Borehole resident electronic device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a borehole resident electronic device for use in a blasting operation, the device comprising a container in which is located one or more electronic components, the container having a wall structure comprising a fibre-reinforced composite thermoset resin layer positioned to shield the one or more electronic components from an explosive shockwave generated during the blasting operation and remote from the device, wherein the fibre is in a form selected from unidirectional fibre, woven fibre, wound fibre, nonwoven fibre, and combinations thereof.

1 . A borehole resident electronic device for use in a blasting operation, the device comprising a container in which is located one or more electronic components, the container having a wall structure comprising a fibre-reinforced composite thermoset resin layer positioned to shield the one or more electronic components from an explosive shockwave generated during the blasting operation and remote from the device, wherein the fibre is in a form selected from unidirectional fibre, woven fibre, wound fibre, nonwoven fibre and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The borehole resident electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more voids are located between the fibre-reinforced composite thermoset resin layer and the one or more electronic components. 
     
     
         3 . The borehole resident electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electronic components are coated with or embedded in a polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The borehole resident electronic device according to  claim 1  in the form of an explosives initiator. 
     
     
         5 . The borehole resident electronic device according to  claim 1  in the form of a monitor or communications device. 
     
     
         6 . The borehole resident electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electronic components are configured to communicate wirelessly to a second electronic device remote from the borehole resident electronic device. 
     
     
         7 . The borehole resident electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibre-reinforced composite thermoset resin layer is a fibre wound composite thermoset resin layer. 
     
     
         8 . The borehole resident electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoset resin is selected from epoxy, melamine formaldehyde, polyester, urea formaldehyde, vinyl ester, phenolic, cyanate esters, polyimide, maleimide resins and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The borehole resident electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibre is glass fibre. 
     
     
         10 . The borehole resident electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein thermoset resin layer has a thickness ranging from about 1 mm to about 10 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The borehole resident electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the container includes an antenna or aerial that facilities transmission of an electromagnetic signal to or from the one or more electronic components. 
     
     
         12 . The borehole resident electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein fibre-reinforced composite thermoset resin layer shields at least 80% of surface area defined by the one or more electronic components from the explosive shockwave originating remote from the device. 
     
     
         13 . A method of shielding one or more electronic components of a borehole resident electronic device from an explosive shockwave in a blasting operation, the method comprising deploying the device into a borehole of the blasting operation, wherein the device comprises a container in which is located the one or more electronic components, the container having a wall structure comprising a fibre-reinforced composite thermoset resin layer positioned to shield the one or more electronic components from an explosive shockwave generated during the blasting operation and remote from the device, and wherein the fibre is in a form selected from unidirectional fibre, woven fibre, wound fibre, nonwoven fibre, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the borehole resident electronic device is in the form of an explosives initiator and it is deployed in the borehole with a tertiary explosive. 
     
     
         15 . Use of a borehole resident electronic device in a blasting operation, the device comprising a container in which is located one or more electronic components, the container having a wall structure comprising a fibre-reinforced composite thermoset resin layer positioned to shield the one or more electronic components from an explosive shockwave generated during the blasting operation and remote from the device, wherein the fibre is in a form selected from unidirectional fibre, woven fibre, wound fibre, nonwoven fibre, and combinations thereof.