US3070696A - Radioactive solid particles for use in well logging - Google Patents
Radioactive solid particles for use in well logging Download PDFInfo
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- US3070696A US3070696A US535291A US53529155A US3070696A US 3070696 A US3070696 A US 3070696A US 535291 A US535291 A US 535291A US 53529155 A US53529155 A US 53529155A US 3070696 A US3070696 A US 3070696A
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- radioactive
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- 230000002285 radioactive effect Effects 0.000 title claims description 43
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 title claims description 33
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 title description 28
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 claims description 18
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 claims description 18
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 229910052736 halogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 12
- 150000002367 halogens Chemical class 0.000 claims description 12
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- -1 POLYETHYLENE Polymers 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000005342 ion exchange Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000000057 synthetic resin Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920003002 synthetic resin Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920002554 vinyl polymer Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 13
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 12
- 239000012267 brine Substances 0.000 description 11
- HPALAKNZSZLMCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium;chloride;hydrate Chemical compound O.[Na+].[Cl-] HPALAKNZSZLMCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 11
- ZCYVEMRRCGMTRW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 7553-56-2 Chemical compound [I] ZCYVEMRRCGMTRW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 7
- 229910052740 iodine Inorganic materials 0.000 description 7
- 239000011630 iodine Substances 0.000 description 7
- 229920000915 polyvinyl chloride Polymers 0.000 description 7
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000035699 permeability Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 4
- JKFYKCYQEWQPTM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-azaniumyl-2-(4-fluorophenyl)acetate Chemical compound OC(=O)C(N)C1=CC=C(F)C=C1 JKFYKCYQEWQPTM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229910021612 Silver iodide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- VLKZOEOYAKHREP-UHFFFAOYSA-N n-Hexane Chemical compound CCCCCC VLKZOEOYAKHREP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229940045105 silver iodide Drugs 0.000 description 3
- PNDPGZBMCMUPRI-HVTJNCQCSA-N 10043-66-0 Chemical compound [131I][131I] PNDPGZBMCMUPRI-HVTJNCQCSA-N 0.000 description 2
- NHTMVDHEPJAVLT-UHFFFAOYSA-N Isooctane Chemical compound CC(C)CC(C)(C)C NHTMVDHEPJAVLT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000012876 carrier material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000003054 catalyst Substances 0.000 description 2
- JVSWJIKNEAIKJW-UHFFFAOYSA-N dimethyl-hexane Natural products CCCCCC(C)C JVSWJIKNEAIKJW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000012065 filter cake Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000026030 halogenation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005658 halogenation reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- PNDPGZBMCMUPRI-UHFFFAOYSA-N iodine Chemical compound II PNDPGZBMCMUPRI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920013716 polyethylene resin Polymers 0.000 description 2
- SQGYOTSLMSWVJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N silver(1+) nitrate Chemical compound [Ag+].[O-]N(=O)=O SQGYOTSLMSWVJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- NWUYHJFMYQTDRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1,2-bis(ethenyl)benzene;1-ethenyl-2-ethylbenzene;styrene Chemical compound C=CC1=CC=CC=C1.CCC1=CC=CC=C1C=C.C=CC1=CC=CC=C1C=C NWUYHJFMYQTDRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241000047703 Nonion Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- UCKMPCXJQFINFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulphide Chemical compound [S-2] UCKMPCXJQFINFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000003957 anion exchange resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910000278 bentonite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000440 bentonite Substances 0.000 description 1
- SVPXDRXYRYOSEX-UHFFFAOYSA-N bentoquatam Chemical compound O.O=[Si]=O.O=[Al]O[Al]=O SVPXDRXYRYOSEX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- CPELXLSAUQHCOX-NJFSPNSNSA-N bromine-82 Chemical compound [82BrH] CPELXLSAUQHCOX-NJFSPNSNSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 1
- VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-OUBTZVSYSA-N chlorane Chemical compound [36ClH] VEXZGXHMUGYJMC-OUBTZVSYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000000460 chlorine Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010779 crude oil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002270 dispersing agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 description 1
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- XMBWDFGMSWQBCA-UHFFFAOYSA-N hydrogen iodide Chemical compound I XMBWDFGMSWQBCA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- XMBWDFGMSWQBCA-AKLPVKDBSA-N iodane Chemical compound [130IH] XMBWDFGMSWQBCA-AKLPVKDBSA-N 0.000 description 1
