Abstract: A method, including emitting from a source of ultrafast neutrons within a logging tool deployed in a borehole, a pulse of ultrafast neutrons into an irradiated portion of a formation surrounding the borehole. The method further includes detecting, with one or more gamma ray detectors located at increasing distances from the source of ultrafast neutrons, a flux of stimulated gamma rays generated within the irradiated portion of the formation by the pulse of ultrafast neutrons; and determining, from the detected flux of stimulated gamma rays, one or more petrophysical properties of the irradiated portion of the formation.

Abstract: Methods and compositions including treatment fluids that include geopolymers for use in subterranean formations are provided. The methods of the present disclosure include introducing a treatment fluid including a geopolymer material into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation, wherein the geopolymer material includes an aluminosilicate source, a metal silicate source, an activator, and water; contacting a first fluid present in the wellbore with the treatment fluid; and allowing the treatment fluid to displace at least a portion of the first fluid from at least a portion of the wellbore.

Abstract: A method of producing an isotope comprising directing electrons at a converting material coated with a coating material, the coating material having an atomic number of n, whereby interaction of the electrons with the converting material produces photons, and whereby the photons produced interact with the coating material to produce an isotope having an atomic number of n−1. In preferred embodiments, the converting material is Tungsten, the coating material having an atomic number of n is Radium-226, and the isotope having an atomic number of n−1 is Radium-225.

Abstract: A system and method for rapidly analyzing elemental abundances in rock or soil samples (14) under field conditions. The system uses a portable neutron source (12) to allow neutron activation analysis of elements having identifiable radioactive decay characteristics. A radiation detector (18) detects radiation released by the sample (14) and provides radiation testing results to an amplifier (26) for computing the concentration of trace elements in the sample with a high degree of accuracy.

Abstract: There is provided radioactive particles having a ceramic matrix and an element which can be bombarded with neutrons to produce a gamma ray-emitting isotope. The particles are manufactured by mixing the ceramic components and the element, forming particles, sintering the particles, and the particles are subsequently made radioactive by bombardment with neutrons. Particles injected into wells or flow apparatus are traced by adding the radioactive particles and detecting the radioactive particles with gamma ray-sensitive instruments. Particles containing different elements are detected by spectral analysis of gamma rays.

Abstract: A method for logging a cased well to determine the quantity and location of any barite weighted drilling fluid in the annulus between the casing and the wall of the wellbore. A tool assembly having a neutron generator and a gamma scintillation detector is used to log the zone of interest. The neutrons introduced into the well by the neutron generator convert a portion of the barium-138 in the drilling fluid to barium-137m. The magnitude of the gamma photon peak charactristic of the decayof barium-137 is used to identify the quantity of drilling fluid present in the annulus as a function of depth. This method is especially useful identifying the existence of channels in a cemented wellbore annulus.

Abstract: An apparatus for ore sorting includes a neutron irradiator (12), and a detector assembly (14) for detecting gamma radiation emitted by irradiated lumps (21) of the ore. The irradiated lumps (21) after discharge from the irradiator (12), are divided into two channels (30) by at least one bifurcating device (28) held above a relatively high speed conveyor (26) transporting the lumps (21). Each channel (30) is subsequently divided into three streams (37, 38, 39) by diverting selected lumps (21) from the channel (30) as the lumps (21) are projected from the end of the high speed conveyor (26). The diverted lumps (21) in each stream (37, 38, 39) are allowed to fall on to a relatively low speed conveyor (50) which then presents the lumps (21) to the detector assembly (14).

Abstract: An activation well logging method and apparatus for identifying and measuring the presence of vanadium in earth formations surrounding a borehole. A well logging instrument including a source of neutrons is used to irradiate formations for a period of time sufficient to activate vanadium. The gamma radiation emanating from the irradiated formations are detected by a scintillation detector having output pulses directly proportional to the energies of the incident gamma rays. The output pulses having energies characteristic of the element vanadium are separated and counted to provide indication of any vanadium present in the irradiated formations.