Office Action 1: Non-Final Rejection (2025-04-16)
Rejection types: 102 - Lack of Novelty

CLAIMS:
CLAIMS What is claimed is:
1\. A downhole swivel, comprising: a housing; an inner tubular positioned at least partially within the housing; an engaging member coupled to or integral with an end of the inner tubular, such that the engaging member and the inner tubular are rotationally locked together; and a rotation coupler selectively positionable relative to the engaging member, the rotation coupler having a first position in which the rotation coupler transmits torque between the housing and the inner tubular, and a second position in which the rotation coupler permits relative rotation between the housing and the inner tubular.
2\. The downhole swivel of claim 1, wherein, when the rotation coupler is in the second position, the rotation coupler does not transmit substantial torque between the inner tubular and the housing, such that the inner tubular and the housing are free to rotate relative to one another.
3\. The downhole swivel of claim 1, further comprising an actuation tubular that extends out of the housing and is engageable with a downhole actuator.
4\. The downhole swivel of claim 3, wherein the actuation tubular is configured to move axially in response to a force applied by the downhole actuator, and wherein the rotation coupler moves between the first and second positions responsive to the axial movement of the actuation tubular.
5\. The downhole swivel of claim 4, further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the rotation coupler axially away from the inner tubular and toward the first position.
6\. The downhole swivel of claim 1, wherein: the engaging member comprises first splines; the housing comprises second splines that are axially and circumferentially aligned with the first splines and spaced radially outward therefrom; and the rotation coupler comprises fingers having heads that fit between adjacent pairs of the first splines and adjacent pairs of the second splines, when the rotation coupler is in the first position, such that torque is transmitted between the engaging member and the housing via the heads.
7\. The downhole swivel of claim 6, wherein the heads are axially separated from the first splines when the rotation coupler is in the second position.
8\. The downhole swivel of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an upper housing that is configured to transmit torque to the inner tubular via the rotation coupler, and a lower housing connected to the upper housing.
9\. The downhole swivel of claim 1, wherein the rotation coupler comprises dogs or lugs, wherein the rotation coupler moving from the second position to the first position causes the dogs or lugs to extend radially and transmit torque between the engaging member and the housing.
10\. The downhole swivel of claim 1, further comprising a downhole actuator coupled to the housing and configured to move the rotation coupler between the first and second positions.
11\. A method, comprising: connecting a downhole swivel and a downhole actuator; deploying the downhole swivel and the downhole actuator into a well; signaling the downhole actuator to actuate, wherein signaling the downhole actuator to actuate causes the downhole actuator to move a rotation coupler of the downhole swivel from a first position to a second position, wherein the rotation coupler in the first position rotationally locks an inner tubular of the downhole swivel and a housing of the downhole swivel together, and wherein the rotation coupler in the second position permits the inner tubular to rotate relative to the housing; and signaling the downhole actuator to release the downhole swivel, wherein signaling the downhole actuator to release the swivel causes the downhole actuator to permit the rotation coupler to move to the first position.
12\. The method of claim 11, wherein the force applied to the actuation tubular is a linear, axially-directed force, and wherein the rotation coupler moves axially from the first position to the second position in response to the force applied to the actuation tubular.
13\. The method of claim 11, wherein the rotation coupler comprises fingers, the inner tubular comprises an engaging member having splines, and the housing comprises splines that are axially and circumferentially aligned with the splines of the engaging member, wherein the fingers are between the splines of the engaging member and the splines of the housing in when the rotation coupler is in the first position, and wherein the fingers are not between the splines of the engaging member when the rotation coupler is in the second position.
14\. The method of claim 13, wherein the swivel comprises a biasing member that biases the rotation coupler linearly toward the first position.
15\. The method of claim 11, wherein signaling the downhole actuator to actuate comprises sending a hydraulic signal, an electric signal, a mechanical signal, or a combination thereof.
16\. The method of claim 11, wherein the rotation coupler comprises dogs or lugs that radially extend in response to the force applied to the actuation tubular.
