Radioactive tracing with particles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of locating particles pumped into a well drilled through a subterranean formation comprising:
- (a) forming a mixture of (1) an element which when bombarded with neutrons forms a gamma ray-emitting isotope and (2) a ceramic material which when properly processed forms a ceramic particle;
(b) forming particles of the mixture;
(c) irradiating the particles with neutrons to form radioactive particles;
(d) adding the particles to a fluid before the fluid is injected into a well at a concentration effective to allow subsequent detection;
(e) injecting the fluid and the particles into a well; and
(f) logging the well with an instrument capable of detecting the radioactive particles to determine the location of the particles in and around the well.
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Abstract
There is provided radioactive particles having a ceramic matrix and an element which can be bombarded with neutrons to produce a gamma ray-emitting isotope. The particles are manufactured by mixing the ceramic components and the element, forming particles, sintering the particles, and the particles are subsequently made radioactive by bombardment with neutrons. Particles injected into wells or flow apparatus are traced by adding the radioactive particles and detecting the radioactive particles with gamma ray-sensitive instruments. Particles containing different elements are detected by spectral analysis of gamma rays.
60 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of locating particles pumped into a well drilled through a subterranean formation comprising:
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(a) forming a mixture of (1) an element which when bombarded with neutrons forms a gamma ray-emitting isotope and (2) a ceramic material which when properly processed forms a ceramic particle; (b) forming particles of the mixture; (c) irradiating the particles with neutrons to form radioactive particles; (d) adding the particles to a fluid before the fluid is injected into a well at a concentration effective to allow subsequent detection; (e) injecting the fluid and the particles into a well; and (f) logging the well with an instrument capable of detecting the radioactive particles to determine the location of the particles in and around the well. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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- 4. A method of tracing particles by providing in a fluid particles traceable by radioactivity, said method comprising adding particles to said fluid wherein said particles are comprised of a sintered ceramic material having embedded therein a target element, said target element being non-radioactive until said particles are bombarded with neutrons, and thereafter employing apparatus to detect radioactivity from said particles to determine the location of the particles.
- 11. A method of treating a well drilled through a subterranean formation comprising introducing a slurry into said well, said slurry having suspended therein particles, said particles being comprised of a sintered ceramic material having embedded therein a target element, said target element being non-radioactive until said particles are bombarded with neutrons.
- 15. A method of locating particles in and near a well comprising logging said well using logging apparatus capable of detecting radioactivity and thereby determining the proximity of said particles to said logging apparatus, said well having been treated with a fluid having suspended therein particles, said particles comprising a sintered ceramic material having embedded therein a target element, said target element being non-radioactive until said particles are bombarded with neutrons.
- 17. A method of treating a well drilled through a subterranean formation comprising introducing a cement slurry into said well, said cement slurry having suspended therein particles, said particles being comprised of a sintered ceramic material having embedded therein a target element, said target element being non-radioactive until said particles are bombarded with neutrons.
Specification