Abstract: For use in a perforating gun assembly, a perforating gun detonator is disclosed. One embodiment is hermetically sealed while the other has openings therein to admit well fluids. In both embodiments, a narrow conductive metal foil is provided with a current to vaporize the narrow foil, explode the foil and propel a flyer driven by a shock wave for detonation of a spaced secondary explosive. The explosive then couples explosion into a detonating cord against a shoulder in a housing adjacent to the secondary explosive. The current is formed by means of an AC voltage multiplier circuit providing a charge on a capacitor which is discharged through a spark gap. Charging circuitry includes a blocking capacitor to prevent DC and a resistor for bleeding a small current from the capacitor to ground which prevents static or stray current accumulation.

Abstract: In an exposed perforating gun assembly, contact with well fluids at high pressure and temperature is detrimental to explosives in the explosive train. This device protects such explosives and includes a cylindrical housing with a bore having an electrical feedthrough at one end, an enclosed initiator, a cooperative sleeve and cooperative sealed retainer. The detonating cord is sealed into proximity with the initiator and is held against high pressure extrusion by the sealed retainer.