Patent ID: 7748465

Claim:
A release device for releasing a portion of a well production string below a subsurface safety valve installed in the well production string, the device comprising: a hollow housing having an upper portion and a lower portion fitted at least in part within the upper portion; a means for connecting said housing below the subsurface safety valve in line with the production string; a seal assembly mounted in the upper portion of said housing; a locking means positioned in the upper portion of said housing for releasably locking the lower portion of the housing to the upper portion of the housing, said locking means comprising a latching assembly releasably engaging the lower portion and a locking assembly for retaining said latching assembly in a normally locked position with said lower portion, wherein said locking assembly comprises a transverse plate mounted for slidable movement in the upper portion, said transverse plate allowing the seal assembly to extend therethrough, and wherein said latching assembly comprises a ring-shaped body, a plurality of legs extending downwardly from said ring-shaped body, each of said legs carrying a latching member; a means for securing the lower portion of the housing to the production string below said upper portion; a first opening formed in the upper portion of the housing for communication with a source of power above said subsurface safety valve for retaining said locking means in a locked position; a second opening formed in the upper portion of the housing for communication with a source of power above said subsurface safety valve for releasing said locking means and allowing the portion of the production string above the subsurface safety valve to be removed from a well bore, while retaining the lower portion in the well bore.