Status report on the development of a prompt fission neutron uranium borehole logging technique

Technical Report · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7322627· OSTI ID:7322627

Smith, G. W.

The prompt fission neutron (PFN) method of direct uranium measurement was studied. The PFN uranium logging technique measures the enhanced epithermal neutron population created by the prompt thermal fission of /sup 235/U to assay uranium mineralization around a borehole. This neutron population exists for several hundred microseconds after a pulsed neutron source produces a burst of high energy (14 MeV) neutrons. A feasibility study established the basic relationship between the uranium concentration and the enhanced epithermal neutron count, and defined the major measurement perturbing factors. Following the feasibility study, development of a PFN prototype field probe was undertaken. A laboratory type neutron generator, the Controlatron, was modified for use in the probe. Field evaluation of the prototype system began in January 1976. Comparisons of neutron logs and natural gamma logs taken during this evaluation period clearly define many disequilibrium conditions as verified by ore grade estimates from core samples. The feasibility of the PFN logging technique to detect uranium in-situ has now been demonstrated.

• Research Organization: Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0789
• OSTI ID: 7322627
• Report Number(s): SAND-77-0336
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BARYONS
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EPITHERMAL NEUTRONS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FERMIONS
FISSION
FISSION NEUTRONS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HADRONS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NEUTRON LOGGING
NEUTRON-NEUTRON LOGGING
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
PROMPT NEUTRONS
PROSPECTING
RADIOACTIVITY LOGGING
RADIOISOTOPES
RESOURCES
URANIUM 235
URANIUM DEPOSITS
URANIUM ISOTOPES
WELL LOGGING
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES