Independent of the tubing and may be run on
tubing or on wireline
Tubing can be released from the packer and can
be pulled, leaving the packer set in the casing
Packer may be considered as an integral part of
casing
Cannot be recovered as such, but can be
destructively removed (e.g., by milling)
Can be set using an electrical wireline setting
tool, hydraulic setting tool or mechanical setting