BUTTERFIELD CHARLES ANTHONY (US)
PARKER WILLIAM PATRICK (US)
BUTTERFIELD CHARLES ANTHONY (US)
| WO2005021921A2 | 2005-03-10 | |||
| WO2003023179A2 | 2003-03-20 | |||
| WO2001004535A1 | 2001-01-18 |
Claims
1 A system for lining a weilbore casing, comprising a tubular support member defining a first passage, a tubular expansion cone defining a second passage fluid icly coupled to the first passage coupled to an end of the tubular support member and comprising a tapered end, a tubular liner coupled to and supported by the ϊapered end of the tubular expansion cone, and a shoe defining a valveable passage coupled to an end of the tubular liner, wherein the tubular liner comprises an expandable tubular member that comprises first and second tubular portions, an intermediate tubuϊar portion coupϊed between the first and second tubular portions, and a sealing member coupied to the exterior surface of the intermediate tubuiar portion, wherein the inside diameters of the first and second tubular portions are greater than the inside diameter of the intermediate tubular portion, and wherein the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is greater than the inside diameter of the second tubular portion
2 The system of ciaim 1 wherein the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is about 5% greater than the inside diameter of the second tubular portion,
3 The system of claim 1 wherein the wall thicknesses of the first and second tubular portions are greater than the wall thickness of the intermediate tubular portion
4 The system of claim 1 wherein the expandable tubular member further comprises a first tubular tapered transitionary portion coupled between the first tubular portion and the intermediate tubular portion, and a second tubular tapered transitsonary portion coupled between the second tubular portion and the intermediate tubuiar portion wherein the angles of inclination of the first and second tapered tubular transitionary portions relative to the intermediate tubular portion ranges from greater than 0 to about 30 degrees
5 The system of claim 1 wherein the outside diameter of the intermediate tubular portion ranges from about 75 percent to about 98 percent of the outside diameters of the second tubular portion
6 The system of clasm 1 wherein the burst strength of the first and second tubular portions is substantially equaϊ to the burst strength of the intermediate tubular portion 7 The system of claim 1 wherein the ratso of the instde diameter of the second tubular portion to the interior diameter of the intermediate tubular portion ranges from greater than 100 to about 120 percent
8 The system of claim 1 wherein the tapered end of the tubular expansion cone comprises a plurality of adjacent discrete tapered sections
9 The system of claim 8 wherein the angle of attack of the adjacent discrete tapered sections increases in a continuous manner from one end of the tubular expansion cone to the opposite end of the tubular expansion cone
10 The system of claim 1 wherein the tapered end of the tubular expansion cone comprises a paraboloid body
11 The system of claim 10 wherein the angle of attack of the outer surface of the paraboloid body increases in a continuous manner from one end of the paraboloid body to the opposite end of the paraboloid body
12 The system of claim 1 wherein the tubular liner comprises a plurality of expandable tubular members and a plurality of other tubular members, and wherein the other tubular members are interleaved among the expandable tubular members
13 A method of lining a wellbore casing, comprising positioning a tubular liner within the wellbore casing and radially expanding one or more discrete portions of the tubular liner into engagement with the wellbore casing, wherein the tubular liner comprises an expandable tubular member that comprises first and second tubular portions, an intermediate tubular portion coupled between the first and second tubular portions, and a sealing member coupled to the exterior surface of the intermediate tubular portion, wherein the inside diameters of the first and second tubular portions are greater than the inside diameter of the intermediate tubular portion, and wherein the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is greater than an inside diameter of the second tubular portion 14 The method of claim 13 wherein the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is about 5% greater than an inside diameter of the second tubular portion
15 The method of damn 13 wherein a plurality of discrete portions of the tubular liner are radially expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing
16 The method of ciasm 15 wherein the remaining portions of the tubular liner are not radiaily expanded
17 The method of claim 15 wherein the discrete portions of the tubular liner are radially expanded by injecting a fluidic material into the tubular liner
18 The method of claim 13 wherein the tubular liner comprises a plurality of expandable tubular members, wherein one or more of the expandable tubular members are radially expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing, and wherein a plurality of the expandable tubular members are not radially expanded into engagement with the weϋbαre casing
19 A system for lining a wellbore casing, comprising means for positioning a tubuiar liner within the welibore casing, and means for radially expanding one or more discrete portions of the tubular liner into engagement with the wellbore casing wherein the tubular liner comprises an expandable tubular member that comprises first and second tubular portions, an intermediate tubular portion coupled between the first and second tubular portions, and a sealing member coupled to the exteπor surface of the intermediate tubular portion, wherein the inside diameters of the first and second tubular portions are greater than the inside diameter of the intermediate tubuiar portion, and wherein the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is greater than the inside diameter of the second tubular portion
20 The system of claim 19 wherein the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is about 5% greater than the inside diameter of the second tubular portion
21 The system of claim 19 wheresn a plurality of discrete portions of the tubular liner are radially expanded into engagement with the welibore casing 22 The system of claim 21 wheresn remaining portions of the tubular liner are not radially expanded
23 The system of claim 21 wherein the discrete portions of the tubular Isner are radially expanded by injecting a fiuidic materia! into the tubular imer
24 The system of claim 19 wherein the tubular liner comprises a plurality of tubular members wherein one or more of the tubular members are radially expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing, and wherein a plurality of the tubular members are not radially expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing
25 An apparatus, comprising a subterranean formation defining a borehole, a casing positioned in and coupled to the borehole, and a tubular liner positioned in and coupled to the castng at one or more discrete locations, wherein the tubular liner comprises a radially expanded and plastically deformed tubular member that comprises first and second tubular portions an intermediate tubular portion coupled between the first and second tubular portions, and a sealing member coupled to the exterior surface of the intermediate tubular portion that engages the interior surface of the casing, wherein the intermediate tubular portion is radialϊy expanded and plastically deformed, wherein the first and second tubular portions are not radially expanded and plastically deformed, and wherein the fsrst tubular portion is greater in diameter than the second tubular portion
26 The apparatus of clasm 25 wherein the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is about 5% greater than an inside diameter of the second tubular portion
27 The system of claim 25 wherein the tubular liner comprises a plurality of radially expanded and plastically deformed tubular members 28 A system for lining a wellbore casing, comprising a support member an expansion device coupled to an end of the support member, and a tubular liner coupled to the expansion device that comprises a first expandable tubular member that comprises first and second tubular portions, a first intermediate tubular portion coupled between the first and second tubular portions, and a first sealing member coupled to the exterior surface of the first intermediate tubular portion, wherein the inside diameters of the first and second tubular portions are greater than the inside diameter of the intermediate tubular portion, and wherein the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is greater than an inside diameter of the second tubuiar portion, and one or more second expandable tubular members that each comprise third and fourth tubular portions, a second intermediate tubular portion coupled between the third and fourth tubuiar portions, and a second sealing member coupled to the exterior surface of the second intermediate tubular portion, wherein the inside diameters of the first second, third and fourth tubular portions are greater than the inside diameters of the first and second intermediate tubular portions
29 The system of claim 28 wherein the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is about 5% greater than an inside diameter of the second tubular portion
30 The system of claim 28 wherein the wall thicknesses of the first, second, third and fourth tubular portions are greater than the wall thicknesses of the first and second intermediate tubuiar portions,
31 The system of daim 28 wherein the first expandable tubuiar member further comprises a first tubular tapered transitionary portion coupled between the first tubular portion and the first intermediate tubular portion, and a second tubular tapered transitionary portion coupled between the second tubuiar portion and the first intermediate tubular portion, wherein the angles of inclination of the first and second tapered tubular transitionary portions relative to the first intermediate tubular portion ranges from greater than 0 to about 30 degrees
32 The system of claim 31 wherein each of the second expandable tubular members further comprise a third tubular tapered transitionary portion coupled between the third tubular portion and the second intermediate tubular portion, and a fourth tubular tapered transitionary portion coupled between the fourth tubular portion and the second intermediate tubular portion, wherein the angles of inclination of the third and fourth tapered tubular transitionary portions relative to the second intermediate tubular portion ranges from greater than 0 to about 30 degrees
33 The system of claim 28 wherein the outside diameters of the first and second intermediate tubular portions each range from about 75 percent to about 98 percent of the outside diameters of the second, third and fourth tubular portions
34 The system of claim 28 wherein the burst strength of the first, second, third and fourth tubular portions is substantially equal to the burst strength of the first and second intermediate tubular portions
35 The system of clasm 28 wheresn the ratio of the inside diameters of the second, third and fourth tubular portions to the interior diameters of the first and second intermediate tubular portions ranges from greater than 100 to about 120 percent
36 The system of clasm 28 wherein the expansion device comprises a plurality of adjacent discrete tapered sections
37 The system of claim 36 wherein the angle of attack of the adjacent discrete tapered sections increases in a continuous manner from one end of the expansion device to the opposite end of the expansion device
38 The system of claim 28 wherein the expansion device comprises an paraboloid body
39 The system of claim 38 wherein the angie of attack of the outer surface of the paraboloid body increases sn a continuous manner from one end of the paraboloid body to the opposite end of the paraboloid body 40 A isner for lining a wellbore casing, comprising a first tubular portion, a second tubular portion, an intermediate tubular portion coupled between the first and second tubular portions, and a sealing member coupled to the exterior surface of the intermediate tubular portion, wherein the inside diameters of the first and second tubular portions are greater than the inside diameter of the intermediate tubular portion, and wherein the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is greater than the inside diameter of the second tubular portion
41 The lsner of claim 40 wherein the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is about 5% greater than the inside diameter of the second tubular portion
42 The liner of claim 40 wherein the wall thicknesses of the first and second tubular portions are greater than the wall thickness of the intermediate tubular portion
43 The liner of claim 40 further comprising a first tubular tapered transitionary portion coupled between the first tubular portion and the intermediate tubuiar portion, and a second tubular tapered transitionary portion coupled between the second tubular portion and the intermediate tubular portion, wherein the angles of inclination of the first and second tapered tubular transitionary portions relative to the intermediate tubular portion ranges from greater than 0 to about 30 degrees
44 The liner of claim 40 wherein the outside diameter of the intermediate tubular portion ranges from about 75 percent to about 98 percent of the outside diameter of the second tubular portion
45 The liner of claim 40 wherein the ratio of the inside diameter of the second tubular portion to the interior diameter of the intermediate tubular portion ranges from greater than 100 to about 120 percent
46 A method of lining a weflbore casing, comprising positioning a tubular liner within the wellbore casing wherein the tubular imer comprises first and second discrete portions coupled by a conventional threaded connection, and radsaiiy expanding the first and second discrete portions of the tubular liner, including the conventional threaded connection, providing a fluid tight seal between the radially expanded first and second discrete portions 47 The method of claim 46 wherein radially expanding the first and second discrete portions of the tubular drier and the conventional threaded connection includes radiaSiy expanding a diameter of an inner passage extending through the first and second discrete portions and the conventional threaded connection up to about 5%
48 A system for lining a wellbore casing, comprising means for positioning a tubular liner within the wellbore casing, wherein the tubular iiner comprises first and second discrete portions coupled by a conventional threaded connection, and means for radially expanding the first and second discrete portions of the tubular liner, including the conventional threaded connection, providing a fluid tight seal between the radially expanded first and second discrete portions
49 The system of claim 48 wherein the radially expanding means includes is configured to radially expand a diameter of an inner passage extending through the first and second discrete portions and the conventional threaded connection up to about 5%
50 A liner for lining a wellbore casing comprising a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion, wherein the first and second tubular portions are coupled by a conventional threaded connection, wherein the first and second tubular portions and the conventional threaded connection are radially expanded up to about 5%, and wherein a fluid tight sea! ss provided between the radially expanded first and second tubular portions by the radiaϋy expanded conventional threaded connection |
SYSTEM FOR LINING A WELLBORE CASING
Cross Reference To Related Applications
[0013 " The present application claim the benefit of the filing date of U S utility patent application serial number 11/621,245 attorney docket number 25791 406, filed 01/09/2007 which is a continuation-in-part of U S utility patent application serial number 10/488,664 attorney docket number 25791 67 06, fsied on 3/4/04, which was the National Stage filing for PCT patent application serial number PCT/US02/25727, attorney docket number 25791 67 03, filed on 8/14/2002, which claimed the benefit of the filing dates of 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 , the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference
[002] The present application is also a continuation-in-part of U S utility patent application seπal number 10/030,593, attorney docket number 25791 25 08, filed on 1/8/2002, which was the National Stage filing for PCT patent application seπal number PCT/USOO/18635, attorney docket no 25791 25 02, filed on July 9, 2000, which claimed the benefit of the filing dates of U S provisional patent application serial no 60/146,203, attorney docket no 25791 25, filed on July 29, 1999, and U S provisional patent application seπal no 60/143,039, attorney docket no 25791 26, filed on July 9, 1999, 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 seπal no 09/510,913, attorney docket no 25791 7 02, filed on 2/23/2000, which claims priority from provisional application 60/121 ,702, ftϊed 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 seπal 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 no 6,640,903 which was filed as U S patent application seπal 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, whsch 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 seπal no 09/511 941 attorney docket no 25791 16 02, filed on 2/24/2000, whsch 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 ciasms 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 senaϊ 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 seπai 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) ϋ 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 senai 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 seπa! 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 Appjication 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 seπal 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 seπal no 60/303,740 attorney docket no 25791 61 , filed on 7/5/2001 , (39) U S patent application seπal 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, (now U S Patent no 6,640,903 which issued 11/4/2003), 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 seπal no 09/523,458, attorney docket no 25791 11 02, filed on 3/10/2000, (now U S Patent no 6,640,903 which issued 11/4/2003), 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 senai no 09/523,468, attorney docket no 25791 11 02, filed on 3/10/2000, (now U S Patent no 6,640,903 which issued 11/4/2003), 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, fsied on 3/10/2000, (now U S Patent no 6,640,903 which issued 11/4/2003) 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, (now U S Patent no 6,640,903 which issued 11/4/2003), 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 , (now U S Patent no 6,634,431 which issued 10/21/2003), which is a continuation-sn-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 , (now U S Patent no 6,634,431 which fssued 10/21/2003), which is a continuatϊon-m-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 ss 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, fifed 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 50/121 ,841 , filed on 2/26/99, (52) U S patent appiϊcation serial no 10/076,661 , attorney docket no 25791 77, filed on 2/15/02 which ss 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 appiication 60/121 ,841 , filed on 2/26/99, (53) U S patent application seπaϊ no 10/078,659, 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 cSaims 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, fifed on 3/7/02, whsch 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 seπai no 09/588,946, attorney docket no 25791 17 02, filed on 6/7/2000 whsch 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 pπoπty 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 seπal 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 seπal no 09/588,946, attorney docket no 25791 17 02, filed on 6/7/2000, whsch claims priority from provisional application 60/137,998, filed on 6/7/99, (72) U S patent application seπai 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 senai 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 senai 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 seπal 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 seπai 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 ftSed as U S Paten! 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 PCT/US03/24779, fifed 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 cϊaims 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 seπaS no 60/436,106, attorney docket no 25791 200, fiied on 12/23/02, (102) U S provisional patent application
serial no 60/442,942, attorney docket no 25791 213, fsied 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 50/418,687, 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 seπai no 60/451 ,152, attorney docket no 25791 239, filed on 3/9/03, (108) U S provisional patent application seπai no 60/455,124, attorney docket no 25791 241 filed on 3/17/03, (109) U S provisional patent application seπaf 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 09/523,466 attorney docket no 25791 11 02, fifed on 3/10/2000, (now U S Patent no 6 640,903 which issued 11/4/2003), 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, Wed on 5/12/03, whtch 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 ciaims 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 seπaf no 60/463 586, attorney docket no 25791 277 filed on 4/17/03, (119) U S provisional patent application senal no 60/472,240, attorney docket no 25791 286, filed on 5/20/03, (120) U S patent application senal no 10/619,285, attorney docket no 25791 292, filed on 7/14/03, which is a continuation-sn-part of U S utility patent application serial no 09/969,922, attorney docket no 25791 69, fsfed on 10/3/2001 , (now U S Patent no 6,634,431 which issued 10/21/2003}, which is a continuatiorwn-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, whtch claims priority from provisional application 60/108,558 filed on 11/16/98, (121) U S utility patent application seπaϊ 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, (now U S Patent no 6,640,903 which issued 11/4/2003), which claims priority from provisional application βO/124,042, filed on 3/11/99, and (122) U S utility patent application serial no 10/784,679, attorney docket no 25791 318, filed on 2/23/2004, which was a continuation-in-part of U S utility patent application serial no 10/089419, attorney docket no 25791 36 03, filed on 9/19/2002, which issued as U S patent no 6 695 012, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference
[004] This application is related to the following co-pending applications (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 seπal no 09/502,350, attorney docket no 25791 8 02, filed on 2/10/2000, now U S Patent 6,823,937 which issued 11/30/2004, 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 no 6,640,903 which was filed as 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 seπal no 09/511 941 , attorney docket no 25791 16 02, filed on 2/24/2000, which ciaims 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 seπal 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 paten! 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 ciasms 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, fsϊed on 7/9/99, (14) U S patent application serial no 10/111 ,982, attorney docket no 25791 27 OS 5 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 seπal no 60/154 047, attorney docket no 25791 29, filed on 9/16/1999, (16) U S provisional patent application seπal 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 ciaims 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, now ϋ S Patent 6 695 012 which issued 2/24/2004, 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, fsled 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 ciasms priority from U S provissonal 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 10/322947 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, now U S Patent 6,976,541 which issued 12/20/2005 attorney docket no 25791 47 07 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 seπaϊ 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 seπai 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 60/313453, 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 δ/26/02, which claims priority from U S provisional patent application senal 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, now U S Patent 6892819 which issued 5/17/2005, 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, (now U S Patent 6,640,903 which issued 11/4/2003), 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, (now U S Patent 6,640,903 wh^ch issued 11/4/2003), which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99 (41) U S patent application serial no 09/962,471 , ftϊed on 9/25/01 , now U S Patent 6,739,392 which issued 5/25/2004, 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, (now U S Patent 6,640 903 which issued 11/4/2003), which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, fiϊed on 3/11/99, (42) U S patent application seπaf no 09/962,467, filed on 9/25/01 now U S Patent 6,725 919 which issued 4/27/2004, 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, (now U S Patent 6 640,903 which issued 11/4/2003), 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, now U S Patent 6,758,278 whsch issued 7/6/2004, 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, (now U S Patent 6,640,903 which issued 11/4/2003) which cfaims 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 , (now U S Patent 6,634,431 which issued 10/21/2003), which is a continuation-irvpart application of U S patent no 6,328,113, which was filed as LJ S Patent Application serial number 09/440,338, attorney docket number 25791 9 02, filed on 11/15/99, which ciaims priority from provisional application 60/108,558, filed on 11/16/98, (47) U S utility patent application serial no 10/516,467, now U S Patent No 6745845 which issued 6/8/2004, 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, {now U S Patent 6,634,431 which issued 10/21/2003), 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 seπai no 10/074 703, now U S Patent 6,705,395 which issued 3/16/2004, 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, now LJ S Patent 6,631 759 which issued 10/14/2003, 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 ciaims 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, now U S Patent 6,631 ,769 which issued 10/14/2003, 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, now U S Patent 7,063,142 which issued 6/20/2006, 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, now U S Patent 6 684,947 which issued 2/3/2004, 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, now U S Patent 6,966,370 which issued 11/22/2005, which is a divisional of U S patent number 6,568,471 whtch 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 , fiSed on 2/20/02, now ϋ S Patent 7,044,221 which issued 5/16/2006, which is a divisional of U S patent number 6,568,471 which was filed as patent application senal 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, now U S Patent 7,011 , 161 which issued 3/14/2006, 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, now U S Patent 7,040 396 which issued 5/9/2006, 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 now U S 7048062 which issued 5/23/2006, 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, now U S Patent 6,857,473 which issued 2/22/2005, which is a divisional of U S patent number 6,568,471 , which was filed as patent application senal 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 senal 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 pπoπty 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 senal 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 paten! application serial no 09/679,906, filed on 10/5/0O 1 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, now U S Patent 7077213 which issued 7/18/2006, 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, now U S Patent 7,036 582 which issued 5/2/2006, which is a dsvsstonat 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, fsied on 10/1/02, now U S Patent 7 044,218 which issued 5/16/2006, which is a divisional of U S patent number 6.557,640, which was filed as patent application seπal 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 seπal 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 seπal 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 seπal 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 seπal 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 seπaϊ 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 seπaS no 60/412,371 , attorney docket no 25791 129, filed on 9/20/02, (95) U S patent application seπal 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 seπal 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 now U S Patent 6,823,937 which issued 11/30/2004, 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 seπai 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 patent application serial no 10/418,687 attorney docket no 25791 228, filed on 4/18/03, now U S Patent 7,021 ,390 which issued 4/4/2006, (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 seπal 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 seπal no 09/523,468, attorney docket no 25791 11 02, filed on 3/10/2000, (now U S Paten! 