Patent ID: 8291989

Claim:
A method of utilizing an opposed-slip type downhole tool in a subterranean wellbore having a casing, the method comprising the steps of: positioning the tool in a subterranean wellbore, the tool having an upper slip assembly and a lower slip assembly positioned on opposite sides of a sealing assembly, the sealing assembly having at least one compressible, annular sealing element; setting the tool in the wellbore by radially expanding the slip assemblies into gripping engagement with the casing, and by longitudinally compressing and radially expanding the sealing element into sealing engagement with the casing; unsetting the tool in the wellbore by doing the following steps, in the order presented: a. first, disengaging the sealing element from the casing by relaxing the compression forces on the sealing element; and then b. second, disengaging one of the slip assemblies from the casing such that the slip assembly is no longer in gripping engagement with the casing; and retrieving the tool from the wellbore.