Electronic neutron sources for compensated porosity well logging

The viability of replacing Americium–Beryllium (Am–Be) radiological neutron sources in compensated porosity nuclear well logging tools with D–T or D–D accelerator-driven neutron sources is explored. The analysis consisted of developing a model for a typical well-logging borehole configuration and co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment, 2012-08, Vol.684 (C), p.52-56
Main Authors: Chen, A.X., Antolak, A.J., Leung, K.-N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accelerators
Detectors
Electronics
Helium-3
Logging
MATERIALS SCIENCE
MCNP
Neutron generator
Neutron sources
Oil well logging
Porosity
State of the art
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Summary:The viability of replacing Americium–Beryllium (Am–Be) radiological neutron sources in compensated porosity nuclear well logging tools with D–T or D–D accelerator-driven neutron sources is explored. The analysis consisted of developing a model for a typical well-logging borehole configuration and computing the helium-3 detector response to varying formation porosities using three different neutron sources (Am–Be, D–D, and D–T). The results indicate that, when normalized to the same source intensity, the use of a D–D neutron source has greater sensitivity for measuring the formation porosity than either an Am–Be or D–T source. The results of the study provide operational requirements that enable compensated porosity well logging with a compact, low power D–D neutron generator, which the current state-of-the-art indicates is technically achievable.
ISSN:0168-9002
1872-9576
DOI:10.1016/j.nima.2012.04.053