Abstract: A method for determining the porosity of a subsurface geological formation traversed by a borehole is provided. The method generally comprises obtaining a means which relates ranges of apparent formation porosity (.phi..sub.a) as determined by a neutron-neutron log, formation fluid salinities, formation total capture cross sections (.SIGMA.), formation matrix and fluid constituents, and true formation porosity (.phi..sub.T) according to a predetermined equation. The predetermined equation relates the apparent porosity to a function of a modified migration length which is obtained in a semi-empirical manner (i.e. physics modifed by data). The modified migration length includes a slowing down length and a diffusion length, but causes at least the diffusion length to be a function of the slowing down length. The means which relates the apparent porosity to salinity, .SIGMA., matrix and fluid constituents, and .phi..sub.T solves a forward problem.

Abstract: Logging apparatus and methods for detecting first signals indicative of the absolute concentrations of the first category of elements in the rock matrix, for irradiating the formation with a pulse of high energy neutrons and for detecting a second signal indicative of the relative concentrations of a second category of elements in a rock matrix. The absolute and relative concentrations of a plurality of elements are determined, and this information is used to transform at least one of the relative concentrations into an absolute concentration. One of the measured absolute concentrations is for aluminum, from which correlations are used to determine the absolute concentrations of other, non-measured elements. A tool system for measuring the absolute aluminum concentration includes a californium-252 source and a gamma ray detector having a plurality of windows from which the aluminum count rate can be compensated for interference by manganese activation.

Abstract: In the illustrative embodiment of the invention disclosed, a neutron porosity logging tool adapted to log a mud-filled borehole includes one or more pairs of epithermal and/or thermal neutron detectors. The detector count rates are corrected to the effective count rates for fresh water in the borehole by applying thereto empirically-derived correction terms that are functionally related to the hydrogen index of the mud and, in the case of thermal detectors, also to the thermal neutron absorption properties in the mud.

Abstract: An improved radioactivity well logging sonde for sensing fluid flow in an earthen formation from a borehole traversing the formation in which the borehole also contains salt water includes a neutron source for irradiating the earthen formation with neutrons and a detector assembly which detects gamma radiation from the earth formation. The sonde also includes circuitry which processes pulses from the detector assembly to be provided uphole by way of a well logging cable. The sonde includes apparatus spatially arranged with the detector assembly which displaces salt water in the borehole so that there is substantially no salt water between the side of the borehole and the detector assembly. The improved well logging sonde also permits vertical fluid flow measurements in an earthen formation as well as the conventional horizontal fluid flow.

Abstract: An on-line environmentally-corrected measurement of the thermal neutron decay time (.tau.) of an earth formation traversed by a borehole is provided in a two-detector, pulsed neutron logging tool, by measuring .tau. at each detector and combining the two .tau. measurements in accordance with a previously established empirical relationship of the general form:.tau.=.tau..sub.F +A(.tau..sub.F +.tau..sub.N B)+C,where .tau..sub.F and .tau..sub.N are the .tau. measurements at the far-spaced and near-spaced detectors, respectively, A is a correction coefficient for borehole capture cross section effects, B is a correction coefficient for neutron diffusion effects, and C is a constant related to parameters of the logging tool. Preferred numerical value of A, B and C are disclosed, and a relationship for more accurately approximating the A term to specific borehole conditions.

Abstract: An underground logging tool is equipped with a gamma ray detector encircled by a rotatable shield featuring a collimator slot. After the fluid in a formation is activated by a neutron source, the detector is used to obtain radiation count information as a function of horizontal direction as the shield is rotated. Comparison of count rate data as a function of the shield slot orientation gives information concerning the direction of the formation fluid flow. Measurements at different time intervals following the activation of the fluid, made with the shield retracted from the detector, may also be interpreted in terms of speed of horizontal fluid flow past the tool.

Abstract: Gamma ray spectra of earth formations surrounding a well borehole are obtained by bombarding the formations with neutrons from a pulsed neutron source and detecting the gamma rays resulting from capture of thermalized neutrons in the formation using a germanium gamma ray detector. A measure of the ratio of chlorine to hydrogen is obtained from the detected gamma radiation spectra, and the apparent formation water salinity is determined from the chlorine/hydrogen ratio. The water saturation of the formation is then obtained from the apparent formation water salinity and the true formation water salinity. Compensation is made for the presence of saline water in the borehole fluid and in the cement annulus, as well as for any bound water in the formation.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Fluid in permeable earth formations adjacent well casing is irradiated with neutrons to form radioactive tracer isotopes in the chemical elements comprising the fluid, typically sodium 24 in saline subsurface formation water, which decays by emission of gamma rays. By measuring the rate of decay of the radioactive isotope, a measure of horizontal fluid flow in the formation is obtained. Manganese, present in the steel well casing, has been found to also respond to the neutron irradiation by forming the isotope manganese 56 which emits gamma rays which interfere with the gamma radiation measurements of the trace element indicative of water flow. A method of measuring horizontal fluid flow while compensating for the presence of manganese 56 gamma rays is disclosed.

Abstract: The horizontal flow rate of fluid in permeable earth formations is measured by the in situ creation of a radioactive tracer isotope having a predetermined decay life time and decay mode. Measurements at different time intervals following the creation of the tracer isotope of the decay radiation may then be interpreted in terms of the horizontal movement of fluids past a well borehole. Tracer isotopes to be created are selectively provided for measuring both relatively fast and relatively slow expected values of horizontal flow speed.

Abstract: Earth formations surrounding a well borehole are repetitively bombarded with bursts of high energy neutrons. A radiation detector in a sonde in the borehole senses the gamma rays induced by the capture of thermal neutrons and sends representative signals to the surface. At the surface electronics, the population of thermal neutron capture gamma rays at two separate and distinct times is measured. The macroscopic thermal neutron capture cross section of the formation may be thus determined and logged. Further, two additional single channel energy analyzers, such as from 1.30 to 2.92 Mev and from 3.43 to 10.0 Mev, sense formation capture gamma ray response over a common time interval following each neutron burst. The measurements made in these two additional single channel analyzers are used to distinguish between the presence of salt water and hydrocarbons in the formation, which is also logged.