Casing deformation and control for inclusion propagation in earth formations. A method of forming at least one inclusion in a subterranean formation includes the steps of: installing a liner within a casing section in a wellbore intersecting the formation; and expanding the liner and the casing section, thereby applying an increased compressive stress to the formation. Another method of forming the inclusion includes the steps of: installing an expansion control device on a casing section, the device including at least one latch member; expanding the casing section radially outward in a wellbore, the expanding step including widening at least one opening in a sidewall of the casing section, and displacing the latch member in one direction; and preventing a narrowing of the opening after the expanding step, the latch member resisting displacement thereof in an opposite direction.

Claims

20 · 2 independent · depth 3

20 granted claims

›1.independentA method of forming at least one inclusion in a subterranean formation, the method comprising the steps of:ninstalling at least one liner within at le…+9

›2.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the perforating step weakens the casing section along the line of intersection, and wherein the expanding step further …d2

›3.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the liner comprises a non-continuous sidewall, and further comprising the step of producing fluid from the formation to…d2

›4.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the liner comprises a non-continuous sidewall, and further comprising the step of injecting fluid into the formation fr…d2

›5.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the expanding step further comprises widening at least one opening in the casing section, and further comprising the st…d2

›6.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of the liner outwardly supporting the expanded casing section after the expanding step.d2

›7.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of the liner maintaining the compressive stress in the formation after the expanding step.d2

›8.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of gravel packing an annulus formed between the liner and a well screen.d2

›9.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the casing section is a portion of a pre-existing casing string, whereby the casing section is free of any expansion co…d2

›10.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of injecting a flexible cement external to the casing section prior to the expanding step.d2

›11.independentA method of forming at least one inclusion in a subterranean formation, the method comprising the steps of:ninstalling at least one liner within at le…+9

›12.↳ 11The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of perforating the casing section along at least one desired line of intersection between the incl…d2+1

›14.↳ 11The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of producing fluid from the formation to an interior of the casing section via the liner sidewall.d2

›15.↳ 11The method of claim 11, wherein the expanding step further comprises widening at least one opening in the casing section, and further comprising the s…d2

›16.↳ 11The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of the liner outwardly supporting the expanded casing section after the expanding step.d2

›17.↳ 11The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of the liner maintaining the compressive stress in the formation after the expanding step.d2

›18.↳ 11The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of gravel packing an annulus formed between the liner and a well screen.d2

›19.↳ 11The method of claim 11, wherein the casing section is a portion of a pre-existing casing string, whereby the casing section is free of any expansion c…d2

›20.↳ 11The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of injecting a flexible cement external to the casing section prior to the expanding step.d2

Classifications

9 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section E — Fixed constructions

E21B43/26
E21B43/04
E21B29/08

USPC · US Patent Classification

166/278166/297166/381166/207166/206166/308.1

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Pendency

2.6 y

935 days filing → grant

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non-final + final

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1 RCE

Examiner

George Suchfield

art unit 3676 · TC 3600

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1 priority documents

›Priority documents — 1

Type	Document	Date
related publication	US 20090166040 A1	2 Jul 2009

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