Status report on the development of a prompt fission neutron uranium borehole logging technique
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 National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-04-0789
- OSTI ID:
- 7322627
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-77-0336; TRN: 77-014267
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
URANIUM DEPOSITS
NEUTRON-NEUTRON LOGGING
BOREHOLES
EPITHERMAL NEUTRONS
FISSION
PROMPT NEUTRONS
PROSPECTING
URANIUM 235
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BARYONS
CAVITIES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FERMIONS
FISSION NEUTRONS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HADRONS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NEUTRON LOGGING
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
RADIOACTIVITY LOGGING
RADIOISOTOPES
RESOURCES
URANIUM ISOTOPES
WELL LOGGING
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
050200* - Nuclear Fuels- Exploration- (-1987)
440300 - Miscellaneous Instruments- (-1989)