Apparatus, method and packer for packing or anchoring within an outer tubular

An apparatus(16) that is for packing or anchoring of a pipe string(14) relative to an outer tubular(12) through which it has been run. The apparatus(16) has a mandrel (40) about which is a radially expandable sleeve (20) with at least one radially expandable ring (88) disposed about the sleeve (20). When the apparatus is at the required depth in wellbore (10), the sleeve (20) is expanded radially outward until rings (88) are forced into inside surface (18) of the outer tubular (12). The sleeve may be expanded by various methods such as inflation or using a tapered cylinder. The rings(88) may comprise at least one seal ring (90 fig 3) for metal-to-metal sealing of the annulus, at least one slip ring seal rig (102 fig 7) for metal-to-metal sealing of the annulus and anchoring, and/or at least one split ring(112 fig 10) or segmented ring(114 fig 11) for anchoring. The rings (88) are distinct separate pieces from the sleeve(20) to allow the amount and type of rings (88) to be varied for each application. The rings (88) are placed around the sleeve(20) in such a way so there is little material deformation of the rings (88) when they are expanded.