Setting a downhole tool with low pressure cycles

1 . A setting tool for use downhole in a wellbore, the setting tool comprising:

a piston chamber configured to be coupled with an activation chamber of a downhole tool; and

a resettable piston positioned in the piston chamber;

wherein the piston chamber includes:

a first portion having a cross-sectional area A, the first portion adjacent to the activation chamber;

a second portion having a cross-sectional area larger than A, the second portion having a port with a first fluid source;

a first check valve fluidly coupling the piston chamber to the activation chamber, the first check valve configured to direct fluid from the first portion into the activation chamber when pressure in the first portion rises above a first threshold; and

a second check valve fluidly coupling the first portion to a second fluid source, the second check valve configured to direct fluid from the second fluid source into the first portion when pressure in the first portion falls below a second threshold;

wherein a first pressure amount P is applied to the second portion, wherein the first pressure amount P translates the resettable piston toward the activation chamber, increasing pressure in the first portion by an amount larger than P.

2 . The setting tool according to claim 1 , wherein the second check valve fluidly couples the first portion of the piston chamber with one of an annulus of the wellbore or tubing of the wellbore.

3 . The setting tool according to claim 1 , wherein the second fluid source is a clean fluid chamber coupled with the second check valve.

4 . The setting tool according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the piston chamber is open to one of tubing of the wellbore or an annulus of the wellbore.

5 . The setting tool according to claim 1 , wherein the resettable piston includes a compressible energy source, the compressible energy source, when compressed, acting to push the resettable piston away from the activation chamber.

6 . The setting tool according to claim 5 , wherein the compressible energy source is one of a mechanical spring or a compressible gas.

7 . The setting tool according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the piston chamber is coupled with a control line, the control line, when active, applying the first pressure amount P to the resettable piston.

8 . The setting tool of claim 1 , wherein the first and second fluid sources are different fluid sources.

9 . A system for use in a wellbore, comprising;

a downhole tool having an activation chamber; and

a setting tool coupled with the downhole tool, the setting tool comprising:

a piston chamber coupled with an activation chamber; and

a resettable piston positioned in the piston chamber;

wherein the piston chamber includes:

a first portion having a cross-sectional area A, the first portion adjacent to the activation chamber;

a second portion having a cross-sectional area larger than A, the second portion having a port with a first fluid source;

a first check valve fluidly coupling the piston chamber to the activation chamber, the first check valve configured to direct fluid from the first portion into the activation chamber when pressure in the first portion rises above a first threshold; and

a second check valve fluidly coupling the first portion to a second fluid source, the second check valve configured to direct fluid from the second fluid source into the first portion when pressure in the first portion falls below a second threshold, wherein the first and second fluid sources are different fluid sources;

wherein a first pressure amount P is applied to the second portion, wherein the first pressure amount P translates the resettable piston toward the activation chamber, increasing pressure in the first portion by an amount larger than P.

10 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein the downhole tool may be configured to be set by one of hydraulic pressure, hydrostatic assist, or by a control line.

11 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein the second check valve fluidly couples the first portion of the piston chamber with one of an annulus of the wellbore or tubing of the wellbore.

12 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the second fluid source is a clean fluid chamber coupled with the second check valve.

13 . The system according to claim 9 , further comprising a compressible energy source, the compressible energy source, when compressed, acting to push the resettable piston away from the activation chamber.

14 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein the second portion of the piston chamber is open to one of tubing of the wellbore or an annulus the wellbore.

15 . A method for setting a downhole tool in a wellbore, the method comprising:

coupling a setting tool with an activation element of the downhole tool, the setting tool comprising:

a piston chamber coupled with the activation element; and

a resettable piston positioned in the piston chamber;

wherein the piston chamber includes:

a first portion having a cross-sectional area A, the first portion adjacent to the activation element;

a second portion having a cross-sectional area larger than A, the second portion having a port with a first fluid source;

a first check valve fluidly coupling the piston chamber to the activation chamber; and

a second check valve fluidly coupling the first portion to a second fluid source, wherein the first and second fluid sources are different fluid sources;

applying a plurality of pressure cycles to the resettable piston through the port of the second portion, wherein each pressure cycle includes:

applying a pressure amount P to the resettable piston in the second portion, pushing the resettable piston toward the activation element, the pushing increasing pressure in the first portion by an amount larger than P;

directing fluid from the first portion through the first check valve into the activation chamber when pressure in the first portion rises above a first threshold;

releasing the pressure amount P;

pushing the resettable piston away from the activation element; and

directing fluid from the second fluid source into the first portion when pressure in the first portion falls below a second threshold; and

repeatedly applying the pressure cycle until the activation element sets the downhole tool.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the downhole tool may be configured to be set by one of hydraulic pressure, hydrostatic assist, or by a control line.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the second check valve connects the piston chamber to one of a wellbore annulus or tubing, and wherein the resettable piston includes a compressible energy source positioned between a second end of the resettable piston and the first portion of the piston chamber, the compressible energy source, when compressed, acting to push the resettable piston away from the activation chamber.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the second check valve is configured to allow fluid from the second fluid source into the first portion of the piston chamber to replenish fluid in the first portion of the piston chamber as the compressible energy source acts upon the resettable piston in response to releasing the pressure.

19 . The method according to claim 15 , where the pressure is applied to the port from the surface of the wellbore through one of an annulus of the wellbore or wellbore tubing.

20 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the pressure amount P is applied via a control line.