Texaco Inc.

Obie M Langford

Harold E Peelman

Dan M Arnold

Hans J Paap

Albert P Richter

Irwin R Supernaw

Hubert D Scott

Steve G Malone

Michael Bagnasco

A Cockcroft-Walton voltage multiplying circuit constructed for use in a slim hole well logging tool includes a plurality of capacitor packages having a first capacitor package, adapted to receive an input voltage, and a last capacitor package. A plurality of high voltage rectifier packages of which each rectifier package, except for a last rectifier package, are physically as well as electrically interconnected with two capacitor packages. The last rectifier package is connected to the last capacitor package so that all of the capacitor packages and all of the rectifier packages form an inline rigid body. Output terminals are connected to the last rectifier package for providing the high voltage developed by the capacitor packages and the rectifier packages in response to a received input voltage.

Cockcroft-Walton voltage multiplying circuit for slim hole well logging

Fluid in a pipeline or container at a refinery or at any of various petroleum producing operations is bombarded with neutrons, and high energy gamma rays resulting from capture of thermal neutrons are detected. The spectra of the detected gamma rays are then analyzed to determine the concentration of the element chlorine, which gives an indication of the presence and concentration of salt water in the fluid. The concentration of sulfur and the percentage gas in the fluid may be determined simultaneously with the concentration of chlorine.

Detection of impurities in fluid flowing in refinery pipeline or oil

Formation fluid is activated by a neutron source. A cluster of three gamma ray detectors provides count rate data with the count values varying among the three detectors as dictated by the geometry of the cluster and the angle of displacement of the activated fluid between the time of neutron bombardment and that of gamma ray detection. Measurements at different time intervals following the activation of the fluid may also be interpreted in terms of the speed of horizontal fluid flow past the borehole.

Method and apparatus for measuring azimuth and speed of horizontal fluid

Means and method for energizing and regulating a neutron generator tube having a target, an ion source and a replenisher includes providing a negative high voltage to the target and monitoring the target current. A constant current from a constant current source is divided into a shunt current and a replenisher current in accordance with the target current. The replenisher current is applied to the replenisher in a neutron generator tube so as to control the neutron output in accordance with the target current.

Means and method for controlling the neutron output of a neutron

Equipment for the detection of undesired behind casing water flow in a producing well is provided. A well logging sonde having a modular fluid tight structure is disclosed. Basically, three modules which when joined together form a fluid tight assemblage comprise the sonde. A first module houses a 14 MEV neutron generator and a 125 kilovolt high voltage power supply for operating the neutron generator. A second module houses dual spaced gamma ray detectors for detecting characteristic gamma rays from the decay of radioactive nitrogen 16 at two different longitudinal distances from the neutron source. A third module houses control electronics and data transmission circuits for controlling the neutron generation and receiving detected signals from dual gamma ray detectors and for transmitting data to the surface from the sonde. The modules are constructed so that they may be assembled with the neutron generator either above or below the dual detectors while maintaining the same spacing distances from the generator to the detectors. Surface instrumentation for receiving and interpreting the gamma ray measurements are also provided.

Behind well casing water flow detection system

Disclosed is a system for nuclear well logging in which neutron pulse time duration for a high energy neutron generator and the frequency of pulses are selected downhole in the tool by use of a coded signal transmitted by the cable from the earth's surface. Separate channel systems are provided in the downhole tool for desired neutron pulse width and repetition frequency and are operated by a decoder system. Additionally, the accelerator voltage on a high energy neutron generator is controlled by a downhole switching system to selectively obtain different neutron output in response to coded signal transmissions. Moreover, provisions for obtaining different timing pulses to control gates for sampling signals generated in the tool are provided.

Pulsed neutron logging: multipurpose logging sonde for changing types of

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for providing pathways for electrical conductors and conduits through radiation shielding without effectively diminishing the degree of shielding. A pathway is formed by providing a helical groove on the surface of a cylindrical shielding member which is fitted with close tolerance inside a tubular housing. Specific embodiments provide for the passage of electrical conductors through a cylinder of shielding material positioned within a well logging sonde between a radiation source and a radiation detector. One or more grooves may be provided in the shielding member. The shielding member may be constructed of two or more individual, coaxially aligned, abutting, cylindrical shielding submembers. The shielding submembers making up a shielding member may be of the same or different shielding material.

Method and apparatus for defining radiation-opaque pathways within

A well-logging sonde employes a neutron generator. It has a high-voltage supply for the target of the neutron generator tube. The sonde includes an insulated high-voltage conductor for connecting the supply to target, and there is a metallic ring supported on the insulation surrounding the conductor. The ring and conductor form a capacitor that is connected to a circuit for controlling the deenergization of the high-voltage supply if an arc occurs.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Obie M Langford