IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,510,686
Granted Patent B2
US 12,510,686 · App. 18/412,008 · Granted Dec 30, 2025

Time-gated energy spectra for removal of borehole capture background

Inventors: Gregory Joseph Schmid (Houston, TX); Jiaxin Wang (Houston, TX); Weijun Guo (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
G01V5/108
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,510,686
App. No.
18/412,008
Granted
Dec 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and systems for taking downhole measurements. The method may include selecting a pulsing scheme for taking one or more measurements using a pulsed neutron logging tool, selecting a neutron burst width for the pulsing scheme based at least in part on a neutron tube utilized by the pulsed neutron logging tool to form at least in part a neutron burst train, and selecting a decay window in which the one or more measurements are performed by the pulsed neutron logging tool. The method may further include selecting a starting time for a late gate in which the one or measurements are taken, disposing the pulsed neutron logging tool into a borehole, performing the neutron burst train with the pulsed neutron logging tool, and performing the one or more measurements with the pulsed neutron logging tool during the late gate.

Claims (39)

1 . A method comprising:

selecting a pulsing scheme for taking one or more measurements using a pulsed neutron logging tool;

selecting a neutron burst width for the pulsing scheme based at least in part on a neutron tube utilized by the pulsed neutron logging tool to form at least in part a neutron burst train;

selecting a decay window in which the one or more measurements are performed by the pulsed neutron logging tool;

selecting a starting time for a late gate in which the one or measurements are taken;

disposing the pulsed neutron logging tool into a borehole;

performing the neutron burst train with the pulsed neutron logging tool; and

performing the one or more measurements with the pulsed neutron logging tool during the late gate.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a width of the decay window a time between an end of the neutron burst train and a beginning of a second neutron burst train.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting a starting time for an early gate in the decay window that is initiated immediately after the last burst of the neutron burst train.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising selecting a width for the early gate.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising creating a time-gated energy spectrum from the one or more measurement within the early gate.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the early gate has a duration of 200 microseconds.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the starting time for the late gate is after an early gate.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the late gate is initiated about 400 microseconds after the early gate ends.

9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising selecting a width for the late gate.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising creating a time-gated energy spectrum which is acquired during the late gate.

11 . A system comprising:

a pulsed neutron logging tool comprising:

a neutron tube disposed in a pulsed neutron generator;

one or more gamma ray scintillator detectors; and

one or more thermal neutron detectors; and

an information handling system in communication with the pulsed neutron logging tool and configured to:

select a pulsing scheme for taking one or more measurements using a pulsed neutron logging tool;

select a neutron burst width for the pulsing scheme based at least in part on a neutron tube utilized by the pulsed neutron logging tool to form at least in part a neutron burst train;

select a decay window in which the one or more measurements are performed by the pulsed neutron logging tool;

select a starting time for a late gate in which the one or measurements are taken;

select a time for a late time gate that is initiated after the neutron burst train in which one or more measurements may be performed;

instruct the neutron tube to emit a neutron burst train; and

instruct the one or more gamma ray scintillator detectors or the one or more thermal neutron detectors to perform one or more measurements during the late time gate.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein a width of the decay window a time between an end of the neutron burst train and a beginning of a second neutron burst train.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the information handling system is further configured to select a start time for an early gate in the decay window that is initiated immediately after the last burst of the neutron burst train.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the information handling system is further configured to select a width for the early gate.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the information handling system is further configured to create a time-gated energy spectrum from the one or more measurement within the early gate.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the early gate has a duration of 200 microseconds.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the start time for the late gate is after an early gate.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the late gate is initiated about 400 microseconds after the early gate ends.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the information handling system is further configured to select a width for the late gate.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the information handling system is further configured to create a time-gated energy spectrum which is acquired during the late gate.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2024
From: SCHMID, GREGORY JOSEPH; WANG, JIAXIN; GUO, WEIJUN
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 066300/0888 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250231317A1 · Jul 17, 2025
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