- XMBWDFGMSWQBCA-BJUDXGSMSA-N iodane Chemical compound [126IH] XMBWDFGMSWQBCA-BJUDXGSMSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000003456 ion exchange resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003303 ion-exchange polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001467 poly(styrenesulfonates) Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000098 polyolefin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000001376 precipitating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000941 radioactive substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910001961 silver nitrate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000375 suspending agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000003568 thioethers Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 125000000391 vinyl group Chemical group [H]C([*])=C([H])[H] 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01V—GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS
- G01V5/00—Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity
- G01V5/04—Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity specially adapted for well-logging
- G01V5/08—Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity specially adapted for well-logging using primary nuclear radiation sources or X-rays
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21G—CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS; RADIOACTIVE SOURCES
- G21G4/00—Radioactive sources
- G21G4/04—Radioactive sources other than neutron sources
- G21G4/06—Radioactive sources other than neutron sources characterised by constructional features
Definitions
- This invention relates to radioactive solid particles suitable for use in certain well logging operations, and to a method for preparing the same. It further relates to a well logging method in which such particles are obtained.
- radioactive substances in determining the variations in the permeabilities of subterranean strata traversed by a well bore is well known.
- a fluid such as crude oil or brine carrying suspended radioactive solid particles is pumped down the borehole under a pressure sufiicient to force the fluid out into the strata traversed by the bore.
- the various strata act as filters to remove the suspended solids from the suspending liquid. Since the quantity of fluid which is forced into any one stratum is directly proportional to the permeability of that stratumwith respect to the suspending liquid, the quantity of radioactive solids which is filtered out and depositedas a filter cake on the wall of the borehole opposite such stratum is like; wise directly proportional to such permeability.
- the success and accuracy of the logging method described above will depend upon the radioactive solid particles possessing certain requisite characteristics. light in weight, ideally having the same density-as the suspending liquid, so that they may readily be maintained uniformly suspended in the suspending liquid.
- the radioactive element in the solid particles should be of such nature and should be so combined withthe particles that 'it is not leached out by the suspending liquid or replaced by ions or other entities contained in such liquid, and is notabsorbed by or in the subterranean-strata, Furthermore, the particles should be of such nature that they are readily filterable, i.e., they should not swell or otherwise change physical form so as to clog the strata and impede the filtering action.
- the radioactive solid most widely employed is obtained by treating an anion-exchange resin with a radioactive iodide and thereafter treating the exchanged resin with silver nitrate to precipitate radioactive silver iodide on the resin particles.
- the suspending liquid is an oil field brine containing sulfide ion since the latter chemically replaces 3,070,696 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 the iodine in the silver iodide and the radioactive iodine is carried into the strata by the brine.
- a highly superior radioactive solid suitable for use in logging well bores by the method described above can be prepared by treating a solid polyclefine or a solid vinyl polymer with a radioactive halo- 0d by which the new products are prepared is very simple and inexpensive, and requires no special equipment or procedure. If necessary, they can be prepared at the Well site.
- the polymeric solid which is treated with a radioactive halogen in accordance with the invention is preferably solid polyethylene, e.g., ordinary commercial polyethylene such as is widely employed for electrical insulating purposes and for the manufacture of flexible containers such as the familiar squeeze bottle.
- solid polyethylene e.g., ordinary commercial polyethylene such as is widely employed for electrical insulating purposes and for the manufacture of flexible containers such as the familiar squeeze bottle.
- non-ion exchanging polyvinyl resin is herein employed to designate the present class of vinyl polymers and to distinguish over the prior art use of ion-exchanging polyvinyl resins such as the sulfonated polystyrenes.
- the size of such particles will depend upon the nature of the subterranean strata traversed by the bore,'i.e., such size should be larger than the interstices or pores of the strata to be logged in orderto avoid the particlesbein-g carried into such interstices or pores.
