An integrated nuclear sensor includes a scintillator connected directly to the photocathode of a photomultiplier tube. The scintillator may be thermally fused to the photocathode. The scintillator can be supported within a scintillator housing by a potting layer that is formed from an elastomer. The scintillator can include a reflector or a reflective coating applied to the outside surface of the scintillator. The reflective coating can be a vapor deposition coating applied to the scintillator.

An integrated nuclear sensor includes a scintillator connected directly to the photocathode of a photomultiplier tube. The scintillator may be thermally fused to the photocathode. The scintillator can be supported within a scintillator housing by a potting layer that is formed from an elastomer. The scintillator can include a reflector or a reflective coating applied to the outside surface of the scintillator. The reflective coating can be a vapor deposition coating applied to the scintillator.

A radiation logging tool is provided that includes a scintillator detector for use on a wellbore tool string to characterize earth formations. The scintillator detector has a shutter to allow for the collection of data differentiating between incident radiation, such as backscatter signal, and system noise, such as dark current, vibration noise, electronics thermal noise, and electrostatic noise. The radiation logging tool provides for a method of calibrating and measuring incident radiation by the removal of system noise. The shutter is positioned between the photosensor and scintillation member of the scintillator detector, and is able to switch between open and closed states while the scintillation detector is deployed. Measurements of signal noise can be used to calibrate the sampling signal of incident radiation on the scintillator detector.

A radiation logging tool is provided that includes a scintillator detector for use on a wellbore tool string to characterize earth formations. The scintillator detector has a shutter to allow for the collection of data differentiating between incident radiation, such as backscatter signal, and system noise, such as dark current, vibration noise, electronics thermal noise, and electrostatic noise. The radiation logging tool provides for a method of calibrating and measuring incident radiation by the removal of system noise. The shutter is positioned between the photosensor and scintillation member of the scintillator detector, and is able to switch between open and closed states while the scintillation detector is deployed. Measurements of signal noise can be used to calibrate the sampling signal of incident radiation on the scintillator detector.

A method of creating three-dimensional borehole data is provided, including illuminating a borehole using collimated beams of electromagnetic radiation; rotating the collimated beams in a sweep of at least 360 degrees; detecting backscattered electromagnetic radiation returned from surfaces of associated illumination planes using electromagnetic radiation sensors; converting detected radiation into a corresponding set of volume image data; analyzing the volume image data using computational visualization processing techniques; and creating a three-dimensional image representative of the volume data. Imaging methodologies include a complete, radial conic-shaped surface while the imaging system remains stationary; a plurality of scans performed while longitudinally moving the imaging system a distance d through the borehole between image capture operations; and a plurality of scans performed while longitudinally moving the imaging system a distance d, where d is a distance less than or equal to the collimated beam thickness, so that adjacent scans partially overlap.

A method of creating three-dimensional borehole data is provided, including illuminating a borehole using collimated beams of electromagnetic radiation; rotating the collimated beams in a sweep of at least 360 degrees; detecting backscattered electromagnetic radiation returned from surfaces of associated illumination planes using electromagnetic radiation sensors; converting detected radiation into a corresponding set of volume image data; analyzing the volume image data using computational visualization processing techniques; and creating a three-dimensional image representative of the volume data. Imaging methodologies include a complete, radial conic-shaped surface while the imaging system remains stationary; a plurality of scans performed while longitudinally moving the imaging system a distance d through the borehole between image capture operations; and a plurality of scans performed while longitudinally moving the imaging system a distance d, where d is a distance less than or equal to the collimated beam thickness, so that adjacent scans partially overlap.

Method and apparatus for downhole photon imaging. The downhole photon imaging apparatus includes a photon source that emits photons; a scintillation device that generates a light signal in response to received photons; a light sensing device coupled with the scintillation device for generating an electronic signal in response to a received light signal; and a collimator coupled with the scintillation device which has a design that allows photons with single Compton backscattering and backscattered at a pre-determined backscattering angle to be detected by the scintillation device.

Method and apparatus for downhole photon imaging. The downhole photon imaging apparatus includes a photon source that emits photons; a scintillation device that generates a light signal in response to received photons; a light sensing device coupled with the scintillation device for generating an electronic signal in response to a received light signal; and a collimator coupled with the scintillation device which has a design that allows photons with single Compton backscattering and backscattered at a pre-determined backscattering angle to be detected by the scintillation device.

A sensor of a multiphase flow meter is operated to determine a physical property attributable to multiphase fluid flow in a conduit of the multiphase flow meter. A stationarity of the multiphase fluid flow is determined based on the determined physical property in actual conditions compared to expected noise of the sensor in stationary flow conditions. A flow model variable is selected from a plurality of flow model variables based on a gas content of the multiphase fluid flow and the determined stationarity. The multiphase fluid flow is then modeled by adjusting the selected flow model variable.

A sensor of a multiphase flow meter is operated to determine a physical property attributable to multiphase fluid flow in a conduit of the multiphase flow meter. A stationarity of the multiphase fluid flow is determined based on the determined physical property in actual conditions compared to expected noise of the sensor in stationary flow conditions. A flow model variable is selected from a plurality of flow model variables based on a gas content of the multiphase fluid flow and the determined stationarity. The multiphase fluid flow is then modeled by adjusting the selected flow model variable.