Patent ID: 6962206

Claim:
A packer for downhole sealing operations, comprising: a tubular body having an outer, substantially cylindrical, surface which defines an outer diameter of the tubular body, the tubular body comprising: a pair of annular portions each having a radial dimension and each forming a separate actuator-contact surface at an inner diameter and a pair of annular non-elastomeric sealing surfaces which form a part of the outer surface; and a seal-carrying portion disposed between the non-elastomeric sealing surfaces and having an outer seal-carrying surface which forms a part of the outer cylindrical surface of the tubular body; and wherein a void is formed between an inner surface of the seal-carrying portion and the annular members, wherein the body is adapted to be placed in a sealed position, from an unsealed position, upon application of a force to the actuator-contact surfaces, thereby causing deformation of the seal-carrying portion into the void at least until the pair of non-elastomeric sealing surfaces make contact with a wellbore tubular surface; and an elastomeric sealing element disposed on the seal-carrying portion.