17\. A downhole swivel, comprising: a housing; an inner tubular positioned at least partially within the housing; an engaging member rotationally locked with the inner tubular; a rotation coupler selectively positionable relative to the engaging member, the rotation coupler having a first position in which the rotation coupler transmits torque between the housing and the engaging member, and a second position in which the rotation coupler permits relative rotation between the housing and the engaging member; and a downhole actuator configured to move the rotation coupler between the first and second positions.
18\. The downhole swivel of claim 17, further comprising an actuation tubular that extends out of the housing, wherein the actuation tubular is engageable with the downhole actuator and the rotation coupler.
19\. The downhole swivel of claim 17, wherein the downhole actuator is coupled to the housing and the rotation coupler.
20\. The downhole swivel of claim 17, further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the rotation coupler axially away from the inner tubular and toward the first position.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Election/Restriction
This application contains claims directed to the following patentably distinct species
Species A of figs. 1-5
Species B of pgph. 26
The species are independent or distinct because they each disclose a unique arrangement of parts not usable together. In addition, these species are not obvious variants of each other based on the current record.
Applicant is required under 35 U.S.C. 121 to elect a single disclosed species, or a single grouping of patentably indistinct species, for prosecution on the merits to which the claims shall be restricted if no generic claim is finally held to be allowable. Currently, claims 1, 2, 8, 10-12, 15, and 19 are generic.
There is a serious search and/or examination burden for the patentably distinct species as set forth above because at least the following reason(s) apply:  Separate searches and art would be needed for each species.
Applicant is advised that the reply to this requirement to be complete must include (i) an election of a species to be examined even though the requirement may be traversed (37 CFR 1.143) and (ii) identification of the claims encompassing the elected species or grouping of patentably indistinct species, including any claims subsequently added. An argument that a claim is allowable or that all claims are generic is considered nonresponsive unless accompanied by an election.
The election may be made with or without traverse. To preserve a right to petition, the election must be made with traverse. If the reply does not distinctly and specifically point out supposed errors in the election of species requirement, the election shall be treated as an election without traverse. Traversal must be presented at the time of election in order to be considered timely. Failure to timely traverse the requirement will result in the loss of right to petition under 37 CFR 1.144. If claims are added after the election, applicant must indicate which of these claims are readable on the elected species or grouping of patentably indistinct species.
Should applicant traverse on the ground that the species, or groupings of patentably indistinct species from which election is required, are not patentably distinct, applicant should submit evidence or identify such evidence now of record showing them to be obvious variants or clearly admit on the record that this is the case. In either instance, if the examiner finds one of the species unpatentable over the prior art, the evidence or admission may be used in a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103 or pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 103(a) of the other species.
Upon the allowance of a generic claim, applicant will be entitled to consideration of claims to additional species which depend from or otherwise require all the limitations of an allowable generic claim as provided by 37 CFR 1.141.
During a telephone conversation with Andy Plummer on 04/08/2025 a provisional election was made without traverse to prosecute the invention of Species A, claims 1-8, 10-15, 17-20.  Affirmation of this election must be made by applicant in replying to this Office action.  Claims 9 and 16 are withdrawn from further consideration by the examiner, 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a non-elected invention.
Applicant is reminded that upon the cancelation of claims to a non-elected invention, the inventorship must be corrected in compliance with 37 CFR 1.48(a) if one or more of the currently named inventors is no longer an inventor of at least one claim remaining in the application. A request to correct inventorship under 37 CFR 1.48(a) must be accompanied by an application data sheet in accordance with 37 CFR 1.76 that identifies each inventor by his or her legal name and by the processing fee required under 37 CFR 1.17(i).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-4, 8, 10-12, 14-15, 17-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by McCullough (US 12152467 B2), hereinafter Cul.
