High Voltage X-Ray Generator and Related Oil Well Formation Analysis Apparatus and Method
First Claim
1. A compact x-ray generator comprising:
- an electron emitter;
a target; and
a high voltage power supply;
whereinsaid x-ray generator provides radiation with energy greater than or equal to 250 keV; and
said x-ray generator operates at temperatures greater than or equal to 125°
C.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for determining the density and other properties of a formation surrounding a borehole using a high voltage x-ray generator. One embodiment comprises a stable compact x-ray generator capable of providing radiation with energy of 250 keV and higher while operating at temperatures equal to or greater than 125° C. In another embodiment, radiation is passed from an x-ray generator into the formation; reflected radiation is detected by a short spaced radiation detector and a long spaced radiation detector. The output of these detectors is then used to determine the density of the formation. In one embodiment, a reference radiation detector monitors a filtered radiation signal. The output of this detector is used to control at least one of the acceleration voltage and beam current of the x-ray generator.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A compact x-ray generator comprising:
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an electron emitter; a target; and a high voltage power supply;
whereinsaid x-ray generator provides radiation with energy greater than or equal to 250 keV; and said x-ray generator operates at temperatures greater than or equal to 125°
C. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A tool for determining at least one property of a formation surrounding a borehole comprising:
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an x-ray generator comprising an electron emitter and a target, said x-ray generator being configured to generate an input radiation spectrum that passes into said formation; a first high voltage power supply being configured to apply a first voltage to said electron emitter; a second high voltage power supply being configured to apply a second voltage to said target; a first radiation detector spaced a first distance from said target and being configured to detect radiation reflected by said formation and produce a first output signal; a second radiation detector spaced a second distance from said target and being configured to detect radiation reflected by said formation and produce a second output signal; an analysis unit being configured to determine at least one property of said formation using said first output signal and said second output signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for determining the density of a formation surrounding a borehole in a high temperature environment comprising the steps of:
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providing an input radiation by an x-ray generator, said input radiation having energy at or above 250 keV; detecting radiation passed through said formation at a first radiation detector; detecting radiation passed through said formation as a second radiation detector; and analyzing outputs of said first radiation detector and said second radiation detector to determine a density of said formation. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method of stabilizing the output of an x-ray generator comprising:
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filtering radiation produced by said x-ray generator to create a dual peak spectrum with a high energy region and a low energy region, receiving said filtered radiation using a reference detector, and using an output of said reference detector to modify at least one of current and voltage of electrical energy applied to said x-ray generator, thereby stabilizing said output of said x-ray generator.
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Specification