6,640,903 which issued 11/4/2003}, which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042 fifed on 3/11/99, (111) ϋ S provisional patent application seπal no 60/457 965, attorney docket no 25791 260, filed on 3/27/03 (112) U S provisional patent application seπal 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, now U S Patent 6,968,618 which issued 11/29/2005, 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 seπaϊ 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 seπal no 60/463,586, attorney docket no 25791 277, fifed on 4/17/03, (119) U S provisional patent application seπal 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, fifed on 7/14/03, which is a continuation-tn-part of U S utility patent application seπal no 09/969,922, attorney docket no 25791 69, ftied on 10/3/2001, (now U S Patent 6,634,431 which issued 10/21/2003), which is a contmuatιon-ιn-part application of U S patent no 6 328 113, which was filed as U S Patent Application seπal 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 seπal no 10/418,688, attorney docket no 25791 257, now U S Patent 7,055 608 which issued 6/6/2006, 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, (now U S Patent 6,640,903 which issued 11/4/2003), which claims priority from provisional application 60/124,042, filed on 3/11/99, (122) PCT patent application serial no PCT/US2004/06246, attar ney docket no 25791 238 02 filed on 2/26/2004, (123) PCT patent application seπal number PCT/US2004/08170, attorney docket number 25791 40 02, filed on 3/15/04, (124) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US2004/08171, attorney docket number 25791 236 02, filed on 3/15/04, (125) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US2004/08073, attorney docket number 25791 262 02, filed on 3/18/04, (126) PCT patent application seπal number PCT/US2004/07711 , attorney docket number 25791 253 02, filed on 3/11/2004, (127) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US2004/029025, attorney docket number 25791 260 02, filed on 3/26/2004 (128) PCT patent application seπal number PCT/US2004/010317, attorney docket
number 25791 270 02 , filed on 4/2/2004, (129) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US20Q4/010712, attorney docket number 25791 272 02, filed on 4/6/2004 (130) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US2004/010762, attorney docket number 25791 273 02, filed on 4/6/2004, (131 ) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US2004/011973, attorney docket number 25791 277 02, filed on 4/15/2004 (132) U S provisional patent application seπal number 60/495056, attorney docket number 25791 301 filed on 8/14/2003, (133) U S provisional patent application serial number 60/600679, attorney docket number 25791 194, filed on 8/11/2004, (134) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US2005/027318, attorney docket number 25791 329 02, filed on 7/29/2005 (135) PCT patent application seπal number PCT/US2005/028936 attorney docket number 25791 338 02, filed on 8/12/2005, (136) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US2005/028669, attorney docket number 25791 194 02 filed on 8/11/2005, (137) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US2005/028453, attorney docket number 25791 371 , filed on 8/11/2005, (138) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US2005/028641 , attorney docket number 25791 372, filed on 8/11/2005, (139) PCT patent application seπal number PCT/US2005/028819, attorney docket number 25791 373, filed on 8/11/2005, (140) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US2005/028446, attorney docket number 25791 374 filed on 8/11/2005, (141) PCT patent application seπal number PCT/US2005/028642, attorney docket number 25791 375, filed on 8/11/2005, (142) PCT patent application seπal number PCT/US2005/028451 , attorney docket number 25791 376, filed on 8/11/2005, and (143) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US2005/028473, attorney docket number 25791 377, filed on 8/11/2005, (144) U S utility patent application seπal number 10/546082, attorney docket number 25791 378, filed on 8/16/2005, (145) U S utility patent application serial number 10/546076, attorney docket number 25791 379, filed on 8/16/2005, (146) U S utility patent application serial number 10/545936, attorney docket number 25791 380, filed on 8/16/2005, (147) U S utility patent application seπal number 10/546079, attorney docket number 25791 381, filed on 8/16/2005 (148) U S utility patent application serial number 10/545941 attorney docket number 25791 382 filed on 8/16/2005, (149) U S utility patent application serial number 546078, attorney docket number 25791 383, ftied on 8/16/2005, filed on 8/11/2005 , (150) U S utility patent application serial number 10/545941 , attorney docket number 25791 185 05, filed on 8/16/2005, (151) U S utility patent application serial number 11/249967, attorney docket number 25791 384, filed on 10/13//2005, (152) U S provisional patent application serial number 60/734302, attorney docket number 25791 24, filed on 11/7/20Q5, (153) U S provisional patent application seπal number 60/725181 , attorney docket number 25791 184, filed on 10/11/2005 (154) PCT patent application seπal number PCT/US2005/023391 , attorney docket number 25791 299 02 filed 6/29/2005 which claims priority from U S provisional patent application serial number 60/585370 attorney docket number 25791 299, filed on 7/2/2004 (155) U S provisional patent application seπal number 60/721579, attorney docket number 25791 327 filed on 9/28/2005, (156) U S provisional patent application serial number 60/717391, attorney docket number 25791 214, filed on 9/15/2005, (157) U S provisional patent application seπal number 60/702935, attorney docket number 25791 133, filed on 7/27/2005, (158) LJ S provisional patent
application serial number 60/663913, attorney docket number 25791 32, filed on 3/21/2005, (159) U S provisional patent application serial number 60/652564, attorney docket number 25791 348, filed on 2/14/2005, (160) U S provisional patent application serial number 60/645840, attorney docket number 25791 324, filed on 1/21/2005, (161) PCT patent application serial number PCT/US2005/043122, attorney docket number 25791 326 02, filed on 11/29/2005 which claims priority from U S provisional patent application serial number 60/631703, attorney docket number 25791 326, filed on 11/30/2004 (162) U S provisional patent application serial number 60/752787, attorney docket number 25791 339, filed on 12/22/2005, (163) U S National Stage application serial no 10/548934, attorney docket no 25791 253 05, filed on 9/12/2005, (164) U S National Stage application serial no 10/549410, attorney docket no 25791 262 05, filed on 9/13/2005, (165) U S Provisional Patent Application No 60/717391 , attorney docket no 25791 214 filed on 9/15/2005, (166) U S National Stage application serial no 10/550906, attorney docket no 25791 260 06, filed on 9/27/2005 (167} U S National Stage application serial no 10/551880, attorney docket no 25791 270 06, filed on 9/30/2005, (168) U S National Stage application serial no 10/552253, attorney docket no 25791 273 06, filed on 10/4/2005, (169) U S National Stage application serial no 10/552790, attorney docket no 25791 272 06, fifed on 10/11/2005, (170) U S Provisional Patent Application No 60/725181 attorney docket no 25791 184 filed on 10/11/2005, (171 } U S National Stage application serial no 10/553094, attorney docket no 25791 193 03, filed on 10/13/2005, (172) U S National Stage application serial no 10/553566, attorney docket no 25791 277 06, filed on 10/17/05, (173) PCT Patent Application No PCT/US2G06/002449, attorney docket no 25791 324 02 filed on 1/20/06, (174) PCT Patent Application No PCT/US2006/004809, attorney docket no 25791 348 02 filed on 2/9/06 (175) U S Utility Patent application serial no 11/356899, attorney docket no 25791 386, filed on 2/17/06, (176) U S National Stage application serial no 10/568200, attorney docket no 25791 301 06, filed on 2/13/2006, (177) U S National Stage application serial no 10/568719, attorney docket no 25791 137 04, filed on 2/16/06, (178) U S National Stage application serial no 10/569323, attorney docket no 25791 215 06, filed on 2/17/06, (179) U S National State patent application serial no 10/571041, attorney docket no 25791 305 05, filed on 3/3/06, (180) U S National State patent application serial no 10/571017, attorney docket no 25791 306 04, filed on 3/3/06, (181 ) U S National State patent application serial no 10/571086, attorney docket no 25791 307 04, filed on 3/6/06, and (182) U S National State patent application seπaS no 10/571085, attorney docket no 25791 308 07, filed on 3/6/06, (183) U S utility patent application serial number 10/938788, attorney docket number 25791 330 filed on 9/10/04, (184) U S utility patent appiϊcation seπaS number 10/938225, attorney docket number 25791 331 filed on 9/10/04 (185) U S utility patent application serial number 10/952288, attorney docket number 25791 332, filed on 9/28/04, (186) U S utility patent application serial number 10/952416, attorney docket number 25791 333, filed on 9/28/04, (187) U S utility patent application seπa! number 10/950749, attorney docket number 25791 334 filed on 9/27/04, (188)U S utility patent appfication serial number 10/950869, attorney docket number 25791 335, filed on 9/27/04, (189) U S provisional patent application seπai number 60/761324,
attorney docket number 25791 340, filed on 1/23/06, (190) U S provisional patent application serial number 60/754556, attorney docket number 25791 342, filed on 12/28/05 (191) U S utility patent application serial number 11/380051 , attorney docket number 25791 388, filed on 4/25/06, (192) U S utility patent application serial number 11/380055, attorney docket number 25791 389, filed on 4/25/06, (193) U S utility patent application serial number 10/522039, attorney docket number 25791 106 05, filed on 3/10/2006, (194) U S provisional patent application serial number 50/746,813, attorney docket number 25791 259, filed on 5/9/2006, (195) U S utility patent application serial number 11/456584 attorney docket number 25791 403, filed on 7/11/2006, and (196} U S utility patent application serial number 11/456587, attorney docket number 25791 404, filed on 7/11/2006, (197) PCT Patent Application No PCT/US2006/009886 attorney docket no 25791 32 02 filed on 3/21/2006, (198) PCT Patent Application No PCT/US2006/010674, attorney docket no 25791 337 02 filed on 3/21/2006, (199) U S Patent 6,409,175 which issued 6/25/2002, attorney docket no 25791 159, (20O) U S Patent 6,550,821 which issued 4/22/2003, attorney docket no 25791 263, (201) U S Patent Application No 10/767,953, filed 1/29/2Q04. attorney docket no 25791 309, now U S Patent 7077211 which issued 7/18/2006, (202) U S Patent Application No 10/769,726, filed 1/30/2004, attorney docket no 25791 310, (203) U S Patent Application No 10/770363 filed 2/2/2004, attorney docket no 25791 311 , (204) U S utility patent application serial no 11/068,595, attorney docket no 25791 349, filed on 2/28/2005, (205) ϋ S utility patent application serial no 11/070,147, attorney docket no 25791 351 , filed on 3/2/2005, (206) U S utility patent application serial no 11/071 ,409 attorney docket no 25791 352, filed on 3/2/2005, (207) U S utility patent application serial no 11/071 ,557, attorney docket no 25791 353, filed on 3/3/2005, (208) U S utility patent application seπaf no 11/072,578, attorney docket no 25791 354, filed on 3/4/2005 (209) U S utility patent application serial no 11/072,893, attorney docket no 25791 355, filed on 3/4/2005, (210) U S utility patent application serial no 11/072,594, attorney docket no 25791 356, filed on 3/4/2005, (211) U S utility patent application serial no 11/074,366, attorney docket no 25791 357, filed on 3/7/2005, (212) U S utility patent application serial no 11/074,266, attorney docket no 25791 358, filed on 3/7/2005, (213) LJ S provisional patent application serial no 60/832909 attorney docket no 25791 407, filed on 7/24/2006, (214) U S utility patent application serial no 11/536,302, attorney docket no 25791 412, filed 9/28/2006, (215) U S utility patent application serial no 11/538228, attorney docket no 25791 156, filed 10/3/06, (216) U S utility patent application serial no 11/552,703 filed on October 25, 2006, attorney docket no 25791 401 , (217) U S utility application serial no 11/553240, attorney docket no 25791 422, filed on October 26 2006, (218) U S utility application serial no 11/554288 attorney docket no 25791 24 02, fifed on October 30, 2006, (219) U S utility application serial no 11/560154, attorney docket no 25791 407 02, filed on November 15, 2006, (220) U S provisional application serial no 60/866536. attorney docket no 25791 237, filed on November 20, 2006, and (221) U S provisional application serial no 60/866543, attorney docket no 25791 251 filed on November 20, 2006
Background
[005] This invention relates generally to wellbore casings, and m particular to wellbore casings that are formed using expandable tubing
[006] Conventionally, when a wellbore is created, a number of casings are installed in the borehole to prevent coiiapse of the borehole wall and to prevent unciesired 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 tn 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 annul! are provided between the outer surfaces of the casings and the borehole waif 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 πg time is involved due to required cement pumping, cement hardening, required equipment changes due to large variations in hoie diameters drilled in the course of the well, and the large volume of cuttings drilled and removed
[007] The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations of the existing procedures for forming weϊlbore casings
Brief Description of the Drawings
[008] Fig 1a is a cross sectional illustration of the placement of an illustrative embodiment of a system for lining a wellbore casing within a borehole having a preexisting wellbore casing [009] Fig 1 b is a cross sectional frustration of the system of Fig 1a during the injection of a fluidic material into the tubular support member
