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- Neutron log
* Definition.
* Types
* Units & Presentation.
* Theories of measurement.
* Factors affecting on log readings.
* Applications.
Definition
Neutron tools were the first logging instruments to use radioactive
sources for determining the porosity of the formation. After the
later introduction of the gamma-gamma density tool, the neutron
measurement was applied in conjunction with the density porosity
reading in order to recognize and correct for effects of shale and
gas.
Neutron tool response is dominated by the concentration of hydrogen
atoms in the formation. In clean reservoirs containing little or no
shale, the neutron log response will provide a good measure of
formation porosity if liquid-filled pore spaces contain hydrogen, as is
the case when pores are filled with oil or water (hydrogen index =1).
By contrast, when logging shaly or gas-bearing formations, a
combination of Neutron and Density readings will often be required
for accurate porosity assessment.
Basic Principles
The electrically neutral neutron has a mass that is practically identical to
that of the hydrogen atom. The neutrons that are emitted from a neutron
source have a high energy of several million electron volts (MeV). After
emission, they collide with the nuclei within the borehole fluid and
formation materials. With each collision, the neutrons loose some of
their energy. The largest loss of energy occurs when the neutrons
collide with hydrogen atoms. The rate at which the neutrons slow-down
depends largely on the amount of hydrogen in the formation.
With each collision the neutrons slow down, until the neutrons reach
a lower (epithermal) energy state and then continue to lose energy
until they reach an even lower (thermal) energy state of about 0.025
eV. At this energy the neutrons are in thermal equilibrium with other
nuclei in the formation. At thermal speeds, the neutrons will
eventually be captured by a nucleus. When a nucleus captures a
thermal neutron, a gamma ray (called a gamma ray of capture)is
emitted to dissipate excess energy within the atom.
The amount of energy lost at each collision depends on the relative mass of
the target nucleus, and the scattering cross section. (At the nuclear level, the
term cross section is defined as the effective area within which a neutron
must pass in order to interact with an atomic nucleus. Such interactions are
typically classified either as neutron capture or as neutron scatter. The crosssection is a probabilistic value dependent on the nature and energy of the
particle, as well as the nature of the capturing or scattering nucleus.
Depending on the type of tool being used, either the gamma rays emitted
after neutron capture, the epithermal neutrons or the thermal neutrons will
be counted.
The principles of neutron logging are summarized below:
Neutron energy level versus time after leaving the source illustrates the slow
down process