Detecting bypassed hydrocarbons in subsurface formations
US6005244A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 2, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 21, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 2, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V5/101
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tool for use in analyzing a subsurface formation for the presence of hydrocarbon includes a neutron generator capable of generating a burst of neutrons at a high energy level, some of which will collide inelastically with atomic nuclei in the subsurface formation to produce inelastic gamma rays and then will be captured by atomic nuclei to produce capture gamma rays. The tool also includes at least one radiation detector to detect the inelastic and capture gamma rays, and counting circuitry configured to produce a count of detected inelastic gamma rays and a count of detected capture gamma rays. Processing circuitry in the tool generates a numerical output by dividing the count of inelastic gamma rays by the count of capture gamma rays and then provides the numerical output to an output device for use in analyzing the subsurface formation for the presence of hydrocarbon.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.