Zero-spaced epithermal neutron moisture detection system

摘要

The present invention is directed toward the determination of moisture content per unit volume of material penetrated by a gas filled borehole. An alternate application of the invention is the detection of fractures and vugular cavities in the immediate vicinity of a liquid filled borehole. The apparatus comprises a probe which is conveyed along the borehole. The probe contains a source of neutrons and an epithermal neutron detector at essentially zero longitudinal spacing from the neutron source along the axis of the borehole. In the preferred embodiment, the neutron source is Californium-252 and the epithermal neutron detector comprises a glass scintillator. The response of the system is independent of the thermal neutron absorption properties of the material and the fluid within the borehole.