Slow Drilling Assembly and Method

Abstract

A wellbore tubular-conveyed drill assembly comprising a wellbore tubular, an electrical drilling mechanism coupled to an outside surface of the wellbore tubular, wherein the electrical drilling mechanism has a refracted position and an extended position, wherein the electrical drilling mechanism drills one or more openings in a subterranean formation when in the extended position, and a power source coupled to the electrical drilling mechanism. A method comprising extending an electrical drilling mechanism in a direction away from a wellbore tubular, wherein the electrical drilling mechanism is coupled to an outside surface of the wellbore tubular, and drilling one or more openings in a subterranean formation with the electrical drilling mechanism.

1 . A wellbore tubular-conveyed drill assembly comprising:
 a wellbore tubular;   an electrical drilling mechanism coupled to an outside surface of the wellbore tubular, wherein the electrical drilling mechanism has a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the electrical drilling mechanism drills one or more openings in a subterranean formation when in the extended position; and   a power source coupled to the electrical drilling mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical drilling mechanism comprises a flexible rod and a drill bit coupled to the flexible rod, wherein the electrical drilling mechanism is configured to extend the flexible rod to engage the drill bit with the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical drilling mechanism comprises:
 a drill bit; and   a propulsion mechanism configured to drive the drill bit in a direction away from the wellbore tubular into the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical drilling mechanism comprises:
 a spool carried aboard the electrical drilling mechanism, wherein the spool provides a length of cable as the electrical drilling mechanism moves away from the retracted position.   
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the propulsion mechanism comprises:
 a plurality of wheels for burrowing the electrical drilling mechanism through the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the propulsion mechanism further comprises:
 a track wrapped around the plurality of wheels for providing traction for the electrical drilling mechanism in an opening formed in the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the electrical drilling mechanism further comprises a telescoping body associated with the propulsion mechanism, wherein the propulsion mechanism comprises:
 at least two slips associated with the telescoping body.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical drilling mechanism comprises a rotating drill rod configured to rotate and engage the subterranean formation, wherein the rotating drill rod comprises a cutting surface along at least a portion of a length thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical drilling mechanism pivots at one end so as to engage the subterranean formation with an opposite end. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical drilling mechanism comprises one or more perforating charges. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing coupled to the outside surface of the wellbore tubular, wherein the electrical drilling mechanism is at least partially contained in the housing when in the retracted position. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the housing is configured to pivot relative to the wellbore tubular. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a deflector configured to direct the drilling mechanism in a direction away from the wellbore tubular. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 extending an electrical drilling mechanism in a direction away from a wellbore tubular, wherein the electrical drilling mechanism is coupled to an outside surface of the wellbore tubular; and   drilling one or more openings in a subterranean formation with the electrical drilling mechanism.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 drilling a wellbore; and   inserting a production string comprising the wellbore tubular into the wellbore.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more openings increase a producing area of the wellbore. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 producing a fluid through at least one of the one or more openings.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 producing a fluid from a subterranean formation.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein drilling the one or more openings occurs during producing the fluid, the method further comprising:
 removing a cutting from the wellbore with the fluid produced from the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 delaying drilling the one or more openings until production of the fluid subsides.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein drilling one or more openings occurs intermittently, continuously, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein drilling one or more openings occurs over a period of time greater than one year. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein extending the electrical drilling mechanism comprises:
 pivoting the electrical drilling mechanism.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 pivoting a housing in a direction away from the wellbore tubular, wherein extending the electrical drilling mechanism comprises extending the electrical drilling mechanism from within the housing.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein extending the electrical drilling mechanism comprises:
 driving the electrical drilling mechanism in a direction away from the wellbore tubular into the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein extending the electrical drilling mechanism comprises:
 guiding the electrical drilling mechanism in the direction away from the wellbore tubular.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 creating a perforation in a liner or a wall of the wellbore, wherein the electrical drilling mechanism extends through the perforation.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 detonating an explosive charge within the one or more openings.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 fracturing the subterranean formation via the one or more openings.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 operating the electrical drilling mechanism until failure.   
     
     
         31 . A method comprising:
 providing a wellbore tubular-conveyed drill assembly coupled to an outside surface of a wellbore tubular, wherein the wellbore tubular-conveyed drill assembly has a continuous hollow channel extending therethrough;   coupling the continuous hollow channel to an interior of the wellbore tubular;   pressurizing the interior of the wellbore tubular with a drilling fluid;   directing the drilling fluid through the continuous hollow channel; and   drilling one or more openings in a subterranean formation with the wellbore tubular-conveyed drill assembly.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 extending the wellbore tubular-conveyed drill assembly in a direction away from the wellbore tubular.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 providing a production string comprising the wellbore tubular; and   plugging the production string below the wellbore tubular-conveyed drill assembly.