- such particle size will correspond to between about 30- and Thus, they must be relatively about 300 -mesh, although particles of larger or smaller sizes maybe employed where the strata have unusually large or unusually small pores.
- the radioactive element with I which the polyethylene or polyvinyl resins particles are treated in accordance with the invention is a radioactive halogen, e. g., chlorine 36, bromine 82, iodine 126, iodine 130, iodine 131, etc.
- a radioactive halogen e. g., chlorine 36, bromine 82, iodine 126, iodine 130, iodine 131, etc.
- radioactive isotopes of iodine e.g., iodine 131
- the radioactive element is employed in elemental form rather than as a salt or other compound thereof.
- the step of treating the polyethylene or polyvinyl resin particles with the radioactive halogen consists simply in contacting the solid particles with the halogen at ambient or slightly elevated temperatures until sufiicient of the halogen has combined with the resin to give a solid having the desired radiation intensity.
- the latter will be governed by the sensitivity of the radiation detector employed in running the log and the conditions under which the log is run. Ordinarily, the contacting time is between about 2 and about 20 hours.
- the radioactive halogen is most conveniently employed in the form of a solution in a solvent which is a non-solvent for the resin. Solvents such as water and parafiinic hydrocarbons are preferred, and the concentration of the halogen solution may vary over wide limits depending upon the radiation intensity of the halogen. Suitable solutions may contain from as low as 0.01 to as high as 100 millicuries/milliliter.
- the treated resin particles are washed, suitably with water or the pure solvent, to remove the treating solution and are dried.
- the usual suspending fluids e.g., 'oil or brine
- suspending agents such as bentonite or organic dispersing agents and weighting agents may be provided, and the suspension may contain the usual concentration of the radioactive particles.
- Example I Approximately parts by weight of comminuted flexible solid polyethylene, having an average particle size of about 30-mesh, were placed in a vessel containing about 100 parts by weight of solution of radioactive iodine in iso-octane.
- the iodine was employed in the form of mixed radioactive isotopes in admixture with an inert carrier material in a ratio of about 1000 parts of carrier material per part of iodine, and the solution was prepared by dispersing about 1 part of the iodine-carrier combination in 100 parts of iso-octane.
- the solution contained about 0.01 millicurie of radioactive iodine per milliliter.
- the resin particles were allowed to stand in the iodine solution for about hours, after which the solution was filtered off and the treated resin particles were washed with hexane and dried.
- the method of logging boreholes which comprises in a finely-divided synthetic resin selected from the class consisting of polyethylene and non-ion-exchanging polyvinyl resins, said synthetic resin having previously been rendered radioactive by treatment with a radioactive halogen in elemental form, applying suflicient pressure to force said fluid'into the strata traversed by the bore, whereby said solid are deposited on the walls of the bore, and thereafter determining variations in the intensity of radiation from said deposited solids with respect to the depth thereof.
- the method of logging boreholes which comprises introducing into the bore a fluid having suspended therein 7 finely-divided radioactive solids under sufficient pressure to force said fluid into the strata traversed by the bore, whereby said solids are deposited on the walls of the bore, and thereafter determining variations in the intensity of radiation from said deposited solids with respect to the depth thereof said radioactive solids being those prepared by allowing a comminuted resin selected from the class consisting of polyethylene and non-ion-exchanging polyvinyl resins having an average particle size between about 30 and about 300 mesh to remain in contact with a solution of an elemental radioactive halogen in a liquid which is a non-solvent for said resin for g3. period of about 2 hours at ambient temperature in the absence of a halogenation catalyst followed by washing said solution from the resin so treated and drying the washed resin.
