Drilling efficiency through beneficial management of rock stress levels via controlled oscillations of subterranean cutting levels

A method for controlling at least one cutting element used to form a wellbore in a subterranean formation, comprising:

• forming a wellbore in an earthen formation using the at least one cutting element formed on a drill bit;
• rotating the drill bit at a constant rotational speed;
• oscillating the at least one cutting element using an oscillation device;
• coupling a control unit to the oscillation device, the control unit configured to process data;
• and
• controlling the oscillation device using a signal from the control unit, the signal causing the oscillation device to accelerate the at least one cutting element to at least maintain contact between the at least one cutting element and the formation.

A system for forming a subterranean wellbore, comprising:

• a rig positioned at a surface location;
• a drill string conveying a bottomhole assembly into the wellbore from the rig;
• a drill bit provided in the bottomhole assembly, the drill bit having at least one cutting element for forming a wellbore in an earthen formation;
• an oscillation device oscillating the at least one cutting element;
• and
• a control unit coupled to the oscillation device, the control unit configured to process data and provide a signal to control the oscillation device, the signal causing the oscillation device to accelerate the at least one cutting element to at least maintain contact between the at least one cutting element and the formation.