With respect to claim 1, Cul discloses a downhole swivel, comprising: a housing (234) ; an inner tubular (210) positioned at least partially within the housing; an engaging member (224) coupled to or integral with an end of the inner tubular, such that the engaging member and the inner tubular are rotationally locked together; and a rotation coupler (212) selectively positionable relative to the engaging member, the rotation coupler having a first position (fig. 8A) in which the rotation coupler transmits torque between the housing and the inner tubular, and a second position (fig. 8B) in which the rotation coupler permits relative rotation between the housing and the inner tubular (col. 8 l. 65 – col. 9 l. 32).
With respect to claim 2, Cul discloses wherein, when the rotation coupler is in the second position, the rotation coupler does not transmit substantial torque between the inner tubular and the housing, such that the inner tubular and the housing are free to rotate relative to one another (col. 9 ll. 8-32).
With respect to claim 3, Cul discloses an actuation tubular (249)  that extends out of the housing and is engageable with a downhole actuator (206, shown in figs. 5a-12).
With respect to claim 4, Cul discloses wherein the actuation tubular is configured to move axially in response to a force applied by the downhole actuator (206), and wherein the rotation coupler moves between the first and second positions responsive to the axial movement of the actuation tubular (col. 11 l. 62 – col. 13 l. 25).
With respect to claim 8, Cul discloses wherein the housing comprises an upper housing (234) that is configured to transmit torque to the inner tubular via the rotation coupler, and a lower housing (250) connected to the upper housing (figs. 5a, 5b).
With respect to claim 10, Cul discloses a downhole actuator (206) coupled to the housing and configured to move the rotation coupler between the first and second positions (fig. 4, col. 11 l. 62 – col. 13 l. 25).
With respect to claim 11, Cul discloses connecting a downhole swivel and a downhole actuator; deploying the downhole swivel and the downhole actuator into a well (discussed supra. Shown in fig. 4); signaling the downhole actuator to actuate (by increasing the pressure col. 14 ll. 35-57, or via electrical signal col. 17 l. 48 – col. 18 l. 11), wherein signaling the downhole actuator to actuate causes the downhole actuator to move a rotation coupler of the downhole swivel from a first position to a second position, wherein the rotation coupler in the first position rotationally locks an inner tubular of the downhole swivel and a housing of the downhole swivel together, and wherein the rotation coupler in the second position permits the inner tubular to rotate relative to the housing (discussed supra in rejection of claim 1, col. 14 ll. 35-57, col. 8 l. 65 – col. 9 l. 32); and signaling the downhole actuator to release the downhole swivel (by decreasing the pressure col. 14 ll. 35-57, or via electrical signal col. 17 l. 48 – col. 18 l. 11), wherein signaling the downhole actuator to release the swivel causes the downhole actuator to permit the rotation coupler to move to the first position (col. 14 ll. 35-57, col. 8 l. 65 – col. 9 l. 32).
With respect to claim 12, Cul discloses wherein the force applied to the actuation tubular is a linear, axially-directed force, and wherein the rotation coupler moves axially from the first position to the second position in response to the force applied to the actuation tubular (col. 14 ll. 35-57).
With respect to claim 14, Cul discloses wherein the swivel comprises a biasing member (264) that biases the rotation coupler linearly toward the first position (col. 13 ll. 17-54).
With respect to claim 15, Cul discloses wherein signaling the downhole actuator to actuate comprises sending a hydraulic signal, an electric signal, a mechanical signal, or a combination thereof (col. 14 ll. 35-57, col. 17 l. 48 – col. 18 l. 11).
The limitations of claims 17-19 are substantially similar to those of claims 1-4, 8, and 10-12, rejected supra.
Claim(s) 17-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Williamson (US 20180038202 A1).
With respect to claim 17, Williamson discloses a downhole swivel, comprising: a housing (81); an inner tubular (80) positioned at least partially within the housing; an engaging member (92) rotationally locked with the inner tubular; a rotation coupler (94) selectively positionable relative to the engaging member, the rotation coupler having a first position (fig. 5C) in which the rotation coupler transmits torque between the housing and the engaging member, and a second position (fig. 7) in which the rotation coupler permits relative rotation between the housing and the engaging member; and a downhole actuator (66, 69) configured to move the rotation coupler between the first and second positions (pgphs 39-42).