[0010] Fig 1c is a cross sectional illustration of the system of Fig 1 b during the pressuπzation of the interior portion of the shoe after sealing off the valveable fluid passage of the shoe [0011} Fig 1d is a cross sectional illustration of the system of Fig 1c during the continued injection of the fluidic material into the tubular support member
[0012] Fig 1e is a cross sectional illustration of the system of Fig 1d after the completion of the radsal expansion and plastic deformation of the expandable tubular members
[0013] Fig 1f is a cross sectional illustration of the system of Fig 1e after machining the bottom central portion of the shoe
[0014] Fig 2 is a cross sectional illustration of an illustrative embodiment of the expandable tubular members of the system of Fig 1 a
[0015] Fig 3 ss a flow chart illustration of an illustrative embodiment of a method for manufacturing the expandable tubular member of Fig 2
[0016] Fsg 4a is a cross sectional illustration of an illustrative embodiment of the upsetting of the ends of a tubuϊar member
[0017] Fig 4b is a cross sectional illustration of the expandable tubular member of Fig 4a after radially expanding and plastically deforming the ends of the expandable tubular member
[0018] Fig 4c is a cross sectional illustration of the expandable tubular member of Fig 4b after forming threaded connections on the ends of the expandable tubular member
[0019J Fig 4d is a cross sectional illustration of the expandable tubular member of Fig 4c after coupling sealing members to the exterior surface of the intermediate unexpanded portion of the expandable tubular member
[0020] Fig 5 is a cross-sectional illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a tubular expansion cone
[0021] Fig 6 is a cross-sectional illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a tubular expansion cone
[0022] Fig 7a is a cross sectional illustration of the placement of an illustrative embodiment of a system for lining a wellbore casing within a borehole having a preexisting weϋbore casing
[0023] Fig 7b is a cross sectional illustration of the system of Fig 7a during the injection of a fluidsc material into the tubular support member
[0024] Fig 7c is a cross sectional illustration of the system of Fig 7b during the pressuπzation of the interior portion of the shoe after sealing off the valveable fluid passage of the shoe
[0025] Fig 7d is a cross sectional illustration of the system of Fig 7c durmg the continued injection of the fiuidic material into the tubular support member
[0026] Fig 7e is a cross sectional illustration of the system of Fig 7d after the completion of the radial expansion and plastic deformation of the expandable tubular members
[0027] Fig 7f is a cross sectional illustration of the system of Fig 7e after machining the bottom central portion of the shoe
Description of the Illustrative Embodiments
[0028] Referring initially to Fig 1a, the reference numeral 10 refers, in general, to a system for lining a wellbore casing that includes a tubular support member 12 that defines a passage 12a A tubular expansion cone 14 that defines a passage 14a is coupled to an end of the tubular support member 12 In an exemplary embodiment, the tubular expansion cone 14 includes a tapered outer surface 14b for reasons to be described A pre-expanded end 16a of a first expandable tubular member 16 that defines a passage 16b is adapted to mate with and be supported by the tapered outer surface 14b of the tubular expansion cone 14 The first expandable tubular member 16 further includes an unexpanded intermediate portion 16c, another pre-expanded end 16d and a sealing member 16e coupled to the exterior surface of the unexpanded intermediate portion In an exemplary embodiment, the inside and
outside diameters of the pre-expanded ends, 16a and 16d, of the first expandable tubular member 16 are greater than the inside and outside diameters of the unexpanded intermediate portion 16c An end 18a of a shoe 18 that defines a passage 18b and a vaiveable passage 18c is coupled to the pre-expanded end 16a of the first expandable tubular member 16 by a conventional threaded connection [0029] An end 20a of a tubular member 20 that defines a passage 20b is coupled to the other pre- expanded end 16d of the first expandable tubular member 16 by a conventional threaded connection Another end 20c of the tubular member 20 is coupled to an end 22a of a tubular member 22 that defines a passage 22b by a conventional threaded connection A pre-expanded end 24a of a second expandable tubular member 24 that defines a passage 24b is coupled to the other end 22c of the tubular member 22 The second expandable tubular member 24 further includes an unexpanded intermediate portion 24c, another pre-expanded end 24d and a sealing member 24e coupled to the exterior surface of the unexpanded intermediate portion In an exemplary embodiment, the inside and outside diameters of the pre-expanded ends, 24a and 24d, of the second expandable tubular member 24 are greater than the msϊde and outside diameters of the unexpanded intermediate portion 24c [0030] An end 26a of a tubular member 26 that defines a passage 26b is coupled to the other pre- expanded end 24d of the second expandable tubular member 24 by a conventional threaded connection Another end 2βc of the tubular member 26 is coupled to an end 28a of a tubular member 28 that defines a passage 28b by a conventional threaded connection A pre-expanded end 30a of a third expandable tubular member 30 that defines a passage 30b is coupled to the other end 28c of the tubular member 28 The third expandable tubular member 30 further includes an unexpanded intermediate portion 3Oc 1 another pre-expanded end 3Od, and a sealing member 30e coupled to the exterior surface of the unexpanded intermediate portion in an exemplary embodiment, the inside and outside diameters of the pre-expanded ends, 30a and 3Od, of the third expandable tubular member 30 are greater than the inside and outside diameters of the unexpanded intermediate portion 30c
[0031] Sn an exemplary embodiment, the inside and outside diameters of the pre-expanded ends, 16a, 16d 24a, 24d, 30a and 30d, of the expandable tubular members, 16, 24, and 30, and the tubular members 20, 22, 26, and 28 are substantially equal in several exemplary embodiments, the sealing members, 16e, 24e, and 3Oe, of the expandable tubular members, 16, 24, and 30, respectively, further include anchoring elements for engaging the wellbore casing 104 In several exemplary embodiments, the tubular members, 20 22, 26, and 28, are conventional tubular members having threaded end connections suitable for use in an oil or gas well, an underground pipeline, or as a structural support [0032] In an exemplary embodiment as illustrated in Fig 1a, the system 10 is initially positioned in a borehole 100 formed in a subterranean formation 102 that includes a pre-existing welibore casing 104 The borehole 100 may be positioned in any orientation from vertical to horizontal Furthermore, the wellbore casing 104 may be, for example, a wellbore casing for an oil or gas well, an underground pipeline, or a structural support In an exemplary embodiment, the upper end of the tubular support
member 12 may be supported in a conventional manner using, for exampte, a slip joint, or equivalent device in order to permit upward movement of the tubular support member and tubular expansion cone 14 relative to one or more of the expandable tubular members, 16 24, and 30, and tubular members, 20, 22, 26, and 28
[0033] In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in Frg 1b a fluidic material 106 is then injected into the system 10, through the passages, 12a and 14a of the tubular support member 12 and tubular expansion cone 14, respectively The fluid ic material 106 then passes into the passages, 18b and 18c of the shoe 18 into the borehole 100
[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in Fig 1c a ball 108, plug or other equivalent device is then introduced into the injected flusdic material 106 The ball 108 will then pass through the passages, 12a, 14a, and 18b, of the tubular support member 12 the tubular expansion cone 14, and the shoe 18, respectively and will then be positioned within the valveable passage 18c of the shoe In this manner, the valveable passage 18c of the shoe 18 is closed thereby permitting the passage 18b of the shoe below the tubular expansion cone 14 to be pressurized by the continued injection of the ffuidic material 106 [0035] In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated m Fig 1d, the continued injection of the fluidic material 106 through the passages, 12a and 14a, of the tubular support member 12 and the tubular expansion cone 14, respectively pressurizes the passage 18b of the shoe 18 below the tubular expansion cone thereby radially expanding and plastically deforming the expandable tubular member 16 off of the tapered external surface 14b of the tubular expansion cone 14 In particular, the intermediate non pre-expanded portion 16c of the expandable tubular member 16 is radially expanded and plastically deformed off of the tapered external surface 14b of the tubular expansion cone 14 As a result, the sealing member I6e engages the interior surface of the wellbore casing 104 Consequently, the radially expanded intermediate portion 16c of the expandable tubular member 16 is thereby coupled to the wellbore casing 104 In an exemplary embodiment, the radially expanded intermediate portion 16c of the expandable tubular member 16 is also thereby anchored to the wellbore castng 104 [0036] The continued injection of the fiuidic material 106 through the passages, 12a and 14a, of the tubular support member 12 and the tubular expansion cone 14 respectively, will then displace the tubular expansion cone 14 upwardly into engagement with the pre-expanded end 24a of the second expandable tubular member 24
[0037] In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated m Fig 1e, the continued injection of the fluidic material 106 through the passages, 12a and 14a, of the tubular support member 12 and tubular expansion cone 14 respectively, will then pressurize the passages 18b, 16b, 20b and 22b below the tubular expansion cone thereby radially expanding and plastically deforming the second expandable tubular member 24 off of the tapered external surface 14b of the tubular expansion cone 14 In particular, the intermediate non pre-expanded portion 24c of the second expandable tubular member 24 is radially expanded and plastically deformed off of the tapered external surface 14b of the tubular expansion cone
14 As a result, the sealing member 24e engages the interior surface of the wellbore casing 104 Consequently, the radially expanded intermediate portion 24c of the second expandable tubular member 24 fs thereby coupled to the welibore casing 104 In an exemplary embodiment, the radially expanded intermediate portion 24c of the second expandable tubular member 24 is also thereby anchored to the wellbore casing 104
[0038] The continued injection of the flusdic material 106 through the passages, 12a and 14a, of the tubular support member 12 and the tubular expansion cone 14, respectiveiy, will then displace the tubular expansion cone 14 upwardly into engagement with the pre-expanded end 30a of the third expandable tubular member 30
[0039] The continued injection of the ffuidic material 106 through the passages, 12a and 14a, of the tubular support member 12 and tubular expansion cone 14, respectively, will then pressurize the passages 18b 16b 20b, 22b, 24b, 26b, and 28b beiow the tubular expansion cone thereby radially expanding and plastically deforming the third expandable tubular member 30 off of the tapered external surface 14b of the tubular expansion cone 14 Sn particular, the intermediate non pre-expanded portion 30c of the third expandable tubular member 30 is radially expanded and plastically deformed off of the tapered external surface 14b of the tubular expansion cone 14 As a result, the sealing member 3Oe engages the interior surface of the welibore casing 104 Consequently, the radially expanded intermediate portion 30c of the third expandable tubular member 30 is thereby coupled to the wellbore casing 104 Sn an exemplary embodiment, the radially expanded intermediate portion 30c of the third expandable tubular member 30 as also thereby anchored to the wellbore casing 104 [0040] In an exemplary embodiment, during the injection of the fluidic material 106 through the passages, 12a and 14a, of the tubular support member 12 and the tubular expansion cone 14, respectively, the tubular support member 12 and tubuiar expansion cone 14 are displaced upwardly relative to the expandable tubular members, 16, 24, and 30, and the tubular members, 20, 22 26, and 28, by applying an upward axial force to the upper end of the tubular support member [0041] After completing the radial expansion and plastic deformation of the third expandable tubuiar member 30 the tubular support member 12 and the tubular expansion cone 14 are removed from the wellbore 100
[0042] in an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in Fig 1f, the lower centra! portion of the shoe 18 is then removed using a conventional milling device
[0043J Thus, during the operation of the system 10, the intermediate non pre-expanded portions, 16c, 24c, and 30c, of the expandable tubular members, 16, 24, and 30 respectively, are radially expanded and plastically deformed by the pressunzation of the interior passages, 18a, 16b, 20b, 22b, 24b, 26b, 28b, and 3Ob 1 of the shoe 18, the expandable tubular member 16, the tubular members, 20 and 22, the expandable tubular member 24, the tubular members, 26 and 28, and the expandable tubular member 30 respectiveSy, below the tubular expansion cone 14 As a result the sealing members, 16e, 24e, and
