Mechanized slot drilling

Abstract

A system and method are provided for providing access to surfaces within a formation is provided, the method including: providing a wellbore from a first surface location to a second surface location; inserting into the wellbore a cylindrical cutting assembly connected to at least two wellbore tubulars, one of the wellbore tubular extending to each of the first surface location and the second surface location; and rotating the radial cylindrical cutting element.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 866,400 filed Aug. 15, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The inventions relates to systems and methods for providing plane opening in formations.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0003]Considerable amounts of natural gas have been found to be producible from formations such as source rocks, shale, and other low porosity and permeability formations by drilling long horizontal wells and stimulating the wells with multiple propped fractures so that a large volume of formation within a short distance of the well is connected to the wellbore. Hydrocarbons trapped in such formations then migrate toward the volume connected to the wellbore at rates that can result in economic production of the hydrocarbons from formations that were previously considered to be uneconomic to produce. Although fracturing of the formations can result in profitable production, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The method and apparatus of the present invention may provide more energy to be converted to mechanical motion within the wellbore to enable more rapid creation of slot volume than a system that requires mechanical motion be provided from the surface facilities by reciprocating a cutting element.

[0013]This rotating cutting action may be provided from the electric motors within the wellbores, or could be enhanced or replaced by rotating the entire drilling assembly up to the max torque allowed by the pipe having strength similar to wellbore tubular used in conventional directional drilling. Pipe rotation is induced to the entire drill string from the rotary table of the rig and drilling trajectory is planned to maximize the rotation (therefore resulting cutting action) while minimizing bend curvature and concentration of torque and bending moment in the drill pipe assembly.

Problems solved by technology

Hydrocarbons trapped in such formations then migrate toward the volume connected to the wellbore at rates that can result in economic production of the hydrocarbons from formations that were previously considered to be uneconomic to produce.

The net energy that can be transmitted to cutting formation is limited by the strengths of the cutting cables and the speed with which surface rigs are able to reciprocate the cutting cables.

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