SYSTEM FOR FRACTURING AN UNDERGROUND GEOLOGIC FORMATION

• Main Authors: SEITZ, GERALD, J, TAPPAN, BRYCE, C, MACE, JONATHAN, L, BRONISZ, LAWRENCE, E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 19.08.2015
• Subjects: AMMUNITION; AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR; BLASTING; CHEMISTRY; COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES; EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION; EXPLOSIVES; EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; EXTINGUISHING-DEVICES; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEATING; IGNITION; LIGHTING; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; MATCHES; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; METALLURGY; MINING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES; WEAPONS

Detonation control modules and detonation control circuits are provided herein. A trigger input signal can cause a detonation control module to trigger a detonator. A detonation control module can include a timing circuit, a light-producing diode such as a laser diode, an optically triggered diode, and a high-voltage capacitor. The trigger input signal can activate the timing circuit. The timing circuit can control activation of the light-producing diode. Activation of the light-producing diode illuminates and activates the optically triggered diode. The optically triggered diode can be coupled between the high-voltage capacitor and the detonator. Activation of the optically triggered diode causes a power pulse to be released from the high-voltage capacitor that triggers the detonator.