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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing access to surfaces within a formation comprising:
 a cylindrical cutting assembly having a first end and a second end:   a cutting element positioned radially around a circumference of the cylindrical cutting assembly;   a means for to rotating the cutting element around the cutting assembly; and   a means for moving the cutting assembly through a wellbore wherein the cutting assembly is biased against one side of the wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means for rotating the cylindrical cutting assembly comprises a down-hole motor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the down-hole motor is an electrically powered motor. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the system comprises a plurality of cylindrical cutting elements. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means for moving the cylindrical cutting assembly comprise connections on the first end and on the second end effective to couple the cutting assembly to wellbore tubular. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4  comprising a plurality of down-hole motors. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cutting assembly is biased against one side of the wellbore by the cutting assembly being held in tension by wellbore tubulars connected to each of the first end and the second end of the cutting assembly, with the wellbore tubulars pulling the cutting assembly against the one side of the wellbore. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4  wherein alternating sets of cutting elements are rotated in opposite directions 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 3  where the down-hole motor is a hydraulic positive displacement motor. 
     
     
         10 . A method to provide a slotted opening within a formation, the method comprising the steps of:
 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.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the cylindrical cutting element is moved back and forth through the portion of the wellbore while the motor is driving the radial cutting elements. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the formation is a low permeability formation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the formation is a heavy oil containing formation 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the cylindrical cutting element is rotated by an down-hole electrically powered motor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the cylindrical cutting element is rotated by a hydraulic motor. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the hydraulic motor is a positive displacement motor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the cylindrical cutting element is rotated by rotating from the surface the wellbore tubular connected to the cylindrical cutting element. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the wellbore is comprised of predominantly vertical segments extending down from each of the first surface location and the second location, and an essentially horizontal section between the essentially vertical sections. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the wellbore is further provided with essentially parallel horizontal sections extending from the bottom of the essentially vertical sections. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the slotted opening is placed essentially perpendicular to a plane of natural fractures within the formation. 
     
     
         21 . A method for providing a slotted opening in a formation comprising:
 providing a wellbore within a formation having two essentially parallel legs and a connecting section connecting the two essentially parallel legs;   providing a rotatable tubular in each of the two essentially parallel legs:   passing a cutting element between the two rotatable tubulars through the connecting section of the wellbore by causing the cutting element to wrap around one rotatable tubular as it is unwrapping from the other; and   creating a slotted opening by biasing the cutting element against the wall of the connecting section as it is passing between the two rotatable tubular.