Igniter for Downhole Use Having Flame Control

摘要

An igniter initiates combustion in an amount of explosive that is downhole and adjacent the igniter. The igniter includes an amount of combustible material and a resistive igniter element disposed on a side of the combustible material that faces the amount of explosive. Applying a designated amount of electricity to the resistive igniter element generates sufficient heat to ignite the combustible material. Strategically initiating ignition adjacent the amount of explosive generates a flame front that travels away from the explosive, which in turn directs a flame against the explosive substantially the entire time the combustible material burns.

主权项

1. An igniter for igniting an explosive downhole comprising:
a housing having an opening proximate the explosive; a pyrotechnic material in the housing; an igniter assembly in the opening and that is in thermal contact with the pyrotechnic material, so that when the igniter element is heated to a temperature that initiates combustion of the combustible material, a flame is generated in the housing which is directed to the explosive and that ignites the explosive.