Packing element having a bonded petal anti-extrusion device

1. A packing system for use in a wellbore comprising:

a plugging tool configured to carry a packing element;

at least one first anti-extrusion assembly having petals, wherein the at least one first anti-extrusion assembly is coupled to the plugging tool;

a packing element carried by the plugging tool and configured to expand radially to seal the wellbore;

at least one second anti-extrusion assembly having petals with gaps therebetween, wherein the second anti-extrusion assembly is coupled to the packing element;

wherein the at least one first anti-extrusion assembly and the at least one second anti-extrusion assembly are not directly coupled, but are aligned so that at least one of the petals on the at least one first anti-extrusion assembly extends over at least one gap in the at least one second anti-extrusion assembly; and

wherein at least one of the first and second anti-extrusion assemblies further comprises an aligning structure comprising a physical structure comprising a locating tang to align the anti-extrusion assemblies.

2. The packing system of claim 1 , wherein the packing element comprising an elastomeric material.

3. The packing system of claim 2 , wherein the elastomeric packing element comprises at least one of rubber, plastic, nitriles, hydrogenated nitriles, fluoroelastomers, and poly(p-phenylene sulfide).

4. The packing system of claim 3 , wherein the fluoroelastomers are chosen from at least one of vinylidene fluorides, tetrafluoroethylenes, polytetrafluoroethylenes, and perfluoroelastomers.

5. The packing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first and the at least one second anti-extrusion assemblies are configured to be both protracted and retracted.

6. The packing system of claim 1 , wherein the petals on one of the at least one first or second anti-extrusion assembly petals abut the locating tang to align the least one of the petals on the first anti-extrusion assembly extends over at least one gap in the second anti-extrusion assembly.

7. The packing system of claim 1 , wherein the plugging tool is chosen from a bridge plug, a permanent or retrievable tension packer, a retrievable or permanent compression packer, a retrievable hydraulic-set packer, a single string packer, or a dual string packer.

8. The packing system of claim 1 , wherein the second anti-extrusion assembly is coupled to the packing element by adhesive bonding.

9. A method for limiting the vertical expansion of a packing element while sealing an annulus in a hydrocarbon wellbore, the method comprising:

providing a plugging tool coupled to at least one first anti-extrusion assembly having gaps and petals;

providing an elastomeric packing element coupled to at least one second anti-extrusion assembly having gaps and petals;

aligning the at least one first anti-extrusion assembly and the at least one second anti-extrusion assembly so that at least one of the petals on the at least one first anti-extrusion assembly extends over at least one gap in the at least one second anti-extrusion assembly without interlocking by rotating either the element or the tool until at least one petal abuts a locating tang;

deploying the plugging tool into the wellbore; and

deforming the elastomeric packing element to provide a seal in the annulus.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the elastomeric packing element is deformed by subjecting the packing element to pressure, by placing the packing element into contact with a hydrocarbon swelling fluid to expand the element or, by inflating the packing element using an appropriate liquid or gas medium.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the elastomeric packing element comprises at least one of rubber, plastic, nitriles, hydrogenated nitriles, fluoroelastomers, and poly(p-phenylene sulfide).

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the petals of the at least one first and at least one second anti-extrusion assemblies are protracted during the deforming step to extend to the wall of the wellbore.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the petals of the at least one first and at least one second anti-extrusion assemblies are in a retracted position prior to deformation.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second anti-extrusion assembly is coupled to the packing element by adhesive bonding.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the elastomeric packing element is deformed by bringing the element into contact with a swelling fluid.