Rotating Control Line Cutting Sub

Abstract

A control line cutting tool is mounted for rotation in response to lifting the cut segment. The blade is oriented to cut as the cutter is forced to rotate to follow a spiral groove in the portion of the body below the cut. When the follower pin in the cutter reaches the end of the spiral slot all the control lines have been cut with minimal stress on the control lines to accomplish the cut. The pin then enters a longitudinal slot to allow separation of the body above the cut from the remaining portion in the borehole supported by a packer.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An auxiliary line cutting apparatus mounted to a tubular string for subterranean use, comprising:
 at least one line mounted to a mandrel;   a cutting apparatus selectively in contact with said line to cut said line with relative rotational movement of said cutter relative to said mandrel.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said cutting apparatus moves axially relative to said mandrel.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said cutting apparatus further comprises a cutting edge oriented closer to axial alignment with a longitudinal axis of said mandrel than to a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said mandrel.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said cutting apparatus is mounted on said mandrel on a bearing to facilitate said relative rotation.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least a portion of said mandrel moves axially to induce said cutting apparatus to relatively rotate with respect to said mandrel.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein:
 at least a portion of said mandrel remains stationary to induce said cutting apparatus to relatively rotate with respect to said stationary portion of said mandrel.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 said cutting apparatus connected to said stationary mandrel portion with a pin in a spiral slot connection such that axial movement of the moving portion of said mandrel induces said cutting apparatus to rotate as said pin follows said spiral slot.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said spiral slot is open ended to allow removal of said cutting apparatus with said movable portion of said mandrel.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein:
 said spiral slot continuing into an axial slot further comprising said open end to allow said movable portion of said mandrel to take said cutting apparatus and a portion of the line above the cut away from the subterranean location.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 said portions of said mandrel separable as said pin exits said open end in said axial slot.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 said portions of said mandrel are created with a transverse cut through a wall of said mandrel.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said relative rotational movement of said cutting apparatus allows a reduction of axial movement of said cutting apparatus as compared to exclusively axial movement of said cutting apparatus for cutting said line.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein:
 said reduction of axial movement is by a factor of at least 10:1.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said at least one line comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced lines sequentially cut as said cutting apparatus rotates relatively to said mandrel.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said cutting apparatus further comprises a cutting edge oriented closer to axial alignment with a longitudinal axis of said mandrel than to a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said mandrel.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 at least a portion of said mandrel moves axially to induce said cutting apparatus to relatively rotate with respect to said mandrel.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein:
 at least a portion of said mandrel remains stationary to induce said cutting apparatus to relatively rotate with respect to said stationary portion of said mandrel.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein:
 said cutting apparatus connected to said stationary mandrel portion with a pin in a spiral slot connection such that axial movement of the moving portion of said mandrel induces said cutting apparatus to rotate as said pin follows said spiral slot.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein:
 said spiral slot is open ended to allow removal of said cutting apparatus with said movable portion of said mandrel.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein:
 said relative rotational movement of said cutting apparatus allows a reduction of axial movement of said cutting apparatus as compared to exclusively axial movement of said cutting apparatus for cutting said line.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein:
 said reduction of axial movement is by a factor of at least 10:1.