A system and method to control fluid flow to downhole tools and equipment, and to allow formation testing and sampling operations is disclosed. The system includes an actuator assembly that may be mechanically or electrically activated to operate a flow diverter assembly. The flow diverter assembly may divert fluid flow to the annulus of the wellbore, to the stator of a power section, through a by-pass bore in a rotor of the power section, or any combination thereof. In the mechanically actuated actuator assembly, the actuator assembly is activated by pressure changes in the fluid introduced by cycling the pumps at the surface; and in the electrically actuated actuator assembly, the actuator assembly is activated by downlinks sent from a surface control unit or computer at the surface.

A gripping device is adapted for handling equipment with a drill string, wherein an annular actuator housing includes a hydraulically activated, rotatable cam disc which is arranged to displace a number of locking slides from a first position, in which the locking slides are retracted into the actuator housing, and a second position, in which the locking slides are in engagement with the drill string extending through a center opening in the gripping device, by abutting against a shoulder of a tool joint in the drill string. The gripping device is connected to a hydraulic supply and return for the actuation of the cam disc via a hydraulic coupler in a connection port on the actuator housing. Alternatively pressurizing and ventilating two adjacent actuation volumes in the cam disc brings about rotation of the cam disc within a sector of the cam disc.

An apparatus includes a housing, engagement slips, a tubular, a taper tap, a pin, and a slip activation member. The housing includes a profile that defines a path including a first end and a second end. The engagement slips are attached to the housing. The tubular passes through an opening of the housing. The taper tap is rotatable and connected to the housing. The pin is connected to the tubular and received by the profile of the housing. The tubular is translatable with respect to the housing based on the pin translating along the path defined by the profile. The slip activation member is connected to the tubular. The slip activation member is configured to move each of the engagement slips radially outward with respect to the housing when the pin translates to the second end of the path.

An uphole end for a compression-set straddle packer has a multicomponent mandrel and a multicomponent sliding sleeve that reciprocates within a limited range on the multicomponent mandrel. A bias element constantly resists relative movement between the multicomponent mandrel and the multicomponent sliding sleeve.

An uphole end for a compression-set straddle packer has a multicomponent mandrel and a multicomponent sliding sleeve that reciprocates within a limited range on the multicomponent mandrel. A bias element constantly resists relative movement between the multicomponent mandrel and the multicomponent sliding sleeve.

A drilling system for forming a wellbore includes a drill string, a drill bit, and a circulation sub in the drill string. Manipulating the circulation sub forms a passage through a sidewall of the drill string; which diverts some of the drilling fluid flowing inside the drill string into the wellbore. Diverting some of the drilling fluid through the passage reduces the amount of drilling fluid flowing in the wellbore between the drill bit and circulation sub, and which optimizes equivalent circulating density of the drilling fluid. Included in an embodiment of the circulation sub is a cylinder that is indexed into set positions by engagement with a J-slot profile in a housing of the circulation sub. A sleeve in the sub is responsive to cylinder positions, and has a port that registers with a slot in the sub walls to form the passage.

A downhole, hydraulically actuated drilling stabilizer provides versatility in a bottom-hole assembly. The drilling stabilizer can be used in a directional drilling application to help control the inclination in an extended reach or horizontal well. The drilling stabilizer has stabilizer blade members with an angular design portion that provides versatility in a bottom-hole assembly. The stabilizer can also be used in a conventional rotary bottom-hole assembly or positioned below a steerable motor. A drilling stabilizer with adjustable extension diameters provides improved inclination control over currently existing options.

A clean-out tool and method of cleaning out a wellbore. The clean-out tool is placed at the end of a coiled tubing or other conveyance string. The clean-out tool comprises a tubular housing providing an elongated bore through which fluid flows. The tubular housing has back-jetting ports disposed at an upward angle therein. The clean-out tool is configured to operate in a back-jetting mode when the clean-out fluid is pumped into the tubular housing at a first flow rate. In this mode, at least a portion of clean-out fluid flows through the bore, up an annular region and then through the back jetting ports. The clean-out tool is further configured to operate in a fluid flow-through mode when the clean-out fluids are pumped into the bore of the tubular housing at a second flow rate. In this mode, all of the clean-out fluid flows through the clean-out tool.

A frac sleeve assembly and method of operation. The frac sleeve assembly includes a ball seat that retains a frac ball. The ball seat moves within a sleeve. The sleeve includes a profile that separates the first half and the second half to allow passage of the frac ball through the ball seat when the ball seat moves within the sleeve. Alternatively, the ball seat has a ring for receiving the frac ball and the sleeve has a protrusion that selectively engages a shifting pin to move the ring with respect to a ridge to release the ball from the ball seat when the ball seat moves within the sleeve.

A clean-out tool and method of cleaning out a wellbore. The clean-out tool is placed at the end of a coiled tubing or other conveyance string. The clean-out tool comprises a tubular housing providing an elongated bore through which fluid flows. The tubular housing has back-jetting ports disposed at an upward angle therein. The clean-out tool is configured to operate in a back-jetting mode when the clean-out fluid is pumped into the tubular housing at a first flow rate. In this mode, a portion of clean-out fluid flows through the bore, up an annular region and then through the back jetting ports. The clean-out tool is further configured to operate in a fluid flow-through mode when the clean-out fluids are pumped into the bore of the tubular housing at a second flow rate. In this mode, all of the clean-out fluid flows through the clean-out tool.