- the method of logging boreholes which comprises introducing into the bore a fluid having suspended therein finely-divided radioactive solids under suflicient pressure to force said fluid into the strata traversed by the bore, whereby said solids are deposited on the walls of the bore, and thereafter determining variations in the intensity of radiation from said deposited solids with re spect to the depth thereof said radioactive solids being those prepared by allowing a comminuted resin selected from the class consisting of polyethylenue and non-ionexchanging polyvinyl resins having an average particle size between about 30 and about 300 mesh to remain in contact with a solution of a radioactive isotope of iodine in a liquid which is a non-solvent for said resin for a period of at least about 2 hours at ambient temperature in the absence of a halogenation catalyst followed by washing said solution from the resin so treated and drying the washed resin.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Geophysics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Measurement Of Radiation (AREA)
Description
3,070,696 RADIOACTIVE SOLID PARTICLES FOR USE IN WELL LOGGING Cassius R. McEwen, Fullerton, Calif, assignor to Union Oil Company of California, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California No Drawing. Filed Sept. 19, 1955, Ser. No. 535,291
4 Claims. (Cl. 25083.3)
This invention relates to radioactive solid particles suitable for use in certain well logging operations, and to a method for preparing the same. It further relates to a well logging method in which such particles are obtained.
The use of radioactive substances in determining the variations in the permeabilities of subterranean strata traversed by a well bore is well known. According to one embodiment of such methods, a fluid such as crude oil or brine carrying suspended radioactive solid particles is pumped down the borehole under a pressure sufiicient to force the fluid out into the strata traversed by the bore. The various strata act as filters to remove the suspended solids from the suspending liquid. Since the quantity of fluid which is forced into any one stratum is directly proportional to the permeability of that stratumwith respect to the suspending liquid, the quantity of radioactive solids which is filtered out and depositedas a filter cake on the wall of the borehole opposite such stratum is like; wise directly proportional to such permeability. Accord ingly, after a brine suspension of radioactive solid particles has been forced down the bore under the aforesaid pressure the walls of the bore will bear a coatingof radioactive solids, and the thickness of such coating at any point will be a measure of the permeability with re-.
spect to the brine of the particular stratum which underlies the coating at that point. Since the intensity of radiation from said coating is directly proportional .to the thickness of the coating, a log of the thickness of the coating (and hence of the brine permeabilities of the strata which underlie the coatinglcan readily be obtained by passing a radiation detector, e.g., a Geiger-Muller counter, through the bore and plotting the radiation intensity versus depth. When it is desired to determined the per.- meabilities of the strata with respect to a fluid other than brine, such fluid is employed for suspending the radioactive particles.
As will readily be appreciated, the success and accuracy of the logging method described above will depend upon the radioactive solid particles possessing certain requisite characteristics. light in weight, ideally having the same density-as the suspending liquid, so that they may readily be maintained uniformly suspended in the suspending liquid. Also, they must be inert with respect to the suspending liquid and the environment in which it is employed; that is, the radioactive element in the solid particles should be of such nature and should be so combined withthe particles that 'it is not leached out by the suspending liquid or replaced by ions or other entities contained in such liquid, and is notabsorbed by or in the subterranean-strata, Furthermore, the particles should be of such nature that they are readily filterable, i.e., they should not swell or otherwise change physical form so as to clog the strata and impede the filtering action. At the present time the radioactive solid most widely employed is obtained by treating an anion-exchange resin with a radioactive iodide and thereafter treating the exchanged resin with silver nitrate to precipitate radioactive silver iodide on the resin particles. Such material, however, is not satisfactory for use where the suspending liquid is an oil field brine containing sulfide ion since the latter chemically replaces 3,070,696 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 the iodine in the silver iodide and the radioactive iodine is carried into the strata by the brine.
I have now found that a highly superior radioactive solid suitable for use in logging well bores by the method described above can be prepared by treating a solid polyclefine or a solid vinyl polymer with a radioactive halo- 0d by which the new products are prepared is very simple and inexpensive, and requires no special equipment or procedure. If necessary, they can be prepared at the Well site.
The polymeric solid which is treated with a radioactive halogen in accordance with the invention is preferably solid polyethylene, e.g., ordinary commercial polyethylene such as is widely employed for electrical insulating purposes and for the manufacture of flexible containers such as the familiar squeeze bottle. Alternatively,
other polyolefines such as polypropylene andvinyl polyfunctional groups are excluded. The term non-ion exchanging polyvinyl resin is herein employed to designate the present class of vinyl polymers and to distinguish over the prior art use of ion-exchanging polyvinyl resins such as the sulfonated polystyrenes.
