Neutron-absorbing gamma ray window in a downhole tool
US9897718B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 2014 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 17, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V5/101
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and downhole tools involving neutron-absorbing gamma ray windows are provided. One such method involves emitting neutrons from a neutron source in a downhole tool in a well into a surrounding geological formation. This may produce formation gamma rays through interactions between the neutrons and elements of the geological formation. The formation gamma rays may be detected by a gamma ray detector when the gamma rays pass via a gamma ray window that includes a neutron-absorbing material disposed in a substrate material of the downhole tool. The gamma ray window may be both more transmissive of gamma rays than the substrate material and less transmissive of neutrons than a window without the neutron-absorbing material. This may decrease a neutron flux that would otherwise reach the gamma ray detector and the tool materials surrounding it and thus would otherwise lead to a background signal contaminating a signal corresponding to the detected formation gamma rays.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.