With respect to claim 18, Williamson discloses an actuation tubular (82) that extends out of the housing, wherein the actuation tubular is engageable with the downhole actuator and the rotation coupler (shown in fig. 6).
With respect to claim 19, Williamson discloses wherein the downhole actuator is coupled to the housing and the rotation coupler (shown in figs. 5A, 5B).
With respect to claim 20, Williamson discloses a biasing member (110) configured to bias the rotation coupler axially away from the inner tubular and toward the first position (pgphs. 41, 42, figs. 5c-7).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5-7 and 13 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 20170044843 A1 also discloses using electronics instead of hydraulics for coupling/uncoupling a tubular and housing (pgph. 112).


NEXT OFFICE ACTION: DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Election/Restrictions
This application is in condition for allowance except for the presence of claims 9 and 16 directed to a species non-elected without traverse.  Accordingly, claims 9 and 16 been cancelled.
EXAMINER'S AMENDMENT
An examiner’s amendment to the record appears below. Should the changes and/or additions be unacceptable to applicant, an amendment may be filed as provided by 37 CFR 1.312. To ensure consideration of such an amendment, it MUST be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee.
The application has been amended as follows:
In claim 11, line 12, “housing in when” has been replaced by --housing when--
Claims 9 and 16 have been cancelled
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: US 12152467 B2 lack at least the biasing member biasing the coupler away from the inner tubular in conjunction with the actuation tubular extending from the housing in conjunction with the remainder of the limitations of the independent claims. Similar failings apply to US 20180038202 A1. Also, no reference was found which disclosed fingers that fit between two sets of splines to couple/uncouple members of a swivel from rotation. A “downhole swivel” from the preamble is being incorporated into the claim since it breathes life into the claim since there is no way to know that the claims are drawn to a swivel without its inclusion and it is being given the weight of a term of art for a member which selectively allows rotation between two downhole components.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US12152467B2: Claims:
A system for a drill string, comprising: a clutch assembly comprising: a driveshaft having an axial bore extending therethrough, an external surface, and a first coupling element comprising a plurality of outer teeth extending radially outwards from the external surface; a shuttle having an uphole end, a downhole end, an internal surface defining a channel extending through the shuttle from the uphole end to the downhole end, the channel partially receiving the driveshaft therein, and a second coupling element comprising a plurality of inner teeth extending radially inwards from the internal surface into the channel; wherein the shuttle is axially movable between an engaged position in which the second coupling element engages the first coupling element and a disengaged position in which the second coupling element is disengaged from the first coupling element; wherein a portion of the driveshaft remains within the channel of the shuttle when the shuttle is in the disengaged position; a circulation assembly comprising a tubular housing having at least one first aperture extending radially therethrough and a circulation piston received within the housing, the circulation piston having at least one second aperture extending radially therethrough, wherein the circulation piston is axially movable within the housing between a closed position in which the at least one first and second apertures are axially offset and an open position in which the at least one first and second apertures are axially aligned; and an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the clutch assembly and the circulation assembly, the actuation mechanism selectively actuatable to move the shuttle between the engaged position and the disengaged position and the circulation piston between the closed position and the open position.
