Zero extrusion gap barrier device used on packing elements

A wellbore isolation system, comprising:

• a power unit having a connector at an upper end thereof for coupling the power unit to a wellbore conveyance;
• a mandrel defining a longitudinal axis and operably coupled a lower end of the power unit;
• the mandrel operable to receive an axial force from the power unit and to impart the axial force to a body defining a shoulder thereon;
• a segmented barrier device having an abutment surface defined on a plurality of circumferentially overlapping segments, the segments defining a continuous and complete circular profile around the mandrel;
• and
• a sealing element disposed about the mandrel and axially between the segmented barrier device and the body, the sealing element having a first compression surface in contact with the abutment surface of the segmented barrier device and a second compression surface in contact with the shoulder of the body, the sealing element deformable to expand radially outward in response to the axial force applied between the compression surfaces and to drive the segments of the segmented barrier device radially outward;
• a housing defining an axial support surface thereon, the axial support surface engaging the segmented barrier device on an axial surface of each of the segments opposite the abutment surface, wherein each segment of the segmented barrier device is pivotally coupled to the housing such that each segment pivots radially outward over an outer circumferential edge of the housing in response to the radial expansion of the sealing element;
• and
• a plurality of elongated biasing members coupled between the housing and the plurality of segments, each biasing member extending into a slot defined on the axial surface of a respective segments opposite the abutment surface to bias the respective segment to a radially retracted position with respect to the housing.

A method of deploying and operating a wellbore isolation tool, the method comprising:

• running wellbore isolation tool into a wellbore on a conveyance;
• signaling a power unit carried by the wellbore isolation tool to radially expand a sealing element into engagement with a surrounding structure in the wellbore;
• driving a plurality segments of a segmented barrier device radially outward in response to the radial expansion of the sealing element, the plurality of segments defining a complete circumferential profile, wherein driving the plurality of segments radially outward comprises pivoting the plurality of segments over an outer circumferential edge of the a housing in response to the radial expansion of the sealing element;
• engaging an inner surface of the surrounding structure with the segments to prohibit extrusion of the sealing element past the segmented barrier device;
• and
• biasing the plurality of segments toward a radially retracted position with respect to the housing with a plurality of elongated biasing members coupled between the housing and the plurality of segments, each biasing member extending into a slot defined on an axial surface of the a respective segments opposite the sealing element.