3Oe, are displaced in the radial direction into engagement with the wellbore casing 104 thereby coupling the shoe 18, the expandable tubular member 16, the tubular members, 20 and 22, the expandable tubular member 24, the tubular members, 26 and 28, and the expandable tubular member 30 to the weilbore casing Furthermore, as a result, the expandable connections between the expandable tubular members, 16, 24, and 30, the shoe 18, and the tubular members, 20, 22, 26, and 28, do not have to be expandable connections thereby providing significant cost savings Furthermore, m the system 10, the tubular members 20, 22, 26, and 28 are interleaved among the expandable tubular members, 16, 24 and 30 As a result, because only the intermediate non pre-expanded portions, 16c, 24c, and 30c, of the expandable tubular members, 16, 24, and 30, respectively, are radially expanded and plastically deformed the tubular members 20, 22 26, and 28 can be conventional tubular members thereby significantly reducing the cost and complexity of the system 10 Moreover, because only the intermediate non pre-expanded portions, 16c 24c, and 3Oc 1 of the expandable tubular members 16, 24, and 30, respectively, are radially expanded and plastically deformed, the number and length of the interleaved tubular members, 20, 22 26, and 28 can be much greater than the number and length of the expandable tubular members In an exemplary embodiment, the total length of the intermediate non pre-expanded portions, 16c, 24c, and 30c, of the expandable tubular members, 16, 24, and 30, is approximately 200 feet, and the total length of the tubular members, 20, 22, 26, and 28, is approximately 3800 feet Consequently in an exemplary embodiment, a liner having a total length of approximately 4000 feet is coupled to a wellbore casing by radially expanding and plastically deforming a total length of only approximately 200 feet [0044] Furthermore, the sealing members 16e, 24e, and 3Oe of the expandable tubular members, 16 24, and 30, respectively, are used to couple the expandable tubular members and the tubular members, 20, 22 26, and 28 to the wellbore casing 104, the radsal gap between the tubular members, the expandable tubular members, and the wellbore casing 104 may be large enough to effectively eliminate the possibility of damage to the expandable tubular members and tubular members during the placement of the system 10 wrthin the wellbore casing
[0045] In an exemplary embodiment, after the sealing member 16e of the expandable tubular member 16 has been radially expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing 104, the expandable tubular members, 24 and 30 are radially expanded and plastically deformed by injecting the fluidic mateπai 106 and applying an upward axial force to the tubular support member 12 and tubular expansion cone 14 In this manner radial expansion and plastic deformation of the expandable tubular members, 24 and 30, may be enhanced
[0046] In an exemplary embodiment, after the sealing member 16e of the expandable tubular member 16 has been radially expanded tnto engagement with the wellbore casing 104, the expandable tubular members, 24 and 30, are radially expanded and plastically deformed by only applying an upward axial force to the tubular support member 12 and tubular expansion cone 14 in this manner, radial expansion
and plastic deformation of the expandable tubular members, 24 and 30, may be provided without the further continued injection of the fluidic material 106
£0047] In an exemplary embodiment, the pre-expanded ends, 16a 16d 24a, 24d, 30a, and 3Od, of the expandable tubuϊar members, 16, 24, and 30, respectively, and the tubular members, 20, 22, 26, and 28, have outside diameters and wall thicknesses of 8 375 inches and 0 350 inches, respectively, prior to the radial expansion, the intermediate non pre-expanded portions 16c, 24c and 30c, of the expandable tubular members, 16, 24, and 30, respectively have outside diameters of 7 625 inches, the tubular members, 20, 22, 26, and 28 have inside diameters of 7 675 inches after the radial expansion, the inside diameters of the intermediate portions, 16c, 24c. and 30c of the expandable tubular members, 16, 24, and 30, are equal to 7 675 inches, and the welibore casing 104 has an inside diameter of 8 755 inches [0048] In an exemplary embodiment the pre-expanded ends, 16a, 16d, 24a, 24d, 30a, and 3Od, of the expandable tubular members, 16, 24, and 30, respectively and the tubular members, 20, 22 26, and 28, have outside diameters and wall thicknesses of 4 500 inches and 0 250 inches respectively, prior to the radsai expansion, the intermediate non pre-expanded portions, 16c, 24c, and 30c, of the expandable tubular members 16 24, and 30, respectively, have outside diameters of 4 000 inches, the tubular members, 20, 22, 26, and 28, have inside diameters of 4 000 inches, after the radial expansion, the inside diameters of the intermediate portions, 16c, 24c, and 30c, of the expandable tubuϊar members. 16, 24, and 30, are equal to 4 000 inches, and the welibore casing 104 has an inside diameter of 4 892 inches [0049] In an exemplary embodiment, the system 10 is used to form or repair a welibore casing, a pipeline, or a structural support
[0050] Referring now to Fig 2, an exemplary embodiment of an expandable tubular member 200 will now be described The tubular member 200 defines an interior region 200a and includes a first end 200b including a first threaded connection 200ba, a first tapered portion 200c an intermediate portion 20Od, a second tapered portion 20Oe, and a second end 20Of including a second threaded connection 200fa The tubular member 200 further preferably includes an intermediate sealing member 20Og that is coupled to the exterior surface of the intermediate portion 200d
[0051] in an exemplary embodiment, the tubular member 200 has a substantially annular cross section The tubular member 200 may be fabricated from any number of conventional commercially available materials such as, for example, Oilfield Country Tubular Goods (OCTG), 13 chromium steel tubing/casing, or 183, J55 or P110 API casing
[0052] Sn an exemplary embodiment, the interior 200a of the tubular member 200 has a substantially circular cross section Furthermore in an exemplary embodiment, the interior region 200a of the tubular member includes a first inside diameter D 1 , an intermediate inside diameter D, N τ and a second inside diameter D 2 in an exemplary embodiment, the first and second inside diameters, D 1 and D2, are substantially equal In an exemplary embodiment, the first and second inssde diameters D 1 and D 2 , are greater than the intermediate inside diameter D lNT
[0053] The first end 200b of the tubular member 200 is coupled to the intermediate portion 200d by the first tapered portion 200c, and the second end 20Of of the tubular member is coupled to the intermediate portion by the second tapered portion 20Oe in an exemplary embodiment the outside diameters of the first and second ends 200b and 20Of of the tubular member 200 is greater than the outside diameter of the intermediate portion 20Od of the tubular member The first and second ends, 200b and 20Of of the tubuiar member 200 include wall thicknesses, t, and t 2 respectively In an exemplary embodiment, the outside diameter of the intermediate portion 20Od of the tubular member 200 ranges from about 75% to 98% of the outside dsameters of the first and second ends, 200a and 20Of The intermediate portion 20Od of the tubular member 200 includes a wall thickness t !NT
[0054] In an exemplary embodiment, the wall thicknesses ti and I 2 are substantially equal m order to provide substantially equal burst strength for the first and second ends 200a and 200f i of the tubular member 200 In an exemplary embodiment, the wall thicknesses, ti and t 2 , are both greater than the wall thickness t iNT sπ order to optimally match the burst strength of the first and second ends 200a and 20Of, of the tubular member 200 with the intermediate portion 20Od of the tubular member 200 [00551 In an exemplary embodiment, the first and second tapered portions, 200c and 20Oe, are incisneci at an angle, α, reiative to the longitudinal direction ranging from about 0 to 30 degrees in order to optimally facilitate the radial expansion of the tubular member 200 In an exemplary embodiment, the first and second tapered portions, 200c and 200e provide a smooth transition between the first and second ends, 200a and 20Of, and the intermediate portion 20Od, of the tubular member 200 in order to minimize stress concentrations
[0056] The intermediate sealing member 20Og is coupied to the outer surface of the intermediate portion 20Od of the tubular member 200 In an exemplary embodiment, the intermediate sealing member 20Og seals the interface between the intermediate portion 20Od of the tubular member 200 and the interior surface of a wellbore casing 205 after the radial expansion and plastic deformation of the intermediate portion 20Od of the tubular member 200 In an exemplary embodiment, the intermediate sealing member 20Og has a substantially annular cross section In an exemplary embodiment, the outside diameter of the intermediate sealing member 20Og is selected to be less than the outssde diameters of the first and second ends, 200a and 20Of, of the tubular member 200 in order to optimally protect the intermediate sealing member 200g during placement of the tubuiar member 200 within the wellbore casings 205 The intermediate sealing member 20Og may be fabricated from any number of conventional commercially available materials such as, for example thermoset or thermoplastic polymers In an exemplary embodiment, the intermediate sealing member 20Og is fabricated from thermoset polymers in order to optimally seal the radially expanded intermediate portion 20Od of the tubular member 200 with the wellbore casing 205 In several alternative embodiments, the sealing member 200g includes one or more rigsd anchors for engaging the wellbore casing 205 to thereby anchor the radially expanded and plastically deformed intermediate portion 20Od of the tubular member 200 to the wellbore casing
[0057] Referring to Figs 3 and 4a to 4d in an exemplary embodiment, the tubular member 200 is formed by a process 300 that includes the steps of (1) upsetting both ends of a tubular member in step 305 (2) expanding both upset ends of the tubular member in step 310, (3) stress relieving both expanded upset ends of the tubular member in step 315, (4) forming threaded connections in both expanded upset ends of the tubular member in step 320, and (5) putting a sealing material on the outside diameter of the non-expanded intermediate portion of the tubular member in step 325
[0058] As illustrated in FIG 4a, in step 305, both ends, 400a and 400b, of a tubular member 400 are upset using conventional upsetting methods The upset ends, 400a and 400b, of the tubular member 400 include the wall thicknesses U and t 2 The intermediate portion 400c of the tubular member 400 includes the wall thickness W and the interior diameter D m In an exemplary embodiment, the wal! thicknesses U and t 2 are substantially equal in order to provide burst strength that is substantially equal along the entire length of the tubuϊar member 400 in an exemplary embodiment, the wall thicknesses t- s and t 2 are both greater than the wall thickness W m order to provide burst strength that is substantially equai along the entire length of the tubular member 400 and also to optimally facilitate the formation of threaded connections in the first and second ends, 400a and 400b
[0059] As illustrated in Fig 4b, in steps 310 and 315, both ends, 400a and 400b of the tubular member 400 are radially expanded using conventional radial expansion methods and then both ends, 400a and 400b, of the tubular member are stress relieved The radially expanded ends, 400a and 400b of the tubular member 400 include the interior diameters Di and D 2 In an exemplary embodiment the interior diameters Di and D 2 are substantially equal in order to provide a burst strength that is substantially equal In an exemplary embodiment, the ratio of the interior diameters D 1 and D 2 to the interior diameter Deranges from about 100% to 120% in order to faciiiate the subsequent radial expansion of the tubular member 400
[0060] in a preferred embodiment, the relationship between the wal! thicknesses t,, t 2 , and t m of the tubular member 400, the inside diameters D t , D 2 and D m χ of the tubular member 400, the inside diameter Dw e ii bo r e of the wellbore casing that the tubular member 400 will be inserted into, and the outside diameter D cone of the expansion cone that will be used to radially expand the tubular member 400 within the wellbore casing is given by the following expression
Dwllbore- lu. ≥ D 5 ≥ y-[(f, - / λr > Ac * ~ 'λ/ * Au ] W where t-i = t 2 , and
D 1 = D 2
[0061] By satisfying the relationship given in equation (1 ), the expansion forces placed upon the tubular member 400 during the subsequent radial expansion process are substantially equalized More generally the relationship given in equation (1) may be used to calculate the optimal geometry for the tubular member 400 for subsequent radial expansion and plastic deformation of the tubular member 400
for fabricating and/or repairing a welibore casing, a pipeline, or a structural support [0062] As illustrated in FlG 4c, in step 320, conventional threaded connections, 40Od and 40Oe, are formed in both expanded ends, 400a and 400b, of the tubular member 400 Sn an exemplary embodiment, the threaded connections, 40Od and 400e, are provided using conventional processes for forming pin and box type threaded connections available from Atlas-Bradford [0063] As illustrated in Fig 4d, in step 325, a sealing member 400f is then applied onto the outside diameter of the non-expanded intermediate portion 400c of the tubular member 400 The sealing member 400f may be applied to the outside diameter of the non-expanded intermediate portion 400c of the tubular member 400 using any number of conventional commerαaily available methods In a preferred embodiment, the sealing member 400f is applied to the outside diameter of the intermediate portion 400c of the tubular member 400 using commercially available chemical and temperature resistant adhesive bonding
[0064J In an exemplary embodiment, the expandable tubular members, 16 24, and 30, of the system 10 are substantially identical to, and/or incorporate one or more of the teachings of, the tubular members 200 and 400
[0065] Referring to Fig 5 an exemplary embodiment of tubular expansion cone 500 for radially expanding the tubular members 16, 24, 30, 200 and 400 will now be described The expansion cone 500 defines a passage 500a and includes a front end 505, a rear end 510, and a radial expansion section 515
[00661 in an exemplary embodiment, the radial expansion section 515 includes a first conical outer surface 520 and a second conical outer surface 525 The first conical outer surface 520 includes an angle of attack O 1 and the second conical outer surface 525 includes an angle of attack α 2 In an exemplary embodiment, the angie of attack CH SS greater than the angle of attack α 2 In this manner, the first conical outer surface 520 radially overexpands the intermediate portions, 16c, 24c, 30c, 20Od, and 400c, of the tubular members, 16, 24 30, 200, and 400, and the second corneal outer surface 525 radsaϊiy overexpands the pre-expanded first and second ends, 16a and 16d, 24a and 24d, 30a and 3Od 1 200b and 20Of and 400a and 400b, of the tubular members, 16, 24, 30, 200 and 400 in an exemplary embodiment, the first conical outer surface 520 includes an angle of attack α< ranging from about 8 to 20 degrees, and the second conical outer surface 525 includes an angle of attack α 2 ranging from about 4 to 15 degrees in order to optimally radially expand and plastically deform the tubuiar members 16, 24, 30, 200 and 400 More generally, the expansion cone 500 may include 3 or more adjacent conical outer surfaces having angles of attack that decrease from the front end 505 of the expansion cone 500 to the rear end 510 of the expansion cone 500
