Plutonium well logging with the photoneutron uranium exploration system

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6749105· OSTI ID:6749105

Baker, M P; Marks, T

The Los Alamos National Laboratory prototype photoneutron uranium exploration system was recently demonstrated at the Hanford site near Richland, Washington, for Rockwell-Hanford Operations (Rockwell). The demonstration determined the field performance capabilities of the uranium exploration system for in situ, downhole measurements of transuranic waste concentrations. The uranium exploration system is indeed capable of detecting plutonium in the test wells at the waste sites investigated. The excellent signal-to-background ratio (15:1 in the worst case) of the system made positive plutonium determinations possible despite neutron backgrounds caused by spontaneous fission and (..cap alpha..,n) emitters. We present all the data collected from seven test wells and guidance for interpreting the data relative to the known uranium ore calibration of the system. The demonstration indicated no operational difficulties in the waste site environment, and routine use by Rockwell personnel appears practical.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6749105
• Report Number(s): LA-9426; ON: DE83002949
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
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47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
ACTINIDES
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
BARYONS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DATA
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
EXPLORATION
FERMIONS
GAMMA SOURCES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HADRONS
HANFORD RESERVATION
INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
METALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEUTRON LOGGING
NEUTRON-NEUTRON LOGGING
NEUTRONS
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
NUCLEONS
NUMERICAL DATA
PHOTONEUTRONS
PHOTONUCLEONS
PLUTONIUM
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOACTIVITY LOGGING
RESOURCES
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
URANIUM DEPOSITS
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WELL LOGGING