Radiant energy – Geological testing or irradiation – Well testing apparatus and methods
Patent
1989-03-23
1990-11-27
Howell, Janice A.
Radiant energy
Geological testing or irradiation
Well testing apparatus and methods
25039004, G01V 500
Patent
active
049738399
ABSTRACT:
The nature of hydrogenous fluids filling the pore spaces in formations surrounding a well bore are determined by irradiating the formation with bursts of high energy neutrons and using the ratio of time-dependent parameters related to the decay of epithermal neutron populations above two different energy levels to provide values indicative of the kind of fluid present, independent of porosity. The measurement above the higher of these energy levels, approximately 0.4 eV, indicates the existence of hydrogenous fluid, water and hydrocarbons, in the formations; the lower threshold measurement, above approximately 0.15 eV, is indicative of the structure of the molecule in which the hydrogen molecule is bound and the porosity. A pulsed neutron generator in a sonde irradiates the formations with 14 meV neutrons and a pair of detectors, one shielded by cadmium to establish the 0.4 eV threshold energy level and the other, shielded by gadolinium to establish the 0.15 eV threshold energy level, respond to epithermal neutron populations created by irradiation to provide count rate information. Time related parameters of the count rate information, e.g. the decay constants, provided by each detector are derived. The ratio of the respective parameters is used to identify the type of fluid in the formation, independent of porosity. The method and apparatus can determine water saturation, i.e. percentage of water in the formation fluid and can identify specific types of hydrocarbons under 100% hydrocarbon saturation conditions.
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Hanig Richard
Howell Janice A.
Schlumberger Technology Corporation
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