[0067] Referring to Fig 6, another exemplary embodiment of a tubular expansion cone 600 defines a passage 600a and includes a front end 605, a rear end 610, and a radial expansion section 615 in an exemplary embodiment, the radial expansion section 615 includes an outer surface having a substantially
parabolic outer profile thereby providing a paraboloid shape In this manner the outer surface of the radiai expansion section 615 provides an angle of attack that constantly decreases from a maximum at the front end 605 of the expansion cone 600 to a miramum at the rear end 610 of the expansion cone The parabolic outer profile of the outer surface of the radial expansion section 615 may be formed using a plurality of adjacent discrete conical sections and/or using a continuous curved surface in this manner, the region of the outer surface of the radial expansion section 615 adjacent to the front end 605 of the expansion cone 600 may optimally radially overexpand the intermediate portions, 16c, 24c, 30c, 20Od, and 400c, of the tubular members, 16, 24, 30, 200, and 400 while the region of the outer surface of the radiai expansion section 615 adjacent to the rear end 610 of the expansion cone 600 may optimally radially overexpand the pre-expanded first and second ends, 16a and 16d, 24a and 24d, 30a and 3Od, 200b and 20Of 1 and 400a and 400b, of the tubular members, 16, 24, 30, 200 and 400 in an exemplary embodiment, the parabolic profile of the outer surface of the radial expansion section 615 is selected to provide an angle of attack that ranges from about 8 to 20 degrees in the vrømty of the front end 605 of the expansion cone 6800 and an angle of attack in the vicinity of the rear end 610 of the expansion cone 600 from about 4 to 15 degrees
[0068] Referring to Fig 7a, the reference numeral 710 refers, m general, to a system for lining a weilbore casing that includes a tubular support member 712 that defines a passage 712a A tubular expansion cone 714 that defines a passage 714a is coupled to an end of the tubular support member 712 In an exemplary embodiment, the tubular expansion cone 714 tnciudes a tapered outer surface 714b for reasons to be described A pre-expanded end 716a of a first expandable tubular member 716 that defines a passage 716b is adapted to mate with and be supported by the tapered outer surface 714b of the tubular expansion cone 714 The first expandable tubular member 716 further includes an unexpanded intermediate portion 716c, another pre-expanded end 716d, and a sealing member 716e coupled to the exterior surface of the unexpanded intermediate portion In an exemplary embodiment, the inside and outside diameters of the pre-expanded ends, 716a and 716d, of the first expandable tubular member 716 are greater than the inside and outside diameters of the unexpanded intermediate portion 716c
[0069] An end 71Sa of a shoe 718 that defines a passage 71Sb and a valveable passage 71Sc is coupied to the pre-expanded enά 716a of the first expandable tubular member 716 by a conventional threaded connection 718d An end 720a of a tubular member 720 that defines a passage 720b is coupled to the other pre-expanded end 716d of the first expandable tubular member 716 by a conventional threaded connection 72Od Another end 720c of the tubular member 720 is coupled to an end 722a of a tubular member 722 that defines a passage 722b by a conventional threaded connection 722d A pre-expanded end 724a of a second expandable tubular member 724 that defines a passage 724b is coupied to the other end 722c of the tubular member 722 by a conventional threaded connection 724f The second expandable tubular member 724 further includes an unexpanded intermediate portion
724c, another pre-expanded end 724d, and a sealing member 724e coupled to the exterior surface of the unexpanded intermediate portion In an exemplary embodiment, the inside and outside diameters of the pre-expanded ends, 724a and 724d, of the second expandable tubular member 724 are greater than the inssde and outside diameters of the unexpanded intermediate portion 724c
[0070] An end 726a of a tubular member 726 that defines a passage 726b is coupled to the other pre- expanded end 724d of the second expandable tubular member 724 by a conventional threaded connection 726d Another end 726c of the tubular member 726 is coupied to an end 728a of a tubular member 728 that defines a passage 728b by a conventional threaded connection 728d A pre-expanded end 730a of a third expandable tubular member 730 that defines a passage 730b is coupled to the other end 728c of the tubular member 728 by a conventional threaded connection 73Of The third expandable tubular member 730 further includes an unexpanded intermediate portion 730c, another pre-expanded end 73Od, and a sealing member 73Oe coupled to the exterior surface of the unexpanded intermediate portion In an exemplary embodiment, the inside and outside diameters of the pre-expanded ends, 730a and 73Od 1 of the third expandable tubular member 730 are greater than the inside and outside diameters of the unexpanded intermediate portion 730c
[0071] In an exemplary embodiment, the inside and outside diameters of the pre-expandecl ends, 716d, 724a, 724d 730a and 73Od, of the expandable tubular members, 716, 724, and 730, and the tubular members 720, 722, 726, and 728, are substantially equal The outside diameter of the pre-expanded end 716a of the first expandable tubular member 716 is greater than the outside diameter of the pre- expanded end 716d, and the inside diameter of the pre-expanded end 716a of the first expandable tubular member 716 is greater than the snside diameter of the pre-expanded end 716d In an exemplary embodiment, the outside diameter of the end 716a is about 5% greater than the outside diameter of the end 716d, and the inside diameter of the end 716a is about 5% greater than the inside diameter of the end 716d In several exemplary embodiments, the sealing members, 716e, 724e, and 73Oe, of the expandable tubular members, 716, 724, and 730, respectively, further include anchoring elements for engaging the wellbore casing 704 In several exemplary embodiments, the tubular members, 720, 722, 726, and 728, are conventional tubular members coupled by conventional threaded end connections 72Od 1 722d, 724f, 726d, 728d and 73Of that are suitable for use in an oil or gas well, an underground pipeline, or as a structural support
[0072] In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated m Fig 7a, the system 710 is initially positioned in a borehole 700 formed in a subterranean formation 702 that includes a pre-existing wellbore casing 704 The borehole 700 may be positioned in any orientation from vertical to horizontal Furthermore, the wellbore casing 704 may be, for example, a wellbore casing for an oύ or gas well, an underground pipeline, or a structural support In an exemplary embodiment, the upper end of the tubular support member 712 may be supported in a conventional manner using, for example, a slip joint, or equivalent device in order to permit upward movement of the tubular support member and tubular expansion cone
714 relative to one or more of the expandable tubular members, 716, 724, and 730, and tubular members 720, 722, 726, and 728
[0073] In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in Rg 7b, a fluidic materia! 706 is then injected into the system 710, through the passages, 712a and 714a, of the tubular support member 712 and tubular expansion cone 714, respectively The fluidic material 706 then passes into the passages, 718b and 718c, of the shoe 718 into the borehole 700
[0074] In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in Fig 7c, a bail 708, plug or other equivalent device is then introduced into the injected fluidfc material 706 The ball 708 will then pass through the passages, 712a, 714a, and 718b, of the tubular support member 712, the tubular expansion cone 714 and the shoe 718, respectively, and will then be positioned within the valveable passage 718c of the shoe In this manner, the valveable passage 718c of the shoe 718 is closed thereby permitting the passage 718b of the shoe below the tubular expansion cone 714 to be pressurized by the continued injection of the fluidic material 706
[0075] In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in Fig 7d the continued injection of the fluidic material 706 through the passages, 712a and 714a, of the tubuiar support member 712 and the tubular expansion cone 714, respectively, pressurizes the passage 718b of the shoe 718 below the tubular expansion cone thereby radially expanding and plastically deforming the expandable tubular member 716 off of the tapered external surface 714b of the tubular expansion cone 714 In particular, the intermediate non pre-expanded portion 71δc of the expandable tubular member 716 is radially expanded and plastically deformed off of the tapered external surface 714b of the tubular expansion cone 714 As a result, the sealing member 716e engages the interior surface of the wellbore casing 704 Consequently, the radially expanded intermediate portion 716c of the expandable tubular member 716 is thereby coupied to the wellbore casing 704 In an exemplary embodiment, the radially expanded intermediate portion 716c of the expandable tubular member 716 is also thereby anchored to the wellbore casing 704 [0076] The continued injection of the fluidic material 706 through the passages, 712a and 714a, of the tubular support member 712 and the tubular expansion cone 714, respectively, pressurizes the passages 718b and 716b, of the shoe 718 and the expandable tubular member 716, respectively, thereby radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular member 720 off of the tapered external surface 714b of the tubular expansion cone 714, including the conventional threaded connection 72Od between the end 716d of the expandable tubular member 716 and the end 720a of the tubular member 720 The continued injection of the fluidic material 706 through the passages, 712a and 714a, of the tubular support member 712 and the tubular expansion cone 714 respectively pressurizes the passages 718b, 716b and 720b, of the shoe 718, the expandable tubular member 716 and the tubular member 720, respectively, thereby radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular member 722 off of the tapered external surface 714b of the tubuiar expansion cone 714, including the conventional threaded connection 722d between the end 720c of the tubuiar member 720 and the end 722a of the tubular
member 722 The continued injection of the fluidic material 706 through the passages, 712a and 714a, of the tubular support member 712 and the tubular expansion cone 714, respectively, will then displace the tubular expansion cone 714 upwardly to radially expand and plastically deform the pre-expanded end 724a of the second expandable tubular member 724
[0077J In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in Fig 7e, the continued injection of the fluidic material 706 through the passages, 712a and 714a, of the tubular support member 712 and tubular expansion cone 714, respectively, will then pressurize the passages 718b 716b, 720b and 722b below the tubular expansion cone thereby radially expanding and plastically deforming the second expandable tubular member 724 off of the tapered external surface 714b of the tubular expansion cone 714 In particular, the intermediate non pre-expanded portion 724c of the second expandable tubular member 724 is radially expanded and plastically deformed off of the tapered external surface 714b of the tubular expansion cone 714 As a result, the sealing member 724e engages the interior surface of the weilbore casing 704 Consequently, the radially expanded intermediate portion 724c of the second expandable tubular member 724 ts thereby coupled to the weSlbore casing 704 In an exemplary embodiment, the radially expanded intermediate portion 724c of the second expandable tubular member 724 is also thereby anchored to the weilbore casing 704
[0078J The continued injection of the fluidic material 706 through the passages, 712a and 714a, of the tubular support member 712 and the tubular expansion cone 714, respectively, pressurizes the passages 718b, 716b, 720b, 722b and 724b of the shoe 718, the expandable tubular member 716, the tubular member 720, the tubuϊar member 722 and the expandable tubular member 724, respectively thereby radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubular member 726 off of the tapered external surface 714b of the tubular expansion cone 714, including the conventional threaded connection 726d between the end 724d of the expandable tubular member 724 and the end 726a of the tubular member 726 The continued injection of the fluidic material 706 through the passages, 712a and 714a, of the tubular support member 712 and the tubular expansion cone 714, respectively pressurizes the passages 718b, 716b, 720b, 722b, 724b and 726b of the shoe 718, the expandable tubufar member 716, the tubular member 720, the tubuiar member 722, the expandable tubular member 724 and the tubular member 726, respectively thereby radially expanding and plastically deforming the tubuiar member 728 off of the tapered external surface 714b of the tubular expansion cone 714 including the conventional threaded connection 728d between the end 726c of the tubular member 726 and the end 728a of the tubular member 728 The continued injection of the flusdic material 706 through the passages, 712a and 714a of the tubular support member 712 and the tubular expansion cone 714, respectively will then displace the tubular expansion cone 714 upwardly to radially expand and plastically deform the pre-expanded end 730a of the third expandable tubular member 730
[0079] The continued injection of the fluidic material 706 through the passages, 712a and 714a, of the tubular support member 712 and tubuiar expansion cone 714, respectively, will then pressurize the
