SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO DIFFERENTIATE ELEMENTS LOCATED AT DIFFERENT DISTANCES USING NEUTRON-INDUCED GAMMA-RAY SPECTROSCOPY AND THE DOPPLER EFFECT

    公开(公告)号:US20190011598A1

    公开(公告)日:2019-01-10

    申请号:US15645153

    申请日:2017-07-10

    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for distinguishing between elements located at different distances from a radiation detector used in neutron-induced gamma-ray spectroscopy using a Doppler effect. A pulsed neutron generator may emit neutrons out of a downhole tool in a geological formation at an energy level high enough to cause inelastic scattering with nuclei of an element to generate gamma-rays. A gamma-ray detector may detect the energy levels of the gamma-rays, in the reference frame of the detector, and data processing circuitry takes the detected spectrum of gamma-rays and distinguishes spectra of gamma-ray energy levels for nuclei of the element located nearer to or farther from the detector based at least in part on the Doppler shift of the energy levels of respective gamma-rays.

    Compensated sigma from measurements made by a pulsed neutron instrument

    公开(公告)号:US09798037B2

    公开(公告)日:2017-10-24

    申请号:US14424396

    申请日:2013-09-05

    CPC classification number: G01V5/108 G01V5/101 G01V5/102 G01V5/105

    Abstract: A method for determining a formation thermal neutron decay rate from measurements of radiation resulting from at least one burst of high energy neutrons into formations surrounding a wellbore includes determining a first apparent neutron decay rate in a time window beginning at a first selected time after an end of the at least one burst, a second apparent decay rate from a time window beginning at a second selected time after the burst and a third apparent decay rate from a third selected time after the burst. The second time is later than the first time. A thermal neutron capture cross section of fluid in the wellbore is determined. A decay rate correction factor is determined based on the first and second apparent decay rates and a parameter indicative of the wellbore capture cross-section. The correction factor is applied to the third apparent decay rate to determine the formation thermal neutron decay rate.

    Method for Using Pulsed Neutron Induced Gamma Ray Measurements to Determine Formation Properties

    公开(公告)号:US20170227671A1

    公开(公告)日:2017-08-10

    申请号:US15016090

    申请日:2016-02-04

    Inventor: Tong Zhou

    CPC classification number: G01V5/102 G01V5/101

    Abstract: A method for determining a petrophysical property of a formation includes detecting gamma rays at two different spaced apart positions from a position of emitting neutrons into the formation at an energy level sufficient to induce inelastic scatting gamma rays. The neutrons are emitted in a plurality of bursts of neutrons into the formation, the bursts each having a first selected duration. Each burst is followed by a wait time having a second selected duration, the gamma rays detected during each of the bursts and each of the wait times. A ratio of numbers of gamma rays detected during the bursts is determined (burst ratio). A ratio of numbers of gamma rays detected during the wait times is determined (capture ratio). The burst ratio is used to correct the capture ratio. The petrophysical property is determined from the corrected capture ratio.

    Compensated spectroscopy measurements

    公开(公告)号:US11073635B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-07-27

    申请号:US16442302

    申请日:2019-06-14

    Abstract: Elemental concentrations in subterranean formations may be determined using neutron spectroscopy. For example, neutrons may be emitted by a downhole tool into the formation and produce gamma rays via inelastic scattering of fast neutrons or capture of slow neutrons. The borehole surrounding a downhole tool may introduce artifacts in the neutron spectroscopy measurement. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to techniques that reduce artifacts signals in downhole tools that include one or multiple detectors based at least in part on the inelastic and capture measurements.

    Method for using neutron interaction cross section to interpret neutron measurements

    公开(公告)号:US10466383B2

    公开(公告)日:2019-11-05

    申请号:US14726050

    申请日:2015-05-29

    Abstract: 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.

    Borehole fluid effect correction for pulsed neutron porosity measurements

    公开(公告)号:US10379253B2

    公开(公告)日:2019-08-13

    申请号:US13895189

    申请日:2013-05-15

    Abstract: A method for determining formation hydrogen index includes using as input to a computer measurements of numbers of burst gamma rays (gamma rays detected during operation of a pulsed neutron source) and numbers of thermal neutron capture gamma rays made at two different axial spacings from the pulsed neutron source. A ratio of the numbers of burst gamma rays and a ratio of the numbers of thermal neutron capture gamma rays is determined. A corrected ratio of the numbers of thermal neutron capture gamma rays using the ratio of numbers of burst gamma rays is determined. The formation hydrogen index is determined from the corrected ratio.

    Borehole fluid and/or casing effect correction for pulsed neutron measurements

    公开(公告)号:US09995842B2

    公开(公告)日:2018-06-12

    申请号:US14726111

    申请日:2015-05-29

    Inventor: Tong Zhou

    CPC classification number: G01V5/102 G01V5/101

    Abstract: A method for determining hydrogen index includes using measurements of gamma rays detected during operation of a pulsed neutron source and numbers of thermal neutron capture gamma rays made at at least two different axial spacings from a pulsed neutron source. Either a first ratio of or a first logarithm of the first ratio of the burst gamma rays is determined for a first and second axial distance from the neutron source. A second logarithm is determined of a second ratio of the thermal neutron capture gamma rays detected at a first axial spacing with respect to the numbers detected at a second axial spacing. A corrected second ratio of the numbers of thermal neutron capture gamma rays is determined using either (i) the first logarithm and (ii) the first ratio, and the second logarithm. The corrected second ratio is used to determine the hydrogen index.

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