A method of dewatering a hydrocarbon storage tank carrying a first fluid layer that includes a first hydrogen concentration and a second fluid layer that includes a second hydrogen concentration includes receiving, from a sensor and by a processor communicatively coupled to the sensor, a value representing an amount of backscattered neutrons sensed by the sensor. The sensor is attached to a surface of a wall of the tank adjacent a fluid outlet of the storage tank. The sensor is configured to sense neutrons backscattered from the first fluid layer and an interface layer. The method includes comparing, by the processor, the value to a threshold, and actuating, by the processor, a valve fluidically coupled to the outlet of the storage tank to drain the first fluid layer from the storage tank while preventing the interface layer from leaving the storage tank.

The invention is direct to a method and an apparatus for the bulk determination of scrap metal content, said method comprising the steps of providing a scrap metal input; preparing said input for submission to a bulk scanning apparatus; scanning at least part of the scrap metal with a bulk scanning apparatus to determine the composition of the scrap metal; and securing said scrap metal from the step of providing the scrap metal input to the step of scanning at least part of the scrap metal. Said apparatus comprises a scanning container together with a low-intensity neutron scattering device, a laser cutting device and/or magnetic sensing device.

The invention is direct to a method and an apparatus for the bulk determination of scrap metal content, said method comprising the steps of providing a scrap metal input; preparing said input for submission to a bulk scanning apparatus; scanning at least part of the scrap metal with a bulk scanning apparatus to determine the composition of the scrap metal; and securing said scrap metal from the step of providing the scrap metal input to the step of scanning at least part of the scrap metal. Said apparatus comprises a scanning container together with a low-intensity neutron scattering device, a laser cutting device and/or magnetic sensing device.

A borehole fracture evaluation tool for imaging radiation emitted by radioactive materials injected into the formation during hydraulic fracturing operations, the tool including at least one collimated imaging detector used to record x-ray backscatter images; sonde-dependent electronics; and a plurality of tool logic electronics and power supply units. A method for fracture evaluation imaging, the method including at least injecting radioactive tracer materials into the formation fractures; controlling the imaging direction of an imaging array detector; imaging the fracture structures; creating a composite image of the fractures versus the formation; and determining the size and position of the fractures.

A borehole fracture evaluation tool for imaging radiation emitted by radioactive materials injected into the formation during hydraulic fracturing operations, the tool including at least one collimated imaging detector used to record x-ray backscatter images; sonde-dependent electronics; and a plurality of tool logic electronics and power supply units. A method for fracture evaluation imaging, the method including at least injecting radioactive tracer materials into the formation fractures; controlling the imaging direction of an imaging array detector; imaging the fracture structures; creating a composite image of the fractures versus the formation; and determining the size and position of the fractures.

A system (100) for producing analysis data indicative of presence of one or more predetermined components in a sample (110) is presented. The system includes source equipment (120) for directing a particle stream (130) towards the sample (110), detector equipment (140) for measuring a distribution of particles scattered from the sample (110) as a function of a scattering angle (), and processing equipment (170) for producing the analysis data based on the measured distribution of the scattered particles and on reference information indicative of an effect of the one or more predetermined components on the distribution of the scattered particles. The scattering angle related to each scattered particle is an angle between an arrival direction of the particle stream and a trajectory (160) of the scattered particle. The system utilizes different directional properties of scattering related to different isotopes, different chemical substances, and different isomers.

An apparatus for cosmogenic neutron sensing to detect moisture includes a thermal neutron proportional counter. A housing is formed at least partially from a moderating material, which is positioned around the thermal neutron proportional counter. A proportional counter electronics unit is within the housing and has a preamplifier and a shaping amplifier. The preamplifier and shaping amplifier are directly connected to the thermal neutron proportional counter. At least one photovoltaic panel provides electrical power to the thermal neutron proportional counter. A data logger is positioned vertically above the thermal neutron proportional counter and proportional counter electronics unit. A signal from the thermal neutron proportional counter is transmitted through the proportional counter electronics unit and is received by the data logger. The signal indicates a moisture content within a measurement surface of the thermal neutron proportional counter.

An apparatus for cosmogenic neutron sensing to detect moisture includes a thermal neutron proportional counter. A housing is formed at least partially from a moderating material, which is positioned around the thermal neutron proportional counter. A proportional counter electronics unit is within the housing and has a preamplifier and a shaping amplifier. The preamplifier and shaping amplifier are directly connected to the thermal neutron proportional counter. At least one photovoltaic panel provides electrical power to the thermal neutron proportional counter. A data logger is positioned vertically above the thermal neutron proportional counter and proportional counter electronics unit. A signal from the thermal neutron proportional counter is transmitted through the proportional counter electronics unit and is received by the data logger. The signal indicates a moisture content within a measurement surface of the thermal neutron proportional counter.

An apparatus for inspection of a target asset comprises a drone including a body, one or more propellers coupled to the body that enable the drone to fly, and an electronic control unit coupled to or positioned within the body of the drone and coupled to the one or more propellers. The apparatus also comprises a neutron emission source and a neutron detector that are both coupled to the body of the drone and also communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to control navigation of the drone to reach the target asset, to activate the neutron emission source to radiate neutrons onto the asset and to gather data from the neutron detector which detects neutrons backscattered from the asset, indicative of a state of the asset and materials contained within the asset.

An apparatus for inspection of a target asset comprises a drone including a body, one or more propellers coupled to the body that enable the drone to fly, and an electronic control unit coupled to or positioned within the body of the drone and coupled to the one or more propellers. The apparatus also comprises a neutron emission source and a neutron detector that are both coupled to the body of the drone and also communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to control navigation of the drone to reach the target asset, to activate the neutron emission source to radiate neutrons onto the asset and to gather data from the neutron detector which detects neutrons backscattered from the asset, indicative of a state of the asset and materials contained within the asset.