passages 718b, 716b, 720b 722b, 724b, 726b and 728b below the tubular expansion cone 714 thereby radially expanding and plastically deforming the third expandable tubular member 730 off of the tapered externa! surface 714b of the tubular expansion cone 714 In particular, the intermediate non pre- expanded portion 730c of the third expandable tubular member 730 is radially expanded and plastically deformed off of the tapered external surface 714b of the tubular expansion cone 714 As a result, the sealing member 73Oe engages the interior surface of the wellbore casing 704 Consequently, the radially expanded intermediate portion 730c of the third expandable tubular member 730 is thereby coupled to the wellbore casing 704 In an exemplary embodiment, the radially expanded intermediate portion 730c of the third expandable tubular member 730 is also thereby anchored to the wellbore casing 704 [0080] In an exemplary embodiment, during the injection of the fluidic material 706 through the passages, 712a and 714a, of the tubular support member 712 and the tubular expansion cone 714, respectively, the tubular support member 712 and tubular expansion cone 714 are displaced upwardly relative to the expandable tubular members, 716, 724, and 730, and the tubular members, 720, 722, 726, and 728, by applying an upward axial force to the upper end of the tubular support member [0081] After completing the radial expansion and plastic deformation of the third expandable tubular member 730, the tubular support member 712 and the tubular expansion cone 714 are removed from the wellbore 700
[0082] Sn an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in Fig 7f the lower central portion of the shoe 718 is then removed using a conventional milling device
[0083] In an exemplary embodiment, the pre-expanded end 716a of the expandable tubular member 716 has an outside diameter of about 8 750 inches and a wall thickness of about 0 350 inches the pre- expanded ends 716d, 724a, 724d, 730a and 73Od of the expandable tubular members 716, 724 and 730, respectively and the tubuiar members 720, 722, 726 and 728 have outside diameters and wati thicknesses of about 8 375 inches and about 0 350 inches respectively, prior to the radial expansion, the intermediate pre-expanded portions 716c, 724c and 730c of the expandable tubular members 716, 724 and 730, respectively, have outside diameters of about 7 625 inches, prior to the radial expansion, the tubular members 720, 722, 726 and 728 have inside diameters of about 7 675 inches, after the radial expansion, the inside diameters of the intermediate portions 716c, 724c and 730c of the expandable tubuiar members 716, 724 and 730 and the tubular members 720, 722, 726 and 728 are equal to about 8 050 inches, and the wellbore casing 704 has an inside diameter of about 8 755 inches [0084] In an exemplary embodiment, the pre-expanded end 716a of the expandable tubular member 716 has an outside diameter of about 4 725 inches and a wall thickness of about 0 250 inches, the pre- expanded ends 716d, 724a, 724d, 730a and 73Od of the expandable tubular members 716 724 and 730, respectively and the tubular members 720, 722, 726 and 728 have outside diameters and wall thicknesses of about 4 500 inches and about 0 250 inches, respectively, prior to the radial expansion, the intermediate non pre-expanded portions 716c, 724c and 730c of the expandable tubular members 716,
724 and 730, respectively, have outside diameters of about 4 000 inches, prior to the radial expansion, the tubular members 720, 722, 726 and 728 have inside diameters of about 4 000 inches, after the radial expansion, the inside diameters of the intermediate portions 716c 724c and 730c of the expandable tubular members 716, 724 and 730 and the tubular members 720, 722, 726 and 728 are equal to about
4 000 inches, and the wellbore casing 704 has an inside diameter of about 4 892 inches
[0085] In an exemplary embodiment one or more of the conventional threaded connections 718d, 72Od,
722d, 724f, 726d, 728d and 73Of may be or include, for example a pin and box connection, including those having standard American Petroleum Institute (API) pin and box threads
[0086] In an exemplary embodiment, the system 710 is used to form or repair a wellbore casing, a pipeline, or a structural support
[0087] In an exemplary embodiment, the tubular expansion cone 714 of the system 710 is substantially identical to the expansion cones 14, 500 or 600, and/or incorporates one or more of the teachings of the expansion cones 14, 500 and/or 600 However, the outer diameter of the expansion cone 714 may be about 5% greater than the outside diameter of the expansion cone 14
[0088] In several alternative embodiments, a conventional rotary expansion system such as, for example, those commercially available from Weatherford international may be substituted for, or used in combination with the expansion cones 14, 500 600 and/or 714 above
[0089] In several alternative embodiments, conventional expansion systems may be substituted for, or used tn combination with the expansion cones 14, 500, 60 and/or 714 above
[0090] Experimental testing has shown that the expansion performed with the system 10 and the system
710 can provide a fluid tight seal between the conventional threaded connections between the expandable tubular members and the conventional tubular members for radial expansion of up to about
5% This was an unexpected result Accordingly, radial expansion and plastic deformation can be achieved utilizing conventional tubular members and conventional threaded connections between the conventional tubular members and the expandable tubuiar members, while significantly reducing costs and complexity
[0091] A system for lining a wellbore casing has been described that includes a tubular support member defining a first passage, a tubular expansion cone defining a second passage fluidicly coupled to the first passage coupled to an end of the tubular support member and comprising a tapered end, a tubular liner coupled to and supported by the tapered end of the tubular expansion cone, and a shoe defining a valveabie passage coupled to an end of the tubular liner, wherein the tubular liner includes one or more expandable tubuiar members that each include a tubular body comprising an intermediate portion and first and second expanded end portions coupled to opposing ends of the intermediate portion and a sealing member coupled to the exterior surface of the intermediate portion, and one or more other tubular members coupled to the expandable tubular members, wherein the inside diameters of the other tubular members are greater than or equal to the outside diameter of the tubular expansion cone In an
exemplary embodiment, the wall thicknesses of the first and second expanded end portions are greater than the wall thickness of the intermediate portion In an exemplary embodiment, each expandable tubular member further includes a first tubular transitionary member coupled between the first expanded end portion and the intermediate portion, and a second tubular transitionary member coupled between the second expanded end portion and the intermediate portion, wherein the angles of inclination of the first and second tubular transittonary members relative to the intermediate portion ranges from about 0 to 30 degrees In an exemplary embodiment, the outside diameter of the intermediate portion ranges from about 75 percent to about 98 percent of the outside diameters of the first and second expanded end portions In an exemplary embodiment the burst strength of the first and second expanded end portions ss substantially equal to the burst strength of the intermediate tubular section In an exemplary embodiment, the ratio of the inside diameters of the first and second expanded end portions to the interior diameter of the intermediate portion ranges from about 100 to 120 percent In an exemplary embodiment, the relationship between the wall thicknesses I 1 , 1 2 , and t ]NT of the first expanded end portion the second expanded end portion, and the intermediate portion, respectively, of the expandabϊe tubular members the inside diameters D 1 , D 2 and D !NT of the first expanded end portion, the second expanded end portion, and the intermediate portion, respectively, of the expandable tubular members, and the inside diameter D we!(bore of the wellbore casing that the expandable tubular member will be inserted into, and the outside diameter D cone of the expansion cone that will be used to radially expand the expandable tubular member within the wellbore casing is given by the following expression
Ihellbore- lπ I D . ■ ( f -'.-l' i L-α wherein t-i = I 2 , and wherein D 1 = D 2 in an exemplary embodiment, the tapered end of the tubular expansion cone includes a plurality of adjacent discrete tapered sections In an exemplary embodiment, the angle of attack of the adjacent discrete tapered sections increases m a continuous manner from one end of the tubular expansion cone to the opposite end of the tubular expansion cone In an exemplary embodiment, the tapered end of the tubular expansion cone includes an paraboloid body In an exemplary embodiment, the angle of attack of the outer surface of the paraboloid body increases in a continuous manner from one end of the paraboloid body to the opposite end of the paraboloid body In an exemplary embodiment, the tubuiar liner includes a plurality of expandable tubular members, and the other tubuSar members are interleaved among the expandable tubular members [0092] A method of lining a weϋbore casing has also been described that includes positioning a tubular liner within the weilbore casing, and radially expanding one or more discrete portions of the tubular Siner into engagement with the wetlbore casing In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of discrete portions of the tubular liner are radially expanded into engagement with the wetlbore casing In an exemplary embodiment, the remaining portions of the tubular liner are not radially expanded In an exemplary embodiment, the discrete portions of the tubular liner are radially expanded by injecting a fluidsc material
into the tubular liner In an exemplary embodiment, the tubular liner includes a plurality of tubular members, and wherein one or more of the tubular members are radially expanded into engagement with the welSbore casing and one or more of the tubular members are not radiaily expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing Sn an exemplary embodiment, the tubular members that are radially expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing include a portion that is radiaiiy expanded into engagement with the weilbore casing and a portion that is not radially expanded into engagement with the weilbore casing in an exemplary embodiment the tubular liner mciudes one or more expandable tubular members that each include a tubular body comprising an intermediate portion and first and second expanded end portions coupled to opposing ends of the intermediate portion, and a sealing member coupled to the exterior surface of the intermediate portion, and one or more other tubuiar members coupled to the expandable tubuiar members, wherein the inside diameters of the other tubular members are greater than or equal to the maximum inside diameters of the expandable tubuiar members In an exemplary embodiment, the tubuiar liner includes a plurality of expandable tubular members, and the other tubular members are interleaved among the expandable tubular members
[0093] A system for lining a welibore casing has also been described that includes means for positioning a tubular liner within the wellbore casing, and means for radially expanding one or more discrete portions of the tubular liner into engagement with the wellbore casing In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of discrete portions of the tubular liner are radially expanded into engagement with the wellbore casmg In an exempfary embodiment, the remaining portions of the tubular ltner are not radially expanded In an exemplary embodiment, the discrete portions of the tubuiar liner are radially expanded by injecting a fluidic material into the tubular liner In an exemplary embodiment, the tubular liner includes a plurality of tubular members and wherein one or more of the tubular members are radiaSSy expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing and one or more of the tubular members are not radially expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing In an exemplary embodiment, the tubular members that are radially expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing comprise a portion that ss radially expanded into engagement with the weiibore casing and a portion that is not radially expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing
[0094] An apparatus has also been described that includes a subterranean formation defining a borehole, a cassng positioned in and coupled to the borehole, and a tubular liner positioned m and coupled to the casing at one or more discrete locations In an exemplary embodiment, the tubular liner is coupled to the casing at a plurality of discrete locations In an exemplary embodiment, the tubular liner is coupled to the casing by a process that includes positioning the tubular liner within the casing, and radially expanding one or more discrete portions of the tubular liner into engagement with the cassng In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of discrete portions of the tubular liner are radiaily expanded into engagement with the casing In an exemplary embodiment, the remaining portions of the tubular imer are not radially expanded In an exemplary embodiment the discrete portions of the tubular !ιner are radiaiiy
expanded by injecting a fluidic materia! into the tubular imer In an exemplary embodiment the tubular liner includes a plurality of tubular members, and wherein one or more of the tubular members are radially expanded into engagement with the casing and one or more of the tubular members are not radially expanded into engagement with the casing In an exemplary embodiment, the tubular members that are radially expanded into engagement with the casing comprise a portion that is radially expanded into engagement with the casing and a portion that is not radially expanded tnto engagement with the casing In an exemplary embodiment, the tubular imer includes one or more expandable tubular members that each inciude a tubular body comprising an intermediate portion and first and second expanded end portions coupled to opposing ends of the intermediate portion and a sealing member coupled to the exterior surface of the intermediate portion, and one or more other tubular members coupled to the expandable tubular members, wherein the inside diameters of the other tubular members are greater than or equai to the maximum inside diameters of the expandable tubular members In an exemplary embodiment the tubular liner includes a plurality of expandable tubular members, and the other tubuiar members are interleaved among the expandable tubular members
