| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 250269400 | Having neutron source and neutron detector | 20 |
| 20090045328 | Thermal Neutron Porosity from Neutron Slowing-Down Length, Formation Thermal Neutron Capture Cross Section, and Bulk Density - A method for determining at least one formation property calculated from neutron measurements acquired with a downhole tool includes emitting neutrons from a source in the tool into the formation, detecting neutrons with at least one detector in the downhole tool, calculating a first slowing-down length (L | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090045329 | Downhole Tools Having Combined D-D and D-T Neutron Generators - A nuclear tool includes a tool housing; a d-D neutron generator disposed in the tool housing; a d-T neutron generator disposed in the tool housing; and, optionally, a control circuit for controlling pulsing of the d-D neutron generator and the d-T neutron generator. A method for well-logging using a nuclear tool includes disposing the nuclear tool in a wellbore penetrating a formation; pulsing a d-D neutron generator to emit neutrons at a first energy level into the formation; pulsing a d-T neutron generator to emit neutrons at a second energy level into the formation; and measuring signals returning from the formation. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090057545 | Downhole Tools with Solid-State Neutron Monitors - A nuclear tool includes a tool housing; a neutron generator disposed in the tool housing; and a solid-state neutron monitor disposed proximate the neutron generator for monitoring the output of the neutron generator. A method for constructing a nuclear tool includes disposing a neutron generator in a tool housing; and disposing a solid-state neutron monitor proximate the neutron generator for monitoring the output of the neutron generator. A method for logging a formation includes disposing a nuclear tool in a wellbore penetrating the formation, wherein the nuclear tool comprises a neutron generator and a solid-state neutron monitor disposed proximate the neutron generator; generating neutrons from the neutron generator; monitoring neutrons generated by the neutron generator using the solid-state neutron monitor; detecting signals generated from the neutrons traveling in the formation; and correcting the detected signals, based on signal strength detected by the solid-state neutron monitor, to produce corrected signals. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090108192 | Tritium-Tritium Neutron Generator Logging Tool - A neutron generator system is provided that uses substantially only the T-T fusion reaction to generate neutrons for a neutron borehole tool. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090146052 | Low Power Neutron Generators - A neutron generator and method of constructing the same. The generator includes a grid configured to produce an ionizable gas when heated by electrons impinging thereon. A cathode emits electrons to heat the grid and to collide with produced ionizable gas atoms to generate ions. Neutrons are generated from a collision of ions impinging on a target in the generator. A tool for subsurface use incorporating the neutron generator. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20100276581 | BOREHOLE NEUTRON GENERATOR WITH UNIQUE ELECTRODE STRUCTURE AND D-D, T-T OR D-T REACTANTS - An apparatus for performing an operation in a borehole penetrating the earth, the apparatus having: a carrier configured for conveyance through the borehole; and a neutron source disposed at the carrier and configured to produce a nuclear fusion reaction that emits a neutron to perform the operation. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20110186722 | Apparatus and Method for Pulsed Neutron Generation Including a High Voltage Power Supply - An apparatus for irradiating an earth formation is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a carrier configured to be disposed in the formation; a neutron tube disposed at the carrier and located on an axis; and a high voltage power source disposed at the carrier and electrically connected to the neutron tube, the high voltage power source being offset from the axis. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110186723 | Apparatus and Method for Pulsed Neutron Generation Including a High Voltage Power Supply - An apparatus for estimating at least one property of an earth formation is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a carrier configured to be disposed in the formation; a neutron tube disposed at the carrier and located on an axis; a high voltage power source disposed in the carrier and electrically connected to the neutron tube, the high voltage power source located remotely from the neutron tube; and at least one detector disposed in the carrier and located proximate to the neutron tube. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110272570 | Method and Apparatus for Neutron Logging Using a Position Sensitive Neutron Detector - A neutron logging tool includes a neutron source and at least one position sensitive thermal or epithermal neutron detector. The logging tool further includes an electronic controller configured to estimate the axial location of detected neutrons. Measurement of the axial neutron flux distribution enables other formation and borehole parameters such as formation porosity and sensor standoff to be computed. In logging while drilling embodiments, a borehole caliper may also be computed form the axial neutron flux distribution. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20120043459 | USING LWT SERVICE TO IDENTIFY LOSS CIRCULATION AREAS IN A WELLBORE - The present disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for evaluating an earth formation though a drillstring during tripping of the drillstring, particularly locating an area of circulation loss in a wellbore. The apparatus may include a neutron source and at least one radiation detector, which may be disposed on a logging instrument, configured to be dropped or pumped into a drillstring at the end of drilling. The logging instrument may be configured to make measurements through a homogenous portion of the drillstring while the drillstring is being tripped. The apparatus may include a memory and processor for logging data for later retrieval. The method may include adding a radiation absorbing substance to drilling fluid in the wellbore; exposing the earth formation to neutron radiation; and making a plurality of measurement indicative of radiation measurements of sigma or distinct energy peaks along the wellbore. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20130068941 | BORON LINER FOR NEUTRON DECTECTORS FOR WELL LOGGING APPLICATIONS - Disclosed is an apparatus for detecting neutrons. The apparatus includes a plurality of neutron detector cells, each detector cell comprising a cathode surrounding an anode wherein the cathode of each cell is common to an adjacent detector cell. A neutron interaction material covers an interior surface of the cathode in each neutron detector cell, the neutron interaction material being configured to emit a charged particle between the cathode and the anode upon interacting with a neutron. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130075600 | NANOSTRUCTURED NEUTRON SENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR WELL LOGGING APPLICATIONS - Disclosed is an apparatus for detecting a neutron. The apparatus includes: a neutron interaction material configured to emit a charged particle upon absorbing a neutron; a plurality of nanoparticles distributed in the neutron interaction material, each nanoparticle in the plurality being configured to scintillate upon interacting with the charged particle to emit a pulse of light; a photodetector coupled to the neutron interaction material and configured to receive the pulse of light and generate a signal based on the received pulse of light; and a processor configured to receive the signal in order to detect the neutron. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130187035 | WELL-LOGGING APPARATUS INCLUDING AZIMUTHALLY SPACED RADIATION DETECTORS - A well-logging device may include a housing to be positioned within a larger borehole of a subterranean formation and thereby define a stand-off distance with respect to the larger borehole. The well-logging device may also include at least one radiation source carried by the housing to direct radiation into the subterranean formation, and radiation detectors carried by the housing in azimuthally spaced relation to detect radiation from the subterranean formation. The well-logging device may further include a controller to cooperate with the radiation detectors to determine at least one property of the subterranean formation corrected for the stand-off distance. | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130206972 | NEUTRON DETECTION BASED ON A BORON SHIELDED GAMMA DETECTOR - A method is provided to detect neutrons using a boron-shielded gamma-ray detector, which will detect the 0.48-MeV prompt gamma ray due to the | 08-15-2013 |
| 20140034823 | NON-RADIOACTIVE TAGGED CEMENT ADDITIVE FOR CEMENT EVALUATION IN A WELL SYSTEM - An inert (non-radioactive) tagging material can be added to cement in a wellbore. The non-radioactive tagging material can emit radiation at a specific energy level when irradiated with radiation. A logging tool containing a radiation source can be introduced into a wellbore and activated to emit radiation. The logging tool can detect the radiation emitted from the non-radioactive tags within the wellbore. Accordingly, integrity of cement, particularly low density cements that have a density close to that of fluid provided to or contained within a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, can be determined from the detected radiation. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140124659 | SCINTILLATOR-BASED NEUTRON DETECTOR FOR OILFIELD APPLICATIONS - Borehole logging tools and systems that include a scintillator positioned to interact with scattered source neutrons that are received from a target formation. The scintillator emits luminescence in response to interaction with the scattered neutrons. The scintillator includes an aluminofluoride host material (e.g., LiCAF). In a specific embodiment, the aluminofluoride host material is doped with europium. In a further specific embodiment, a processor distinguishes scattered neutrons from gamma rays based upon identifying a peak within an output signal from the scintillator. In yet another specific embodiment, a system includes a first scintillator and a second scintillator. The processor subtracts luminescence generated by the second scintillator from luminescence generated by the first scintillator to identify a neutron response of the first scintillator. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20160154141 | NEUTRON TOOL WITH DUAL-PURPOSE DETECTOR | 06-02-2016 |
| 250269500 | Having thermal neutron detector | 3 |
| 20110297818 | NEUTRON-GENERATOR-BASED THERMAL NEUTRON POROSITY DEVICE WITH HIGH POROSITY SENSITIVITY - Systems, methods, and devices for determining porosity with high sensitivity are provided. In one example, a downhole tool with such high porosity sensitivity may include a neutron source, a near neutron detector, and a far neutron detector. The neutron source may emit neutrons into the subterranean formation, which may scatter and be detected by the near and far detectors. The near neutron detector may be disposed near enough to the neutron source to detect a maximum number of neutrons when the porosity of the subterranean formation is greater than 0 p.u. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20140319330 | ELPASOLITE SCINTILLATOR-BASED NEUTRON DETECTOR FOR OILFIELD APPLICATIONS - Embodiments described herein are directed to methods and neutron detectors for use in downhole and other oilfield applications. In particular, the neutron detector includes a scintillator formed at least partially from an elpasolite material. In a more specific embodiment, the scintillator is formed from a Cs | 10-30-2014 |
| 20160003025 | Casing Inspection Using Pulsed Neutron Measurements - A method for evaluating wellbore conduit condition includes using measurements of at least one of (i) inelastic gamma rays made during emission a burst of neutrons into the conduit from within the conduit at at least one spaced apart location from a position of the emission and (ii) epithermal neutrons or capture gamma rays therefrom detected at at least two spaced apart locations from the position of the emission within a selected time after the emission. The at least one of the measurements of inelastic gamma rays and epithermal neutron or capture gamma ray counts are characterized to estimate an amount of loss of iron in the conduit. | 01-07-2016 |
