US3976879A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Well logging method and apparatus using a continuous energy spectrum photon source
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp
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Filing: 1975-05-22
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Granted: 1976-08-24
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Expires: 1995-05-22
Abstract
Abstract In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a method and apparatus for logging an earth formation of interest is disclosed in which repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons are emitted that penetrate the media surrounding a borehole traversing the earth formation. Thereafter, indications of photons resulting from the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media are obtained, each indication begin obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of the borehole. Finally, the indications are compared to determine representations of a characteristic of the media surrounding the borehole. According to one aspect of the present invention, at least one of the indications is the result of annihilation photons produced by the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald E. Turcotte
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V5/00; G01V5/04; G01V5/08; G01V5/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of detemining a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation and in which a high-intensity source has been pulsed to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media, comprising the steps of: obtaining at least three indications of photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and comparing the indications to determine at least two representations of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of detemining a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation and in which a high-intensity source has been pulsed to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media, comprising the steps of: obtaining at least three indications of photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and comparing the indications to determine at least two representations of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein time dependent indications of photons returning to a borehole are obtained.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the indications are compared to determine at least two representations of the density of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of producing a representation of density profile of the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation and in which a high-intensity source has been pulsed to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media, comprising the step of: obtaining at least three indications of photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; comparing the indications to determine at least two representations of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole; and combining the at least two representations to produce a density profile of the media.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of producing a representation of density profile of the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation and in which a high-intensity source has been pulsed to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media, comprising the step of: obtaining at least three indications of photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; comparing the indications to determine at least two representations of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole; and combining the at least two representations to produce a density profile of the media.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of logging the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation to determine a characteristic of the media comprising the steps of: pulsing a high intensity source to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media surrounding a borehole; obtaining at least three indications of photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and comparing the indications to determine at least two representations of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of logging the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation to determine a characteristic of the media comprising the steps of: pulsing a high intensity source to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media surrounding a borehole; obtaining at least three indications of photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and comparing the indications to determine at least two representations of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein time dependent indications of photons returning to a borehole are obtained.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the indications are compared to determine at least two representations of the density of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of logging the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation to produce a representation of a density profile of the media comprising the steps of: pulsing a high intensity source to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media surrounding a borehole; obtaining at least three indications of photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; comparing the indications to determine at least two representations of the density of the media surrounding a borehole; and combining the at least two representations to produce density profile of the media.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of logging the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation to produce a representation of a density profile of the media comprising the steps of: pulsing a high intensity source to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media surrounding a borehole; obtaining at least three indications of photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; comparing the indications to determine at least two representations of the density of the media surrounding a borehole; and combining the at least two representations to produce density profile of the media.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of determining a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation and in which a high-intensity source has been pulsed to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media, comprising the steps of: obtaining a plurality of indications of photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, at least one indication being representative of annihilation photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media and each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and comparing the indications to determine at least one representation of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of determining a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation and in which a high-intensity source has been pulsed to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media, comprising the steps of: obtaining a plurality of indications of photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, at least one indication being representative of annihilation photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media and each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and comparing the indications to determine at least one representation of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein time dependent indications of photons returning to a borehole are obtained.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the indications are compared to determine at least one representation of the density of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of determining a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation and in which a high-intensity source has been pulsed to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media, comprising the steps of: obtaining a plurality of indications of annihilation photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and comparing the indications to determine a representation of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of determining a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation and in which a high-intensity source has been pulsed to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media, comprising the steps of: obtaining a plurality of indications of annihilation photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and comparing the indications to determine a representation of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein the indications are compared to determine a representation of the density of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of logging the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation to determine a characteristic of the media comprising the steps of: pulsing a high intensity source to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media surrounding a borehole; obtaining a plurality of indications of photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, at least one indication being representative of annihilation photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media and each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and comparing the indications to determine at least one representation of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of logging the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation to determine a characteristic of the media comprising the steps of: pulsing a high intensity source to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media surrounding a borehole; obtaining a plurality of indications of photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, at least one indication being representative of annihilation photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media and each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and comparing the indications to determine at least one representation of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein time dependent indications of photons returning to a borehole are obtained.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the indications are compared to determine at least one representation of the density of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of logging the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation to determine a characteristic of the media comprising the steps of: pulsing a high intensity source to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media surrounding a borehole; obtaining a plurality of indications of annihilation photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and comparing the indications to determine a representation of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of logging the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation to determine a characteristic of the media comprising the steps of: pulsing a high intensity source to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media surrounding a borehole; obtaining a plurality of indications of annihilation photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and comparing the indications to determine a representation of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein the indications are compared to determine a representation of the density of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for logging the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation to determine a characteristic of the media comprising: a high intensity source means emitting repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media surrounding a borehole; means for obtaining at least three indications of photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, each indication obtaining means being positioned at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and means for comparing the indications to determine at least two representations of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus for logging the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation to determine a characteristic of the media comprising: a high intensity source means emitting repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media surrounding a borehole; means for obtaining at least three indications of photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, each indication obtaining means being positioned at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and means for comparing the indications to determine at least two representations of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the indication obtaining means obtains time dependent indications of photons returning to a borehole.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the indication comparing means determines at least two representations of the density of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus for logging the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation to determine a characteristic of the media comprising the steps of: a high intensity source means emitting repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media surrounding a borehole; means for obtaining a plurality of indications of photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, at least one indication being representative of annihilation photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media and each indication obtaining means being positioned at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and means for comparing the indications to determine at least one representation of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
141 words
Apparatus for logging the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation to determine a characteristic of the media comprising the steps of: a high intensity source means emitting repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media surrounding a borehole; means for obtaining a plurality of indications of photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, at least one indication being representative of annihilation photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media and each indication obtaining means being positioned at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and means for comparing the indications to determine at least one representation of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the indication obtaining means obtains time dependent indications of photons returning to a borehole.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the indication comparing means determines at least one representation of the density of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for determining a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation and in which a high-intensity source has been pulsed to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media comprising: means for obtaining a plurality of indications of annihilation photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and means for comparing the indications to determine a representation of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for determining a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole that traverses an earth formation and in which a high-intensity source has been pulsed to emit repetitive bursts of a continuous energy spectrum of photons that penetrate the media comprising: means for obtaining a plurality of indications of annihilation photons returning to a borehole as a result of the interaction of the emitted photons and the surrounding media, each indication being obtained at a different separation from the source along the axis of a borehole; and means for comparing the indications to determine a representation of a characteristic of the media surrounding a borehole.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the indication comparing means determines a representation of the density of the media surrounding a borehole.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-24 | 1980-02-23 | 1980-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-24 | 1984-02-23 | 1984-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-24 | 1988-02-23 | 1988-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |