Tool release device

Abstract

An apparatus that includes a material that holds a release section in an engaged position. The apparatus also includes a heat source to change the phase of the material, allowing the release section to move to a disengaged position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a material;   a release section held in an engaged position by the material; and   a heat source to change the phase of the material, allowing the release section to move to a disengaged position.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 a housing with an inner surface having one or more notches configured to operatively receive a portion of the release section when the release section is in an engaged position.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cable feed through formed through the release section and the material. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the release section is a collet with collet figures, and wherein the material is located between the collet fingers in compression. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the release section comprises, a notch section formed in a lower housing, and wherein the notch section in the lower housing is aligned with a notch section formed in the upper housing, and wherein the material is located in the notch sections, thereby, preventing the housing from moving relative to one another when the material is in a first phase. 
     
     
         6 . A downhole system comprising:
 an apparatus, wherein the apparatus has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is held fixed relative to the second portion when a material is in a first phase, and wherein the first portion is free to move relative to the second portion when the material is in a second phase; and   a heat source configured to be selectively actuated to change the material from the first phase to the second phase.   
     
     
         7 . The downhole system of  claim 6 , wherein a port is in fluid communication with the material and an exterior of the apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole system of  claim 6 , wherein the heat source is a chemical heat source. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole system of  claim 8 , wherein the chemical heat source is activated by an initiator. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole system of  claim 6 , wherein the heat source is an electric heater. 
     
     
         11 . A method of releasing a portion of a toolstring from another portion of the toolstring, wherein the method comprises:
 conveying a toolstring into a wellbore;   sending an actuation signal to the toolstring, actuating a heat source; and   melting a material, thereby allowing one portion of the toolstring to move relative to another portion of the toolstring.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the allowing one portion of the toolstring to move relative to another portion of the toolstring comprises moving a upper housing relative to a lower housing after the material is melted. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the allowing one portion of the toolstring relative to another portion of the toolstring, comprises collet fingers disengaging from notches formed in an inner diameter of a housing.