Anti-preset mechanism for setting piston in downhole tools

1. A downhole setting system comprising:

a downhole setting assembly comprising:

a setting piston,

a mating element that physically constrains the setting piston from translating; the mating element configured to release and permit the setting piston to translate; wherein the mating element comprises a lug, a ball, a key, or any combination thereof;

a mandrel, wherein the mandrel comprises a slot configured to permit the mating element to move radially inward through the mandrel; and

a downhole tool configured to be set by the downhole setting assembly; wherein the translation of the setting piston initiates the setting of the downhole tool.

2. The downhole setting system of claim 1 further comprising a lock-out sleeve with a profile configured to mate with at least a portion of the mating element.

3. The downhole setting system of claim 1 ; wherein the downhole setting assembly is disposed in a wellbore and wherein the downhole setting assembly further comprises a setting chamber, wherein the pressure in the setting chamber is equalized with the hydrostatic pressure in the wellbore at the location of the downhole setting assembly; wherein increasing the pressure in the setting chamber induces translation of the setting piston.

4. The downhole setting system of claim 1 , wherein the mandrel further comprises a setting port which is not obstructed; wherein the setting port is a passage allowing pressure to be conveyed to the setting piston.

5. The downhole setting system of claim 1 , wherein the downhole setting system does not comprise an isolation sleeve configured to obstruct a setting port; wherein the setting port is a passage allowing pressure to be conveyed to the setting piston.

6. A downhole setting assembly comprising:

a setting piston, wherein translation of the setting piston actuates a downhole tool,

a mating element that physically constrains the setting piston from translating prior to actuating the downhole tool; wherein the mating element comprises a lug, a ball, a key, or any combination thereof; and

a mandrel, wherein the mandrel comprises a slot configured to permit the mating element to move radially inward through the mandrel.

7. The downhole setting assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a lock-out sleeve with a groove configured to hold at least a portion of the mating element.

8. The downhole setting assembly of claim 6 , wherein the downhole setting assembly is disposed in a wellbore and wherein the downhole setting assembly further comprises a setting chamber, wherein the pressure in the setting chamber is equalized with the hydrostatic pressure in the wellbore at the location of the downhole setting assembly; wherein increasing the pressure in the setting chamber induces translation of the setting piston.

9. The downhole setting assembly of claim 6 , wherein the mandrel further comprises a setting port which is not obstructed; wherein the setting port is a passage allowing pressure to be conveyed to the setting piston.

10. The downhole setting assembly of claim 6 , wherein the downhole setting assembly does not comprise an isolation sleeve capable of obstructing a setting port; wherein the setting port is a passage allowing pressure to be conveyed to the setting piston.

11. The downhole setting assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a piston extension adjacent to the setting piston, wherein the piston extension does not comprise a shearable element.

12. The downhole setting assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a ball and a ball seat configured to engage the ball, engagement of the ball and the ball seat creating a fluid and pressure tight seal; wherein the engagement of the ball with the ball seat creates a pressure differential which translates the setting piston.

13. A method of setting a packer comprising:

introducing a packer setting tool comprising a downhole setting assembly in a wellbore, wherein the downhole setting assembly comprises:

a setting piston, and

a mating element that physically constrains the setting piston from translating; wherein the mating element comprises a lug, a ball, a key, or any combination thereof; the downhole setting assembly is coupled to a packer;

a mandrel, wherein the mandrel comprises a slot configured to permit the mating element to move radially inward through the mandrel; and

translating the setting piston to set the packer.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising stopping the mating element from physically constraining the setting piston by positioning a groove in a lock-out sleeve adjacent to the mating element.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the positioning a groove in the lock-out sleeve adjacent to the mating element comprises shearing a shearable element coupled to the lock-out sleeve.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the shearing a shearable element comprises engaging a ball in a ball seat to create a pressure and fluid tight seal; wherein the engagement of the ball with the ball seat creates a pressure differential which shears the shearable element.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising increasing the pressure uphole of the ball seat.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the pressure is increased at least until the shear load on the shearable element exceeds the shear strength of the shearable element.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the mandrel further comprises a setting port which is not obstructed; wherein the setting port is a passage allowing pressure to be conveyed to the setting piston.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the downhole setting assembly does not comprise an isolation sleeve capable of obstructing a setting port; wherein the setting port is a passage allowing pressure to be conveyed to the setting piston.