Patent ID: 6435096
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: E21B,E21C,F42B,F42D

Abstract:
A device for fracturing a hard material, the device being placed in a hole in the hard material, the device comprising:an energetic substance; and an elongate member for stemming the hole in the material and for impending the escape of high pressure gases, released by the energetic substance, from the hole; wherein the elongated member is positioned in the hole and the energetic substance is positioned in a bottom portion of the hole and adjacent to the downhole end of the elongated member and wherein the energetic substance is contained in a cartridge and the cartridge includes a cartridge base and an outer cartridge housing attached to the cartridge base, the outer cartridge housing including a nose portion, the cartridge base and nose portion being located at opposite ends of the cartridge, the energetic substance being in contact with the nose portion and decoupled from the elongated member, wherein, when the cartridge is placed in contact with a surface of the hole, the energetic substance is coupled with the surface of the hole.