[0095] A system for lining a wellbore casing has been described that includes a tubular support member defining a first passage, a tubuiar expansion cone defining a second passage fluidicly coupled to the first passage coupled to an end of the tubular support member and comprising a tapered end, a tubular liner coupled to and supported by the tapered end of the tubular expansion cone and a shoe defining a valveable passage coupled to an end of the tubular liner wherein the tubuiar liner comprises an expandable tubular member that comprises first and second tubular portions, an intermediate tubular portion coupled between the first and second tubuiar portions, and a sealing member coupled to the exterior surface of the intermediate tubular portion, wherein the inside diameters of the first and second tubular portions are greater than the inside diameter of the intermediate tubular portion, and wherein the inside diameter of the first tubuiar portion is greater than the inside diameter of the second tubular portion In an exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is about 5% greater than the inside diameter of the second tubular portion In an exemplary embodiment, the wal! thicknesses of the first and second tubular portions are greater than the wall thickness of the intermediate tubular portion In an exemplary embodiment, the expandable tubular member further comprises a first tubular tapered transitionary portion coupled between the first tubular portion and the intermediate tubuiar portion, and a second tubular tapered transitionary portion coupled between the second tubular portion and the intermediate tubular portion, wherein the angles of inclination of the first and second tapered tubular transitionary portions relative to the intermediate tubular portion ranges from greater than 0 to about 30 degrees In an exemplary embodiment, the outside diameter of the intermediate tubular portion ranges from about 75 percent to about 98 percent of the outside diameters of the second tubular portion In an exemplary embodiment, the burst strength of the first and second tubular portions is substantially equal to the burst strength of the intermediate tubular portion In an exemplary embodiment the ratio of the inside
diameter of the second tubular portion to the interior diameter of the intermediate tubular portion ranges from greater than 100 to about 120 percent In an exemplary embodiment the tapered end of the tubular expansion cone comprises a plurality of adjacent discrete tapered sections In an exemplary embodiment, the angle of attack of the adjacent discrete tapered sections increases sn a continuous manner from one end of the tubular expansion cone to the opposite end of the tubular expansion cone In an exemplary embodiment, the tapered end of the tubular expansion cone comprises a paraboloid body in an exemplary embodiment, the angle of attack of the outer surface of the paraboloid body increases in a continuous manner from one end of the paraboloid body to the opposite end of the paraboloid body In an exemplary embodiment the tubular liner comprises a plurality of expandable tubular members and a plurality of other tubular members and the other tubular members are interleaved among the expandable tubular members
[00961 A method of lining a wellbore casing has also been described that includes positioning a tubular liner within the wellbore casing, and radially expanding one or more discrete portions of the tubular liner into engagement with the wellbore casing, wherein the tubular liner comprises an expandable tubular member that comprises first and second tubular portions, an intermediate tubular portion coupled between the first and second tubular portions, and a sealing member coupled to the exterior surface of the intermediate tubular portion, wherein the inside diameters of the first and second tubular portions are greater than the inside diameter of the intermediate tubular portion, and wherein the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is greater than an inside diameter of the second tubular portion In an exemplary embodiment the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is about 5% greater than an inside diameter of the second tubular portion In an exemplary embodiment a plurality of discrete portions of the tubular liner are radially expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing In an exemplary embodiment, the remaining portions of the tubular Siner are not radially expanded In an exemplary embodiment, the discrete portions of the tubular liner are radially expanded by injecting a fluidic material into the tubular liner In an exemplary embodiment, the tubular liner comprises a plurality of expandable tubular members, wherein one or more of the expandable tubular members are radially expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing, and wherein a plurality of the expandable tubular members are not radially expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing
[0097] A system for lining a wellbore casing has also been described that comprises means for positioning a tubular liner withsn the wellbore casing, and means for radially expanding one or more discrete portions of the tubular liner into engagement with the weltbore casing wherein the tubular liner comprises an expandable tubular member that comprises first and second tubular portions an intermediate tubular portion coupled between the first and second tubular portions, and a sealing member coupled to the exterior surface of the intermediate tubular portion, wherein the inside diameters of the first and second tubular portions are greater than the inside diameter of the intermediate tubular portion, and wherein the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is greater than the inside diameter of the second
tubular portion In an exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is about 5% greater than the inside diameter of the second tubular portion In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of discrete portions of the tubular liner are radially expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing In an exemplary embodiment, remaining portions of the tubular liner are not radially expanded In an exemplary embodiment, the discrete portions of the tubular liner are radially expanded by injecting a fluidic material into the tubular lsner In an exemplary embodiment, the tubular liner comprises a plurality of tubular members, wherein one or more of the tubular members are radially expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing and wherein a plurality of the tubular members are not radially expanded into engagement with the wellbore casing
[0098] An apparatus has also been described that comprises a subterranean formatson defining a borehole, a casing positioned in and coupled to the borehole, and a tubular ϊsner positioned in and coupled to the casing at one or more discrete locations, wherein the tubular Siner comprises a radially expanded and plastically deformed tubular member that comprises first and second tubular portions, an intermediate tubular portion coupled between the first and second tubular portions and a sealing member coupled to the exterior surface of the intermediate tubular portion that engages the interior surface of the casing, wherein the intermediate tubular portion is radially expanded and plastically deformed, wherein the first and second tubular portions are not radially expanded and plastically deformed, and wherein the first tubular portion is greater in diameter than the second tubular portion In an exemplary embodiment, the inside dsameter of the first tubular portion is about 5% greater than an inside diameter of the second tubular portion In an exemplary embodiment, the tubular liner comprises a plurality of radially expanded and plastically deformed tubular members
[0099] A system for lining a wellbore casing has also been described that comprises a support member, an expansion device coupled to an end of the support member, and a tubular liner coupled to the expansion device that comprises a first expandable tubular member that comprises first and second tubular portions, a first intermediate tubular portion coupled between the first and second tubular portions, and a first sealing member coupled to the exterior surface of the first intermediate tubular portion, wherein the inside diameters of the first and second tubular portions are greater than the inside diameter of the intermediate tubular portion, and wherein the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is greater than an inside diameter of the second tubular portion, and one or more second expandable tubular members that each comprise third and fourth tubular portions, a second intermediate tubular portion coupled between the third and fourth tubular portions, and a second sealing member coupled to the exterior surface of the second intermediate tubular portion, wherein the inssde diameters of the first, second third and fourth tubular portions are greater than the inside diameters of the first and second intermediate tubular portions Sn an exemplary embodiment, the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is about 5% greater than an inside diameter of the second tubular portion In an exemplary embodiment, the waiϊ thicknesses of the first second, third and fourth tubular portions are greater than the wall thicknesses of the first and
second intermediate tubular portions In an exemplary embodiment, the first expandabie tubular member further comprises a first tubular tapered transitionary portion coupled between the first tubular portion and the first intermediate tubular portion, and a second tubular tapered transitionary portion coupled between the second tubular portion and the first intermediate tubular portion wherein the angles of inclination of the first and second tapered tubular transitionary portions relative to the first intermediate tubular portion ranges from greater than 0 to about 30 degrees In an exemplary embodiment each of the second expandable tubular members further comprise a third tubular tapered transitionary portion coupled between the third tubuiar portion and the second intermediate tubular portion, and a fourth tubular tapered transitionary portion coupled between the fourth tubular portion and the second intermediate tubular portion, wherein the angles of inclination of the third and fourth tapered tubular transitionary portions relative to the second intermediate tubular portion ranges from greater than 0 to about 30 degrees In an exemplary embodiment, the outside diameters of the first and second intermediate tubular portions each range from about 75 percent to about 98 percent of the outside diameters of the second, thsrd and fourth tubuiar portions In an exemplary embodiment, the burst strength of the first, second, third and fourth tubular portions is substantially equal to the burst strength of the first and second intermediate tubular portions In an exemplary embodiment, the ratio of the inside diameters of the second, third and fourth tubuiar portions to the interior diameters of the first and second intermediate tubular portions ranges from greater than 100 to about 120 percent In an exempiary embodiment, the expansion device comprises a plurality of adjacent discrete tapered sections In an exemplary embodiment, the angle of attack of the adjacent discrete tapered sections increases in a continuous manner from one end of the expansion device to the opposite end of the expansion device In an exemplary embodiment the expansion device comprises an paraboloid body In an exemplary embodiment the angle of attack of the outer surface of the paraboloid body increases in a continuous manner from one end of the paraboloid body to the opposite end of the parabofoid body [00100] A liner for lining a wellbore casing has also been described that comprises a first tubular portion, a second tubular portion, an intermediate tubular portion coupled between the first and second tubular portions, and a sealing member coupled to the exterior surface of the intermediate tubular portion wherein the inside diameters of the first and second tubular portions are greater than the inside diameter of the intermediate tubular portion, and wherein the inside diameter of the first tubular portion is greater than the inside diameter of the second tubuiar portion In an exemplary embodiment, the inside dsameter of the fsrst tubular portion is about 5% greater than the inside diameter of the second tubular portion In an exemplary embodiment, the wall thicknesses of the first and second tubuiar portions are greater than the wall thickness of the intermediate tubular portion Sn an exemplary embodiment the liner further comprises a first tubular tapered transitionary portion coupled between the first tubuiar portion and the intermediate tubular portion, and a second tubular tapered transitionary portion coupled between the second tubular portion and the intermediate tubuiar portion, wherein the angles of inclination of the first
and second tapered tubuiar transitionary portions relative to the intermediate tubular portion ranges from greater than 0 to about 30 degrees In an exemplary embodiment, the outside diameter of the intermediate tubular portion ranges from about 75 percent to about 98 percent of the outside diameter of the second tubular portion in an exemplary embodiment, the ratio of the inside diameter of the second tubuiar portion to the interior diameter of the intermediate tubular portion ranges from greater than 100 to about 120 percent
[0100] It is understood that variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention For example the system 10 and/or the system 710 may be used to form or repair a wellbore casing, an underground pipeline a structural support, or a tubing Furthermore, the system 10 and/or the system 710 may include one or more expandable tubular members and one or more other tubular members In addition, the system 10 and/or the system 710 may include a plurality of expandable tubular members and the other tubular members may be interleaved among the expandable tubular members
[0101] 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 broadiy and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention