Downhole tool employing a pressure intensifier

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 piston surface area (AL1) and a first pressure output end with a smaller piston surface area (AS);
• a second piston coupled to the first piston, the second piston having a second pressure receiving end with a piston surface area (AL2), a fluid chamber defined between the first pressure output end of the first piston with the smaller piston surface area (AS) and the second pressure receiving end of the second piston with the piston surface area (AL2), the pressure intensifier configured to move the sliding element when a force is applied thereto, 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, and
• 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.

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 piston surface area (AL1) and a first pressure output end with a smaller piston surface area (AS);
• a second piston coupled to the first piston, the second piston having a second pressure receiving end with a piston surface area (AL2), a fluid chamber defined between the first pressure output end of the first piston with the smaller piston surface area (AS) and the second pressure receiving end of the second piston with the piston surface area (AL2), the pressure intensifier configured to move the sliding element when a force is applied thereto, 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;
• and
• 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;
• and
• applying fluid pressure to the pressure intensifier to move the sliding element.