a clutch assembly comprising: a driveshaft having an axial bore extending therethrough, an external surface, and a first coupling element comprising a plurality of outer teeth extending radially outwards from the external surface; a shuttle having an uphole end, a downhole end, an internal surface defining a channel extending through the shuttle from the uphole end to the downhole end, the channel partially receiving the driveshaft therein, and a second coupling element comprising a plurality of inner teeth extending radially inwards from the internal surface into the channel; wherein the shuttle is axially movable between an engaged position in which the second coupling element engages the first coupling element and a disengaged position in which the second coupling element is disengaged from the first coupling element; wherein a portion of the driveshaft remains within the channel of the shuttle when the shuttle is in the disengaged position;
a driveshaft having an axial bore extending therethrough, an external surface, and a first coupling element comprising a plurality of outer teeth extending radially outwards from the external surface;
a shuttle having an uphole end, a downhole end, an internal surface defining a channel extending through the shuttle from the uphole end to the downhole end, the channel partially receiving the driveshaft therein, and a second coupling element comprising a plurality of inner teeth extending radially inwards from the internal surface into the channel;
wherein the shuttle is axially movable between an engaged position in which the second coupling element engages the first coupling element and a disengaged position in which the second coupling element is disengaged from the first coupling element;
wherein a portion of the driveshaft remains within the channel of the shuttle when the shuttle is in the disengaged position;
a circulation assembly comprising a tubular housing having at least one first aperture extending radially therethrough and a circulation piston received within the housing, the circulation piston having at least one second aperture extending radially therethrough, wherein the circulation piston is axially movable within the housing between a closed position in which the at least one first and second apertures are axially offset and an open position in which the at least one first and second apertures are axially aligned; and
an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the clutch assembly and the circulation assembly, the actuation mechanism selectively actuatable to move the shuttle between the engaged position and the disengaged position and the circulation piston between the closed position and the open position.
The system of claim 1 , wherein the shuttle is in the engaged position when the circulation piston is in the closed position and the shuttle is in the disengaged position when the circulation piston is in the open position.
The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a pressure-activated actuator.
The system of claim 3 , wherein the pressure-activated actuator comprises: an activation piston operatively connected to the shuttle and the circulation piston and operable to axially move the shuttle and the circulation piston; a biasing device that exerts a biasing force on the activation piston to maintain the shuttle in the engaged position and the circulation piston in the closed position; a pressure differential mechanism that provides a pressure differential within the system downhole of the biasing device; and wherein, when the pressure differential reaches a pre-determined threshold, the activation piston overcomes the biasing force to axially move the shuttle to the disengaged position and the circulation piston to the open position.
an activation piston operatively connected to the shuttle and the circulation piston and operable to axially move the shuttle and the circulation piston;
a biasing device that exerts a biasing force on the activation piston to maintain the shuttle in the engaged position and the circulation piston in the closed position;
a pressure differential mechanism that provides a pressure differential within the system downhole of the biasing device; and
wherein, when the pressure differential reaches a pre-determined threshold, the activation piston overcomes the biasing force to axially move the shuttle to the disengaged position and the circulation piston to the open position.
The system of claim 4 , wherein the pressure differential mechanism comprises a flow restrictor.
The system of claim 4 , wherein the biasing device comprises a spring.
The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises: a mandrel coupled between the shuttle and the circulation piston and axially movable therewith; a biasing device that exerts a biasing force on the mandrel to maintain the shuttle in the engaged position and the circulation piston in the closed position; a valve seat to receive a ball thereon; and wherein, when the ball is seated on the valve seat, the mandrel overcomes the biasing force to axially move the shuttle to the disengaged position and the circulation piston to the open position.
a mandrel coupled between the shuttle and the circulation piston and axially movable therewith;
a biasing device that exerts a biasing force on the mandrel to maintain the shuttle in the engaged position and the circulation piston in the closed position;
a valve seat to receive a ball thereon; and
wherein, when the ball is seated on the valve seat, the mandrel overcomes the biasing force to axially move the shuttle to the disengaged position and the circulation piston to the open position.
The system of claim 7 , wherein the valve seat is positioned downhole of the biasing device.
The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises at least one electric motor assembly operatively connected to at least one of the clutch assembly and the circulation assembly.
The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuation mechanism further comprises an indexing mechanism to maintain the clutch and circulation assemblies in a selected position.
The system of claim 10 , wherein the indexing mechanism comprises a barrel cam assembly.
