Patent classifications
G01V5/107
Wellbore detector with azimuthal and spectral energy resolution
A wellbore inspection device includes a radiation generation source operable to emit neutrons, and a radiation detector fixed relative to the radiation generation source and operable to detect backscattered neutron radiation from a surrounding environment. The radiation detector includes a plurality of individually addressable detector elements arranged in one or more concentric rings. Respective amounts of backscattered neutron radiation detected by the individually addressable detector elements within a ring is indicative of the azimuthal direction of the detected backscattered neutron radiation, and the respective amount of backscattered neutron radiation detected by the individually addressable detector elements of two or more concentric rings is indicative of an energy level of the backscattered neutron radiation. The inspection device determines whether a potential anomaly is present in or around the wellbore, based at least in part on the respective amounts of backscattered radiation detected by the individually addressable detector elements.
PSEUDOGAS NEUTRON DETECTOR
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a system for detecting neutrons with a housing, a gas chamber at least partially defined by the housing, an anode extending through at least a portion of the gas chamber, and a pseudogas arranged within the gas chamber. The pseudogas comprises a mixture of gas and suspended solid particles that contain an element with a high cross-section for thermal neutron capture.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DOWNHOLE LOGGING WITH ENHANCED SENSITIVITY AND AZIMUTHAL RESOLUTION
A downhole logging tool includes a radiation generation source operable to emit radiation into a formation surrounding the tool, a radiation detector fixed relative to the radiation generation source and operable to detect backscattered radiation from the formation surrounding the tool, and a sleeve positioned around the radiation detector to shield the radiation detector from a first portion of the backscattered radiation. The sleeve includes at least one aperture for exposing the radiation detector to a second portion of the backscattered radiation, in which the second portion of the backscattered radiation emanates from an inspected region of the formation facing the at least one aperture. A signal measured at the radiation detector corresponds to the inspected region of the formation, and the position of the at least one aperture is changeable with respect to the formation to distinctly inspect different regions of the formation.
METHOD FOR USING NEUTRON INTERACTION CROSS SECTION TO INTERPRET NEUTRON MEASUREMENTS
A method for determining a fractional volume of at least one component of a formation includes entering into a computer a number of detected radiation events resulting from imparting neutrons into the formation at an energy level of at least 1 million electron volts (MeV). The detected radiation events correspond to at least one of an energy level of the imparted neutrons and thermal or epithermal energy neutrons. A measurement of at least one additional petrophysical parameter of the formation is made. The at least one additional petrophysical parameter measurement and at least one of a fast neutron cross-section and a thermal neutron cross-section determined from the detected radiation events are used in the computer to determine the fractional volume of the at least one component of the formation. In another embodiment, the fast neutron cross-section and the thermal neutron cross-section may be used on combination to determine the fractional volume.
PULSED NEUTRON AZIMUTHAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a downhole inspection system including a neutron generation unit operable to emit neutrons toward a target in a wellbore. The system also includes a neutron detection unit fixed relative to the neutron generator and operable to detect thermal neutrons from the target. The system includes a shielding arrangement forming at least a portion of the neutron detection unit, the shielding arrangement blocking at least a portion of the thermal neutrons, from penetrating beyond a predetermined radial location within the neutron detection unit.
ROTATING SPECTRAL DENSITY TOOL FOR BEHIND PIPE EVALUATION
A method includes introducing a tool string into a wellbore having material disposed in an annular region surrounding the casing. Obtaining acoustic refracted waveform measurements of the material from a cement bond logging tool, obtaining ultrasonic measurements of the material from a circumferential acoustic scanning tool, obtaining gamma radiation measurements scattered from the material from a circumferential spectral density logging (RSDX) tool by emitting gamma radiation from a radioactive source in a rotating portion of the RSDX and detecting scattered gamma radiation using near and far spectral density detectors, and obtaining thermal neutron radiation measurements scattered from the material from a dual spaced neutron logging tool. A computer obtains measurements and generates a deliverable that includes one or more cross plots that identify a compositional equivalent of the material in an entire circumference of the wellbore.
Long-lifetime, high-yield, fast neutrons source
A neutron generator includes a gas control interface and a vacuum chamber coupled to the gas control interface. The neutron generator also includes a target rod disposed within the vacuum chamber and having a longitudinal axis aligned with a central axis of the vacuum chamber, and further including a target disposed on a surface of the target rod facing the getter. The neutron generator also includes a planar ion source adjacent to the gas control interface and disposed between the target and the gas control interface. The planar ion source includes an array grid that is offset from the target and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the target rod.
Pseudogas neutron detector
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a system for detecting neutrons with a housing, a gas chamber at least partially defined by the housing, an anode extending through at least a portion of the gas chamber, and a pseudogas arranged within the gas chamber. The pseudogas comprises a mixture of gas and suspended solid particles that contain an element with a high cross-section for thermal neutron capture.
Method for using neutron interaction cross section to interpret neutron measurements
A method for determining a fractional volume of at least one component of a formation includes entering into a computer a number of detected radiation events resulting from imparting neutrons into the formation at an energy level of at least 1 million electron volts (MeV). The detected radiation events correspond to at least one of an energy level of the imparted neutrons and thermal or epithermal energy neutrons. A measurement of at least one additional petrophysical parameter of the formation is made. The at least one additional petrophysical parameter measurement and at least one of a fast neutron cross-section and a thermal neutron cross-section determined from the detected radiation events are used in the computer to determine the fractional volume of the at least one component of the formation. In another embodiment, the fast neutron cross-section and the thermal neutron cross-section may be used on combination to determine the fractional volume.
Neutron porosity log casing thickness corrections
Methods, systems, and computer program products for correcting cased hole neutron porosity logs provide a residual correction that substantially accounts for potential coupling between casing thickness and other environmental parameters. The residual correction may be used to derive a casing thickness response function that is customized for the particular well under consideration. The customized casing thickness response function may then be used to adjust cased hole neutron porosity logs for the well in a manner that more accurately accounts for potential coupling of the effects of casing thickness and other environmental parameters, in contrast to existing solutions that tend to ignore such potential coupling.