Downhole tool employing a pressure intensifier

Abstract

Provided is a downhole tool, a well system, and a method. The downhole tool, in one aspect, includes a mandrel, a sliding element positioned radially about the mandrel, and a pressure intensifier positioned radially about the mandrel and coupled to the sliding element. In one aspect, the pressure intensifier includes a first piston having a first pressure receiving end with a larger piston surface area (A L1 ) and a first pressure output end with a smaller piston surface area (A S ). In one aspect, the pressure intensifier includes a second piston coupled to the first piston, the second piston having a second pressure receiving end with a larger piston surface area (A L2 ). In one aspect, a fluid chamber is defined between the first pressure output end and the second pressure receiving end. In one aspect, the pressure intensifier is configured to move the sliding element with an applied force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole tool, comprising:
 a mandrel;   a sliding element positioned radially about the mandrel; and   a pressure intensifier positioned radially about the mandrel and coupled to the sliding element, the pressure intensifier including:
 a first piston having a first pressure receiving end with a larger piston surface area (A L1 ) and a first pressure output end with a smaller piston surface area (A S ); and 
 a second piston coupled to the first piston, the second piston having a second pressure receiving end with a larger piston surface area (A L2 ), a fluid chamber defined between the first pressure output end of the first piston with the smaller piston surface area (A S ) and the second pressure receiving end of the second piston with the larger piston surface area (A L2 ), the pressure intensifier configured to move the sliding element when a force is applied thereto. 
   
     
     
         2 . The downhole tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pressure intensifier is a selectively engageable pressure intensifier, the selectively engageable pressure intensifier configured to have an initial state physically coupling the first piston and the second piston with one another when subjected to an initial fluid pressure below a threshold fluid pressure, and configured to have a subsequent state physically decoupling and fluidly coupling the first piston and the second piston with one another when subjected to a subsequent fluid pressure above the threshold fluid pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole tool as recited in  claim 2 , further including a collet feature, wherein the collet feature is configured to set the threshold fluid pressure, and thus remain engaged to physically couple the first piston and the second piston when the selectively engageable pressure intensifier is subjected to the initial fluid pressure below the threshold fluid pressure, and disengage to physically decouple and fluidly couple the first piston and the second piston when the selectively engageable pressure intensifier is subjected to the subsequent fluid pressure above the threshold fluid pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole tool as recited in  claim 2 , further including a shear feature, wherein the shear feature is configured to set the threshold fluid pressure, and thus remain intact to physically couple the first piston and the second piston when the selectively engageable pressure intensifier is subjected to the initial fluid pressure below the threshold fluid pressure, and shear to physically decouple and fluidly couple the first piston and the second piston when the selectively engageable pressure intensifier is subjected to the subsequent fluid pressure above the threshold fluid pressure. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole tool as recited in  claim 2 , further including a burst disc located in the fluid chamber, wherein the burst disc is configured to set the threshold fluid pressure, and thus remain intact to physically couple the first piston and the second piston when the selectively engageable pressure intensifier is subjected to the initial fluid pressure below the threshold fluid pressure, and burst to physically decouple and fluidly couple the first piston and the second piston when the selectively engageable pressure intensifier is subjected to the subsequent fluid pressure above the threshold fluid pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole tool as recited in  claim 5 , further including a check valve located in the fluid chamber, the check valve configured to allow uncompressed fluid located within the fluid chamber to move from the first pressure output end of the first piston toward the second pressure receiving end of the second piston and stop the uncompressed fluid located within the fluid chamber from moving back from the second pressure receiving end of the second piston toward the first pressure output end of the first piston. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pressure intensifier is a selectively engageable pressure intensifier, the selectively engageable pressure intensifier configured to have an initial state physically coupling the first piston and the second piston with one another for a duration of time, and configured to have a subsequent state physically decoupling and fluidly coupling the first piston and the second piston with one another after an amount of time has lapsed. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole tool as recited in  claim 7 , further including a flow restrictor located in the fluid chamber, wherein the flow restrictor is configured to set the threshold time, and thus remain intact to physically couple the first piston and the second piston when the selectively engageable pressure intensifier is subjected to applied pressure and physically decouple and fluidly couple the first piston and the second piston after a certain amount of time has lapsed. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole tool as recited in  claim 1 , further including a spring member located in the fluid chamber, the spring member configured to allow the pressure intensifier to reset for repeated use. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sliding element is coupled to a radially expanding sealing element, the sliding element configured to axially compress the radial expanding sealing element into radial engagement with an outer tubular as the pressure intensifier moves the sliding element when the force is applied thereto. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sliding element is coupled to a radially expanding anchor element, the sliding element configured to axially compress the radial expanding anchor element into radial engagement with an outer tubular as the pressure intensifier moves the sliding element when the force is applied thereto. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sliding element is coupled to a valve element, the sliding element configured to open or close a valve of the valve element as the pressure intensifier moves the sliding element when a force is applied thereto. 
     
     
         13 . A well system, comprising:
 a wellbore located in a subterranean formation; and   a downhole tool positioned in the wellbore, the downhole tool including:
 a mandrel; 
 a sliding element positioned radially about the mandrel; and 
 a pressure intensifier positioned radially about the mandrel and coupled to the sliding element, the pressure intensifier including:
 a first piston having a first pressure receiving end with a larger piston surface area (A L1 ) and a first pressure output end with a smaller piston surface area (A S ); and 
 a second piston coupled to the first piston, the second piston having a second pressure receiving end with a larger piston surface area (A L2 ), a fluid chamber defined between the first pressure output end of the first piston with the smaller piston surface area (A S ) and the second pressure receiving end of the second piston with the larger piston surface area (A L2 ), the pressure intensifier configured to move the sliding element when a force is applied thereto. 
 
   
     
     
         14 . The well system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the pressure intensifier is a selectively engageable pressure intensifier, the selectively engageable pressure intensifier configured to have an initial state physically coupling the first piston and the second piston with one another when subjected to an initial fluid pressure below a threshold fluid pressure, and configured to have a subsequent state physically decoupling and fluidly coupling the first piston and the second piston with one another when subjected to a subsequent fluid pressure above the threshold fluid pressure. 
     
     
         15 . The well system as recited in  claim 14 , further including a collet feature, wherein the collet feature is configured to set the threshold fluid pressure, and thus remain engaged to physically couple the first piston and the second piston when the selectively engageable pressure intensifier is subjected to the initial fluid pressure below the threshold fluid pressure, and disengage to physically decouple and fluidly couple the first piston and the second piston when the selectively engageable pressure intensifier is subjected to the subsequent fluid pressure above the threshold fluid pressure. 
     
     
         16 . The well system as recited in  claim 14 , further including a shear feature, wherein the shear feature is configured to set the threshold fluid pressure, and thus remain intact to physically couple the first piston and the second piston when the selectively engageable pressure intensifier is subjected to the initial fluid pressure below the threshold fluid pressure, and shear to physically decouple and fluidly couple the first piston and the second piston when the selectively engageable pressure intensifier is subjected to the subsequent fluid pressure above the threshold fluid pressure. 
     
     
         17 . The well system as recited in  claim 14 , further including a burst disc located in the fluid chamber, wherein the burst disc is configured to set the threshold fluid pressure, and thus remain intact to physically couple the first piston and the second piston when the selectively engageable pressure intensifier is subjected to the initial fluid pressure below the threshold fluid pressure, and burst to physically decouple and fluidly couple the first piston and the second piston when the selectively engageable pressure intensifier is subjected to the subsequent fluid pressure above the threshold fluid pressure. 
     
     
         18 . The well system as recited in  claim 17 , further including a check valve located in the fluid chamber, the check valve configured to allow uncompressed fluid located within the fluid chamber to move from the first pressure output end of the first piston toward the second pressure receiving end of the second piston and stop the uncompressed fluid located within the fluid chamber from moving back from the second pressure receiving end of the second piston toward the first pressure output end of the first piston. 
     
     
         19 . The well system as recited in  claim 13 , further including a spring member located in the fluid chamber, the spring member configured to allow the pressure intensifier to reset for repeated use. 
     