A drill string comprising: an uphole portion rotatable from surface and a downhole portion comprising a rotary steerable system and a drill bit; a mud motor operable to drive rotation of the drill bit; and a clutch and circulation system, the system comprising: a clutch assembly comprising: a driveshaft coupled to the uphole portion of the drill string, the driveshaft having an axial bore extending therethrough, an external surface, and a first coupling element comprising a plurality of outer teeth extending radially outwards from the external surface; a shuttle coupled to the downhole portion of the drill string, the shuttle having an uphole end, a downhole end, an internal surface defining a channel extending through the shuttle from the uphole end to the downhole end, the channel partially receiving the driveshaft therein, and a second coupling element comprising a plurality of inner teeth extending radially inwards from the internal surface into the channel; wherein the shuttle is axially movable between an engaged position in which the second coupling element engages the first coupling element such that the downhole portion rotates with the uphole portion, and a disengaged position in which the second coupling element is disengaged from the first coupling element such that the uphole portion rotates independently of the downhole portion; wherein a portion of the driveshaft remains within the channel of the shuttle when the shuttle is in the disengaged position; a circulation assembly comprising a tubular housing having at least one first aperture extending radially therethrough and a circulation piston received within the housing, the circulation piston having at least one second aperture extending radially therethrough, wherein the circulation piston is axially movable within the housing between a closed position in which the at least one first and second apertures are axially offset and an open position in which the at least one first and second apertures are axially aligned; and an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the clutch assembly and the circulation assembly, the actuating mechanism selectively actuatable to move the shuttle between the engaged position and the disengaged position and the circulation piston between the closed position and the open position.
an uphole portion rotatable from surface and a downhole portion comprising a rotary steerable system and a drill bit;
a mud motor operable to drive rotation of the drill bit; and
a clutch and circulation system, the system comprising: a clutch assembly comprising: a driveshaft coupled to the uphole portion of the drill string, the driveshaft having an axial bore extending therethrough, an external surface, and a first coupling element comprising a plurality of outer teeth extending radially outwards from the external surface; a shuttle coupled to the downhole portion of the drill string, the shuttle having an uphole end, a downhole end, an internal surface defining a channel extending through the shuttle from the uphole end to the downhole end, the channel partially receiving the driveshaft therein, and a second coupling element comprising a plurality of inner teeth extending radially inwards from the internal surface into the channel; wherein the shuttle is axially movable between an engaged position in which the second coupling element engages the first coupling element such that the downhole portion rotates with the uphole portion, and a disengaged position in which the second coupling element is disengaged from the first coupling element such that the uphole portion rotates independently of the downhole portion; wherein a portion of the driveshaft remains within the channel of the shuttle when the shuttle is in the disengaged position; a circulation assembly comprising a tubular housing having at least one first aperture extending radially therethrough and a circulation piston received within the housing, the circulation piston having at least one second aperture extending radially therethrough, wherein the circulation piston is axially movable within the housing between a closed position in which the at least one first and second apertures are axially offset and an open position in which the at least one first and second apertures are axially aligned; and an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the clutch assembly and the circulation assembly, the actuating mechanism selectively actuatable to move the shuttle between the engaged position and the disengaged position and the circulation piston between the closed position and the open position.
a clutch assembly comprising: a driveshaft coupled to the uphole portion of the drill string, the driveshaft having an axial bore extending therethrough, an external surface, and a first coupling element comprising a plurality of outer teeth extending radially outwards from the external surface; a shuttle coupled to the downhole portion of the drill string, the shuttle having an uphole end, a downhole end, an internal surface defining a channel extending through the shuttle from the uphole end to the downhole end, the channel partially receiving the driveshaft therein, and a second coupling element comprising a plurality of inner teeth extending radially inwards from the internal surface into the channel; wherein the shuttle is axially movable between an engaged position in which the second coupling element engages the first coupling element such that the downhole portion rotates with the uphole portion, and a disengaged position in which the second coupling element is disengaged from the first coupling element such that the uphole portion rotates independently of the downhole portion; wherein a portion of the driveshaft remains within the channel of the shuttle when the shuttle is in the disengaged position;
a driveshaft coupled to the uphole portion of the drill string, the driveshaft having an axial bore extending therethrough, an external surface, and a first coupling element comprising a plurality of outer teeth extending radially outwards from the external surface;
a shuttle coupled to the downhole portion of the drill string, the shuttle having an uphole end, a downhole end, an internal surface defining a channel extending through the shuttle from the uphole end to the downhole end, the channel partially receiving the driveshaft therein, and a second coupling element comprising a plurality of inner teeth extending radially inwards from the internal surface into the channel;
wherein the shuttle is axially movable between an engaged position in which the second coupling element engages the first coupling element such that the downhole portion rotates with the uphole portion, and a disengaged position in which the second coupling element is disengaged from the first coupling element such that the uphole portion rotates independently of the downhole portion;
an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the clutch assembly and the circulation assembly, the actuating mechanism selectively actuatable to move the shuttle between the engaged position and the disengaged position and the circulation piston between the closed position and the open position.
