

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US46275003P 2003-04-14 2003-04-14
US60/462,750 2003-04-14

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PCT/US2004/011973 Continuation-In-Part WO2004094766A2 (en) 2001-09-07 2004-04-15 Apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member

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US7740076B2 (en) 2002-04-12 2010-06-22 Enventure Global Technology, L.L.C. Protective sleeve for threaded connections for expandable liner hanger
US7918284B2 (en) 2002-04-15 2011-04-05 Enventure Global Technology, L.L.C. Protective sleeve for threaded connections for expandable liner hanger
US7739917B2 (en) 2002-09-20 2010-06-22 Enventure Global Technology, Llc Pipe formability evaluation for expandable tubulars
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US8863840B2 (en) 2006-02-27 2014-10-21 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Thermal recovery of shallow bitumen through increased permeability inclusions
US8151874B2 (en) 2006-02-27 2012-04-10 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Thermal recovery of shallow bitumen through increased permeability inclusions
US7814978B2 (en) 2006-12-14 2010-10-19 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Casing expansion and formation compression for permeability plane orientation
US7647966B2 (en) 2007-08-01 2010-01-19 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Method for drainage of heavy oil reservoir via horizontal wellbore
US7640975B2 (en) 2007-08-01 2010-01-05 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Flow control for increased permeability planes in unconsolidated formations
US8122953B2 (en) 2007-08-01 2012-02-28 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Drainage of heavy oil reservoir via horizontal wellbore
US7918269B2 (en) 2007-08-01 2011-04-05 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Drainage of heavy oil reservoir via horizontal wellbore
WO2009018020A1 (en) * 2007-08-01 2009-02-05 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Flow control for increased permeability planes in unconsolidated formations
US7950456B2 (en) 2007-12-28 2011-05-31 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Casing deformation and control for inclusion propagation
US7832477B2 (en) 2007-12-28 2010-11-16 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Casing deformation and control for inclusion propagation
GB2482456A (en) * 2009-05-01 2012-02-01 Baker Hughes Inc Casing bits,drilling assemblies,and methods for use in forming wellbores with expandable casing
WO2010127233A3 (en) * 2009-05-01 2011-03-24 Baker Hughes Incorporated Casing bits, drilling assemblies, and methods for use in forming wellbores with expandable casing
WO2010127233A2 (en) * 2009-05-01 2010-11-04 Baker Hughes Incorporated Casing bits, drilling assemblies, and methods for use in forming wellbores with expandable casing
US8955585B2 (en) 2011-09-27 2015-02-17 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Forming inclusions in selected azimuthal orientations from a casing section
US10119356B2 (en) 2011-09-27 2018-11-06 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Forming inclusions in selected azimuthal orientations from a casing section

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0521024D0 (en) 2005-11-23
WO2004092530A3 (en) 2005-04-21
WO2004092530B1 (en) 2005-08-11
GB2416556B (en) 2007-07-25
GB2416556A (en) 2006-02-01
CA2522546A1 (en) 2004-10-28

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