Logging and Log Interpretation - Induced Nuclear Reaction Logging

A pulsed high-energy neturon-induced spectral logging tool has been built and field-tested. The reaction of deuterium on tritium is used to generate pulses of 14-Mev neutrons. By detecting only the prompt gamma rays produced by neutron inelastic reactions in the formation, the presence and relative abundance of carbon, oxygen, calcium, silicon and other important elements may be ascertained from a gamma-ray spectrum. Gamma-ray spectra obtained in a shallow test well and in experimental field use show that it is possible to identify formations and their contained fluids. INTRODUCTION The penetrating gamma rays from naturally occurring radioactive elements in subsurface formations have been used for a number of years in well logging as a means of characterizing and distinguishing strata. Still another nuclear logging method which has been employed for some years consists of the bombardment of strata with neutrons and the measurement of the number of gamma rays produced by neutron capture reactions involving elements in subsurface strata.' Since one of the principal elements entering into capture reactions is hydrogen, the latter procedure essentially results in a hydrogen log, whether the hydrogen be in combined form in either oil or water; thus, the log gives an indirect measure of porosity. These methods, with various refinements, have been developed to such an extent that they have become routine procedures in formation evaluation. Neither gamma-ray logging nor conventional neutron logging, however, yields sufficient information to permit unequivocal identification of the mineralogic composition of formations, and neither method gives information which may be used for the positive identification of hydrocarbons in strata. Accordingly, a number of efforts have been made in recent years to gain additional information from nuclear logs. Brannon and Osoba have shown that it is possible to identify naturally occurring radioactive elements in subsurface formations by spectral analysis of gamma rays emanating from these elements. Such an identification is of value in the characterization of strata. A simplified form of spectral analysis of gamma radiation resulting from neutron capture reactions between elements in earth materials and bombarding neutrons has been used with some suc- cess under favorable conditions to differentiate between petroleum and water. This method relies upon the relatively high energy of gamma radiation from neutron capture by chlorine and, in effect, furnishes a chlorine log. In areas in which interstitial water is of sufficiently high salinity, this log can give valuable information on water saturation and, thus, indirectly on hydrocarbon saturation. Still another approach to obtaining more information by nuclear techniques is "activation logging", in which certain elements yield short-lived radioactive isotopes on neutron activation and, thus, can be detected by gamma-ray spectral analysis. From the standpoint of determining by nuclear logging methods the mineralogic composition of strata and the presence or absence of hydrocarbons, it is essential that information be obtained on the presence and relative amounts of several elements such as carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, calcium, silica and others. Some elements, such as hydrogen, chlorine and sulfur, can be determined by spectral analysis of gamma radiation resulting from neutron capture reactions."" Others — carbon and oxygen, for example — do not enter readily into capture reactions but do yield gamma rays of characteristic energies from inelastic scattering reactions with high-energy neutrons. Accordingly, the latter reactions are of particular interest as a means of identifying hydrocarbons in subsurface strata. Several years ago it was recognized that information requisite to the identification of subsurface strata and of contained fluids could be obtained by pulsed operation of a subsurface neutron generator and associated gamma-ray detector. It was contemplated that pulsed operation would be effective in discriminating in time that gamma radiation which results predominantly from inelastic scattering reactions from that gamma radiation arising from neutron capture reactions. Accordingly, research was continued and construction of such a device was initiated. Although many problems were encountered, they were solved successfully. The following sections describe the tool which has evolved, its performance and the results which have been obtained with it to date. THEORY OF OPERATION OF NEUTRON-INDUCED GAMMA-RAY SPECTRAL LOGGING TOOL THEORY OF INDUCED NUCLEAR REACTIONS Of fundamental importance is the fact that an element, when bombarded with neutrons, emits gamma radiation of energy characteristic of that element. In theory, therefore, an element may be identified by