Clutch assembly for a drill string and related methods

A clutch assembly for use in a wellbore and connectable between a first drill string section and a second drill string section, the clutch assembly comprising:

• a first assembly portion connectable to the first drill string section;
• a second assembly portion connectable to the second drill string section, the first assembly portion and the second assembly portion collectively defining a fluid passage therethrough from a first end of the clutch assembly to a second end of the clutch assembly;
• a releasable clutch mechanism coupling the first and second assembly portions, the first assembly portion comprising a first coupling element of the clutch mechanism, and the second assembly portion comprising a second coupling element of the clutch mechanism, the second coupling element being selectively engageable with the first coupling element, wherein:
• the first assembly portion comprises;
• an actuation member coupled to the second coupling element and selectively movable between first and second longitudinal positions to thereby axially move the second coupling element between the engaged and disengaged configurations, the actuation member defining an actuation member passage therethrough, the fluid passage through the clutch assembly including the actuation member passage;
• a biasing mechanism that provides a biasing force that biases the actuation member in an uphole direction;
• and
• a plug catch portion comprising a seat for landing and releasably holding a plug member to block fluid flow through the actuation member passage and create a pressure differential that, at a first pressure threshold, overcomes the biasing force and moves the actuation member in a downhole direction.

A method of using a clutch assembly connected between first and second drill string sections, the clutch assembly comprising:

• a first assembly portion connectable to the first drill string section;
• a second assembly portion connectable to the second drill string section and comprising a driveshaft, the first assembly portion and the second assembly portion collectively defining a fluid passage therethrough from a first end of the clutch assembly to a second end of the clutch assembly;
• a releasable clutch mechanism that selectively rotationally locks the first assembly portion with the second assembly portion, the first assembly portion comprising a first coupling element of the clutch mechanism, and the second assembly portion comprising a second coupling element of the clutch mechanism, the second coupling element being selectively engageable with the first coupling element;
• a one-way bearing assembly allowing rotation of the driveshaft relative to the first assembly portion in a first rotational direction and preventing rotation of the driveshaft in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, and
• the method comprising:
• performing a drilling operation with the clutch mechanism engaged;
• and
• disengaging the clutch mechanism.