EXPANDABLE REAMERS HAVING NONLINEARLY EXPANDABLE BLADES, AND RELATED METHODS

摘要

Expandable reamers for enlarging a borehole in a subterranean formation include a tubular body, at least one curved blade track carried by the tubular body, and at least one blade engaged with the at least one blade track and configured to slide along the curved blade track along a curved path between a first retracted blade position and a second expanded blade position. To form such an expandable reamer, a tubular body having at least one curved blade track carried by the tubular body may be formed, and at least one blade may be engaged with the blade track. The blade and blade track may be configured such that the blade slides along the blade track along a curved path between a retracted position and an expanded position. Such expandable reamers may be used to enlarge boreholes in subterranean formations.

主权项

1. An expandable reamer apparatus for enlarging a borehole in a subterranean formation, comprising:
a tubular body; at least one curved blade track carried by the tubular body; at least one blade engaged with the at least one curved blade track and configured to slide along the at least one curved blade track between a retracted blade position and an expanded blade position, wherein the at least one blade is cantilevered beyond a lower longitudinal end of the at least one curved blade track in the expanded blade position, the lower longitudinal end located below an upper longitudinal end of the at least one curved blade track when the expandable reamer apparatus is disposed vertically in a borehole.