     
         20 . The well system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the sliding element is coupled to a radially expanding sealing element, the sliding element configured to axially compress the radial expanding sealing element into radial engagement with an outer tubular as the pressure intensifier moves the sliding element when the force is applied thereto. 
     
     
         21 . The well system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the sliding element is coupled to a radially expanding anchor element, the sliding element configured to axially compress the radial expanding anchor element into radial engagement with an outer tubular as the pressure intensifier moves the sliding element when the force is applied thereto. 
     
     
         22 . The well system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the sliding element is coupled to a valve element, the sliding element configured to open or close a valve of the valve element as the pressure intensifier moves the sliding element when a force is applied thereto. 
     
     
         23 . A method, comprising:
 positioning a downhole tool in a wellbore located in a subterranean formation, the downhole tool including:
 a mandrel; 
 a sliding element positioned radially about the mandrel; and 
 a pressure intensifier positioned radially about the mandrel and coupled to the sliding element, the pressure intensifier including:
 a first piston having a first pressure receiving end with a larger piston surface area (A L1 ) and a first pressure output end with a smaller piston surface area (A S ); and 
 a second piston coupled to the first piston, the second piston having a second pressure receiving end with a larger piston surface area (A L2 ), a fluid chamber defined between the first pressure output end of the first piston with the smaller piston surface area (A S ) and the second pressure receiving end of the second piston with the larger piston surface area (A L2 ), the pressure intensifier configured to move the sliding element when a force is applied thereto; and 
 
   applying fluid pressure to the pressure intensifier to move the sliding element.   
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the pressure intensifier is a selectively engageable pressure intensifier, the selectively engageable pressure intensifier configured to have an initial state physically coupling the first piston and the second piston with one another when subjected to an initial fluid pressure below a threshold fluid pressure, and configured to have a subsequent state physically decoupling and fluidly coupling the first piston and the second piston with one another when subjected to a subsequent fluid pressure above the threshold fluid pressure. 
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the applying fluid pressure to the pressure intensifier to move the sliding element includes:
 applying an initial fluid pressure below the threshold fluid pressure to move the sliding element a majority of a total setting stroke, the first piston and the second piston remaining physically coupled to one another while being subjected to this initial fluid pressure; and   applying a subsequent fluid pressure above the threshold fluid pressure to move the sliding element a remaining minority of the total setting stroke, the applying the subsequent fluid pressure physically decoupling and fluidly coupling the first piston and the second piston to activate the pressure intensifier.   
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the applying the initial fluid pressure below the threshold fluid pressure moves the sliding element equal to or greater than 75% of the total setting stroke, and wherein applying the subsequent fluid pressure above the threshold fluid pressure moves the sliding element equal to or less than 25% of the total setting stroke. 
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the applying the initial fluid pressure below the threshold fluid pressure moves the sliding element equal to or greater than 85% of the total setting stroke, and wherein applying the subsequent fluid pressure above the threshold fluid pressure moves the sliding element equal to or less than 15% of the total setting stroke. 
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the applying the initial fluid pressure below the threshold fluid pressure moves the sliding element equal to or greater than 95% of the total setting stroke, and wherein applying the subsequent fluid pressure above the threshold fluid pressure moves the sliding element equal to or less than 5% of the total setting stroke. 
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the pressure intensifier is a selectively engageable pressure intensifier, the selectively engageable pressure intensifier configured to have an initial state physically coupling the first piston and the second piston with one another for a duration of time, and configured to have a subsequent state physically decoupling and fluidly coupling the first piston and the second piston with one another when that duration of time has lapsed. 
     
     
         30 . The method as recited in  claim 29 , wherein the applying fluid pressure to the pressure intensifier to move the sliding element includes:
 applying fluid pressure and holding it for a duration of time resulting in the sliding element moving a majority of a total setting stroke, the first piston and the second piston remaining physically coupled to one another during this time, the pressure intensifier activating after a certain threshold time resulting in physically decoupling and fluidly coupling the first piston and the second piston to move the sliding element a remaining minority of the total setting stroke.