pulsed neutron generators design/performance barriers
Pulse Neutron Generators (PNG) are used by the Well Logging Industry as sources of energetic neutrons to irradiate the earth's formations for the purpose of estimating reservoir's properties. Due to constraints from typical Cased-Hole well construction, conventional PNGs suffer from design/performance barriers that limit their yield and lifetime.
The business case for high-performance pulsed neutron generators for the well logging industry
High-Performance Neutron Generators can help Cased Hole Formation Evaluation service companies to achieve their fullest revenue potential by:
Reducing/eliminating current design/performance barriers therefore improving reliability, lifetime and neutron output.
Exploring new concept designs and developing new technologies that can improve PNGs neutron yield and lifetime by orders of magnitude, minimizing operating rig time and maximizing financial performance
New Cased-Hole Formation Evaluation market applications present challenges that current Pulsed Neutron Logging (PNL) tools, including PNGs, can marginally meet. To mitigate the limitations of current conventional PNGs, well logging services companies resort to over-stressing existing tool designs, largely lowering the reliability of the PNL tool string. Considering that for every 100 trouble-free operating hours that a neutron generator can provide, approximately $0.5M can be generated, improving the reliability and life of a PNG is critical for service-company profitability.
Moreover, the average (~1-1.5e8 n/s) neutron output of current PNGs, leaves service companies with no other option but to reduce logging speed while running services requiring high neutron counts, for keeping logging statistics at the required level. This can result in a substantial increase in operating rig time that can lower service company competitiveness. An increase of just 1% in the Pulsed Neutron Formation Evaluation market can improve service company revenue by over $50M/y. Increasing lifetime and PNG neutron output is therefore of great importance for service companies to improve profitability and expand market share.
For more information or consultation contact PNG Science using the contact form at the bottom of this page.
maximizing lifetime and neutron output
“Considering the constraints imposed by typical conditions down-hole, the making of PNGs for the Well Logging industry is a challenging endeavor involving many disciplines. Maximizing their performance is a non-trivial effort ”
To maximize PNG lifetime and neutron output, several operating parameters are to be optimized including:
Innovative PNG designs that eliminate ion extraction and transport issues, as well as target overheating thus, n-output drop due to Tritium desorption.
Ion Source atomic-molecular ion production ratio. Electron impact ion sources have 1/9 atomic/molecular ion production ratio. Direct ionization ion sources have up to 9/1 atomic/molecular ions ratio thus, increasing up to 9x the neutron output
Efficient Ultra-High Voltage (UHV) accelerator column designs, including piezo-electric technology.
PNG-PNL integration to improve PNL efficiency and performance thus, maximizing PNG lifetime and neutron output.
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