Oil field cable abrading system

A method of abrading a cable located substantially down-hole within a well bore between the well bore and a smaller, at least generally concentric tubular member, comprising the steps of:

• (a) lowering a tubing string having an extendable cable abrading portion attached thereto into the well bore which has the cable to be severed located in the well bore substantially down-hole, said abrading portion having a plurality of abrading elements that spiral axially about an abrading head included with said abrading portion, until said abrading portion is located substantially down-hole adjacent the area of the cable to be severed;
• (b) moving said abrading portion into contact with the cable and further moving it against the cable, causing the cable to be cyclically wrapped at least partially around said abrading elements by the movement of said abrading elements to provide a curved path for the cable across said abrading elements, and still further moving said abrading portion until it is moved past and out of contact with the cable, after the cable was drawn across said abrading elements;
• and
• (c) cyclically moving said abrading elements against the cable a multiple number of times to abrade the cable as it is drawn over said abrading elements until the cable is ultimately severed by the repetitive abrading action.

A method of abrading a cable, comprising the steps of:

• lowering a tubing string having a cable abrader attached thereto into a well bore;
• raising a fluid pressure in the tubing string and translating the fluid pressure into a radial force to bias an abrading portion, said abrading portion having
• a plurality of abrading elements that spiral axially about an abrading head included with said cable abrader, radially outward;
• rotating said abrading elements in an arc to abrade a cable located down-hole outside the tubing string and alongside said abrading head;
• wrapping the cable at least partially around said abrading elements by the rotation of said abrading elements to provide a curved path for the cable across said abrading elements;
• and
• abrading the cable by drawing a portion of its length along said curved path and across at least a portion of said abrading elements until the cable is severed.