Adjustable Cutting Mill Assembly and Methods of Operation

Abstract

A system and method for adjusting or controlling at least one milling operating feature of a cutting mill assembly within a wellbore includes sensing at least one milling operating parameter with a sensor that is operably associated with the cutting mill assembly that is run into the wellbore. At least one milling operating feature of the cutting mill assembly is adjusted or controlled in response to the at least one milling operating parameter that is sensed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cutting mill assembly for performing a cutting operation within a wellbore, the cutting mill assembly comprising:
 a milling bottom hole assembly to be disposed into the wellbore by a running string;   a running string;   a sensor to detect at least one milling operating parameter;   a controller which is operably interconnected with the sensor to receive a signal representative of the milling operating parameter;   the cutting mill assembly having at least one milling operating feature which can be adjusted; and   the controller further being configured to adjust or control the at least one milling operating feature in response to the at least one milling operating parameter.   
     
     
         2 . The cutting mill assembly of  claim 1  wherein the at least one milling operating feature is from the group consisting of: extension of a cutter from a bit body of the milling bit, flow area of a nozzle in the bit body, milling body diameter, fluid flow to the milling bottom hole assembly through the running string and vibration imparted to the milling bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The cutting mill assembly of  claim 1  wherein the at least one milling operating parameter includes torque, weight on bit, surface weight, temperature, pressure, vibration or fluid flow received proximate the milling bit bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The cutting mill assembly of  claim 1  wherein the controller is located within the milling bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The cutting mill assembly of  claim 1  wherein the controller is operably interconnected with a display at a surface location which displays data indicative of the at least one milling operating parameter sensed by the sensor; and
 wherein an operator at a surface location can command the controller to adjust a milling operating feature of the cutting mill assembly in response to the at least one milling operating parameter. 
 
     
     
         6 . The cutting mill assembly of  claim 1  wherein the controller autonomously adjusts a milling operating feature of the cutting mill assembly in response to the at least one milling operating parameter. 
     
     
         7 . The cutting mill assembly of  claim 2  wherein the milling operating feature of vibration imparted to the milling bottom hole assembly is adjusted or controlled by actuating an extended reach tool which is incorporated into the cutting mill assembly in order to create vibrational energy. 
     
     
         8 . The cutting mill assembly of  claim 2  wherein the milling operating feature of fluid flow to the milling bottom hole assembly through the running string is adjusted or controlled by actuating a circulation tool which is incorporated into the cutting mill assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The cutting mill assembly of  claim 2  wherein the milling operating feature of milling body diameter is adjusted or controlled by extending or retracting lateral cutting portions of a mill body. 
     
     
         10 . A cutting mill assembly for performing a cutting operation within a wellbore, the cutting mill assembly comprising:
 a milling bottom hole assembly to be disposed into the wellbore by a running string;   a running string;   a sensor to detect at least one milling operating parameter;   a controller which is incorporated into the milling bottom hole assembly and is operably interconnected with the sensor to receive a signal representative of the milling operating parameter;   the cutting mill assembly having at least one milling operating feature which can be adjusted; and   the controller further being configured to adjust or control the at least one milling operating feature in response to the at least one milling operating parameter.   
     
     
         11 . The cutting mill assembly of  claim 10  wherein the at least one milling operating feature is from the group consisting of: extension of a cutter from a bit body of the milling bit, flow area of a nozzle in the bit body, milling body diameter, fluid flow to the milling bottom hole assembly through the running string and vibration imparted to the milling bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The cutting mill assembly of  claim 10  wherein the at least one milling operating parameter includes torque, weight on bit, surface weight, temperature, pressure, vibration or fluid flow received proximate the milling bit bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The cutting mill assembly of  claim 10  wherein the controller autonomously adjusts a milling operating feature of the cutting mill assembly in response to the at least one milling operating parameter. 
     
     
         14 . The cutting mill assembly of  claim 1  wherein the controller is operably interconnected with a display at a surface location which displays data indicative of the at least one milling operating parameter sensed by the sensor; and
 wherein an operator at a surface location can command the controller to adjust a milling operating feature of the cutting mill assembly in response to the at least one milling operating parameter. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method of adjusting or controlling at least one milling operating feature of a cutting mill assembly within a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:
 sensing at least one milling operating parameter with a sensor that is operably associated with the cutting mill assembly that is run into the wellbore; and   adjusting or controlling the at least one milling operating feature of the cutting mill assembly in response to the at least one milling operating parameter that is sensed.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the at least one milling operating feature is from the group consisting of: extension of a cutter from a bit body of the milling bit, flow area of a nozzle in the bit body, milling body diameter, fluid flow to the milling bottom hole assembly through the running string and vibration imparted to the milling bottom hole assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of sensing at least one milling operating parameter comprises sensing milling operating parameters of torque, weight on bit, surface weight, temperature, pressure, vibration or fluid flow received proximate the milling bit bottom hole assembly.