Abstract: A downhole tool for use in a well has a mandrel with an expandable sealing element disposed thereabout. The mandrel has a head portion threadedly connected thereto. A shoulder in the head portion and an upper end of the mandrel define an annular space. A sleeve with a bore therethrough may be positioned in the annular space. The head portion may be removed and a solid plug installed so that it fits within the annular space and so that the downhole tool will act as a bridge plug. The downhole tool has slip rings made up of a plurality of individual slip segments that are adhesively bonded to one another at the sides thereof.

Abstract: A downhole tool has a mandrel with a sealing element disposed thereabout. The sealing element is movable from an unset position to a set position in which the sealing element engages the well. Extrusion limiters are positioned at the ends of the sealing element. The extrusion limiters have first and second layers and the first and second layers are different materials. The second layer may be made up of a plurality of discs. At least one of the discs may be a disc with an irregularly shaped outer peripheral edge and a generally circular inner peripheral edge. A plurality of the discs with the irregularly shaped outer edge may be stacked and may be stacked with a generally circular or ring-shaped segmented disc. The first and second layers are stacked and then molded into a final shape for placement at the ends of the sealing element.

Abstract: A downhole tool has a mandrel with a sealing element disposed thereabout. The sealing element is movable from an unset position to a set position in which the sealing element engages the well. Extrusion limiters are positioned at the ends of the sealing element. The extrusion limiters have first and second layers and the first and second layers are different materials. The second layer may be made up of a plurality of discs. At least one of the discs may be a disc with an irregularly shaped outer peripheral edge and a generally circular inner peripheral edge. A plurality of the discs with the irregularly shaped outer edge may be stacked and may be stacked with a generally circular or ring-shaped segmented disc. The first and second layers are stacked and then molded into a final shape for placement at the ends of the sealing element.

Abstract: A downhole tool for use in a well has a mandrel with an expandable sealing element disposed thereabout. The mandrel has a head portion threadedly connected thereto. A shoulder in the head portion and an upper end of the mandrel define an annular space. A sleeve with a bore therethrough may be positioned in the annular space. The head portion may be removed and a solid plug installed so that it fits within the annular space and so that the downhole tool will act as a bridge plug. The downhole tool has slip rings made up of a plurality of individual slip segments that are adhesively bonded to one another at the sides thereof.

Abstract: A zonal isolation device comprises a packer assembly and an internal setting mechanism operable to actuate the packer assembly from an unset position to a set position, wherein the zonal isolation device is resettable and retrievable. Another zonal isolation device comprises a packer assembly, a setting mechanism operable to actuate the packer assembly from an unset position to a set position in response to hydraulic pressure alone, and a locking mechanism operable to lock and unlock the packer assembly from the set position in response to hydraulic pressure alone. A method for setting a zonal isolation device within a well bore comprises running the zonal isolation device in an unset position within the well bore on a work string, applying a differential pressure between the work string and the well bore, and actuating the zonal isolation device to a set position in response to the differential pressure alone.

Abstract: A zonal isolation device comprises a packer assembly and an internal setting mechanism operable to actuate the packer assembly from an unset position to a set position, wherein the zonal isolation device is resettable and retrievable. Another zonal isolation device comprises a packer assembly, a setting mechanism operable to actuate the packer assembly from an unset position to a set position in response to hydraulic pressure alone, and a locking mechanism operable to lock and unlock the packer assembly from the set position in response to hydraulic pressure alone. A method for setting a zonal isolation device within a well bore comprises running the zonal isolation device in an unset position within the well bore on a work string, applying a differential pressure between the work string and the well bore, and actuating the zonal isolation device to a set position in response to the differential pressure alone.