Patent ID: 7363985

Claim:
A tubing latch for selectively coupling and decoupling upper and lower sections of small diameter tubing suspended within a well bore, said latch being disposed above a subsurface-safety valve through which said lower tubing section passes when coupled to said upper tubing, said tubing latch comprising: a housing formed of a plurality of axially aligned latch elements having an axial bore disposed therethrough for securement of said upper and lower tubing sections therein; an upper housing assembly adapted to secure said upper tubing section; first means slidably coupled into said upper housing for frictionally restraining movement of said upper tubing section; a lower housing assembly adapted to releasably secure said lower tubing section; second means slidably coupled into said lower housing for frictionally restraining movement of said lower tubing section; and mechanical-hydraulic means for urging said slidable coupling of said second means such that mechanical action secures said lower tubing section in a first mode and hydraulic action secures said lower tubing section in a second mode, and wherein said second mode of securement allows said decoupling of said lower tubing section in the event of select hydraulic depressurization to permit said lower tubing section to drop below said subsurface-safety valve.