The drill string of claim 12 , wherein the system is positioned uphole of the mud motor such that the mud motor is in the downhole portion of the drill string.
The drill string of claim 12 , wherein the system is positioned downhole of the mud motor such that the mud motor is in the uphole portion of the drill string.
A method for drilling a borehole comprising: providing a drill string comprising a clutch and circulation system, the system comprising: a clutch assembly comprising: a driveshaft coupled to an uphole portion of the drill string, the driveshaft having an axial bore extending therethrough, an external surface, and a first coupling element comprising a plurality of outer teeth extending radially outwards from the external surface; a shuttle coupled to a downhole portion of the drill string, the shuttle having an uphole end, a downhole end, an internal surface defining a channel extending through the shuttle from the uphole end to the downhole end, the channel partially receiving the driveshaft therein, and a second coupling element comprising a plurality of inner teeth extending radially inwards from the internal surface into the channel; wherein the shuttle is axially movable between an engaged position in which the second coupling element engages the first coupling element such that the downhole portion rotates with the uphole portion, and a disengaged position in which the second coupling element is disengaged from the first coupling element such that the uphole portion rotates independently of the downhole portion; wherein a portion of the driveshaft remains within the channel of the shuttle when the shuttle is in the disengaged position; a circulation assembly having an exhaust port, the circulation assembly having an open position in which the exhaust port is open and a closed position in which the exhaust port is closed; and an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the clutch assembly and the circulation assembly, the actuation mechanism selectively actuatable to move the clutch assembly between the engaged position and the disengaged position and the circulation assembly between the open position and the closed position; and drilling the borehole with the clutch assembly in the engaged position and the circulation assembly in the closed position.
providing a drill string comprising a clutch and circulation system, the system comprising: a clutch assembly comprising: a driveshaft coupled to an uphole portion of the drill string, the driveshaft having an axial bore extending therethrough, an external surface, and a first coupling element comprising a plurality of outer teeth extending radially outwards from the external surface; a shuttle coupled to a downhole portion of the drill string, the shuttle having an uphole end, a downhole end, an internal surface defining a channel extending through the shuttle from the uphole end to the downhole end, the channel partially receiving the driveshaft therein, and a second coupling element comprising a plurality of inner teeth extending radially inwards from the internal surface into the channel; wherein the shuttle is axially movable between an engaged position in which the second coupling element engages the first coupling element such that the downhole portion rotates with the uphole portion, and a disengaged position in which the second coupling element is disengaged from the first coupling element such that the uphole portion rotates independently of the downhole portion; wherein a portion of the driveshaft remains within the channel of the shuttle when the shuttle is in the disengaged position; a circulation assembly having an exhaust port, the circulation assembly having an open position in which the exhaust port is open and a closed position in which the exhaust port is closed; and an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the clutch assembly and the circulation assembly, the actuation mechanism selectively actuatable to move the clutch assembly between the engaged position and the disengaged position and the circulation assembly between the open position and the closed position; and
a clutch assembly comprising: a driveshaft coupled to an uphole portion of the drill string, the driveshaft having an axial bore extending therethrough, an external surface, and a first coupling element comprising a plurality of outer teeth extending radially outwards from the external surface; a shuttle coupled to a downhole portion of the drill string, the shuttle having an uphole end, a downhole end, an internal surface defining a channel extending through the shuttle from the uphole end to the downhole end, the channel partially re
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