Compression assembly and method for actuating downhole packing elements

An anti extrusion assembly for actuating packing elements of a through tubing bridge plug in a casing string of a wellbore, the anti extrusion assembly comprising:

• a base member having a plurality of eccentrically extending pins;
• a plurality of petals rotatably mounted to the pins of the base member;
• and
• a plurality of webbing elements each attached to one of the petals;
• wherein the anti extrusion assembly has a running configuration in which the petals are substantially perpendicular to the base member and nested relative to one another and an operating configuration in which the petals are rotated such that the petals and the base member substantially lie in the same plane and in which at least a portion of each webbing element overlaps an adjacent webbing element such that the webbing elements substantially fill gaps between the petals.

A method for actuating packing elements of a bridge plug in a casing string of a wellbore comprising:

• conveying the bridge plug through a tubing string in the wellbore to a target location in the casing string;
• applying a compressive force between a pair of compression assemblies of the bridge plug;
• operating a support assembly of each compression assembly from a running configuration in which link arm assemblies are substantially longitudinally oriented to an operating configuration in which short arms are pivoted relative to long arms of the link arm assemblies to form a support platform;
• operating an anti extrusion assembly of each compression assembly from a running configuration in which petals are substantially perpendicular to a base member and nested relative to one another to an operating configuration in which the petals are radially outwardly disposed substantially filling gaps between the short arms by rotating the petals relative to the base member;
• overlapping at least a portion of a webbing element that is attached to a petal with an adjacent webbing element attached to an adjacent petal to substantially fill gaps between the petals;
• and
• actuating the packing elements into sealing contact with the casing string.

An anti extrusion assembly for actuating packing elements of a through tubing bridge plug in a casing string of a wellbore, the anti extrusion assembly comprising:

• a base member having a plurality of eccentrically extending pins;
• a plurality of petals rotatably mounted to the pins of the base member;
• and
• connecting members coupling adjacent petals together;
• wherein the anti extrusion assembly has a running configuration in which the petals are substantially perpendicular to the base member and nested relative to one another and an operating configuration in which the petals are rotated such that the petals and the base member substantially lie in the same plane and in which the connecting members stabilize the petals.