Apparatus and method for use in detonating a pipe-conveyed perforating gun

An apparatus for detonating an explosive using a triggering device housed in a carrier located in a bore hole, comprising:

• a first coupling member, said first coupling member being made of a non-ferromagnetic material, said first coupling member being free of shielding that protects against high frequency electrical fields;
• secondary conducting means being coiled about portions of said first coupling member;
• first electrical connecting means associated with said first coupling member, said first electrical connecting means adapted to be connected to the carrier containing the explosive, said first electrical connecting means electrically connecting said secondary conducting means to the triggering device and the explosive located in the carrier;
• a second coupling member, said second coupling member being made of a non-ferromagnetic material, said second coupling member being free of shielding that protects against high frequency electrical fields;
• primary conducting means being coiled about portions of said second coupling member, both said first coupling member and said second coupling member being apart from, but removably joined to, the carrier housing the explosive and the triggering device, said primary conducting means being located inwardly relative to said secondary conducting means, said inwardly disposed primary conducting means used in inductively exciting said secondary conducting means;
• and
• second electrical connecting means associated with said second coupling member, said second electrical connecting means adapted to be connected to means used in moving said second coupling member, said second electrical connecting means electrically connecting said primary conducting means and a source of electrical energy, said second electrical connecting means extending from the source of power down the bore hole to said primary conducting means;
• said first coupling member and said second coupling member being separately positioned in the bore hole and being matingly engageable, said primary conducting means and said secondary conducting means providing a path for electrical energy from the source of electrical energy for detonating the explosive wherein electrical energy is supplied from the source of electrical energy to said primary conducting means using said second electrical connecting means, said primary conducting means inductively coupling electrical energy to said secondary conducting means for detonating the explosive using the triggering device after and first coupling member and said second coupling member are matingly engaged.