Since the logging method to which the invention per tains operates on the principle of the radioactive solids being filtered out of the suspending liquid and forming a filter cake of varying thickness on the walls of the bore, the size of such particles will depend upon the nature of the subterranean strata traversed by the bore,'i.e., such size should be larger than the interstices or pores of the strata to be logged in orderto avoid the particlesbein-g carried into such interstices or pores. In general,'such particle size will correspond to between about 30- and Thus, they must be relatively about 300 -mesh, although particles of larger or smaller sizes maybe employed where the strata have unusually large or unusually small pores. In order to attain good filtering action and to avoid clogging the pores of the strata it is desirable to employ as large a particle size as is consistent with accurate results and the maintenance of .a relatively uniform andv stable suspension in the suspending liquid. q
i As previously explained, the radioactive element with I which the polyethylene or polyvinyl resins particles are treated in accordance with the invention is a radioactive halogen, e. g., chlorine 36, bromine 82, iodine 126, iodine 130, iodine 131, etc. By reason of the ease and rapidity with which the products of the invention are prepared it is possible to employ radioactive halogens havinghalflives as short as several hours. However, radioactive isotopes of iodine, e.g., iodine 131, are preferred by reason of their ready availability. It should be noted that in the practice of the present invention the radioactive element is employed in elemental form rather than as a salt or other compound thereof.
The step of treating the polyethylene or polyvinyl resin particles with the radioactive halogen consists simply in contacting the solid particles with the halogen at ambient or slightly elevated temperatures until sufiicient of the halogen has combined with the resin to give a solid having the desired radiation intensity. The latter will be governed by the sensitivity of the radiation detector employed in running the log and the conditions under which the log is run. Ordinarily, the contacting time is between about 2 and about 20 hours. The radioactive halogen is most conveniently employed in the form of a solution in a solvent which is a non-solvent for the resin. Solvents such as water and parafiinic hydrocarbons are preferred, and the concentration of the halogen solution may vary over wide limits depending upon the radiation intensity of the halogen. Suitable solutions may contain from as low as 0.01 to as high as 100 millicuries/milliliter.
Upon completion of the contacting step the treated resin particles are washed, suitably with water or the pure solvent, to remove the treating solution and are dried. Depending upon the half-life of the radioactive element employed they may be stored for varying periods of time prior to use. Conventional techniques are employed in preparing suspensions of the radioactive particles for use in the logging operation, i.e., the usual suspending fluids, e.g., 'oil or brine, may be used (provided, of course, the particular resin which the particles comprise is not soluble therein), suspending agents such as bentonite or organic dispersing agents and weighting agents may be provided, and the suspension may contain the usual concentration of the radioactive particles.
The following example will illustrate one way in which the principle of the invention has been applied, but is not to be construed as limiting the same:
Example I Approximately parts by weight of comminuted flexible solid polyethylene, having an average particle size of about 30-mesh, were placed in a vessel containing about 100 parts by weight of solution of radioactive iodine in iso-octane. The iodine was employed in the form of mixed radioactive isotopes in admixture with an inert carrier material in a ratio of about 1000 parts of carrier material per part of iodine, and the solution was prepared by dispersing about 1 part of the iodine-carrier combination in 100 parts of iso-octane. The solution contained about 0.01 millicurie of radioactive iodine per milliliter. The resin particles were allowed to stand in the iodine solution for about hours, after which the solution was filtered off and the treated resin particles were washed with hexane and dried.
When the resulting product was continuously leached with a typical oil field brine containing soluble sulfides it was found that it required 9 liters of brine to reduce the radioactivity of the product by-50%. In a similar test conducted with a product prepared by precipitating radioactive silver iodide in an ion-exchange resin it was found that only 0.7 liter of brine was required to reduce the radioactivity by 50%.
Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the materials or methods employed, provided the steps or the products stated by the following claims, or the equivalent of such stated steps or products, be employed or explained.
I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:
1. The method of logging boreholes which comprises in a finely-divided synthetic resin selected from the class consisting of polyethylene and non-ion-exchanging polyvinyl resins, said synthetic resin having previously been rendered radioactive by treatment with a radioactive halogen in elemental form, applying suflicient pressure to force said fluid'into the strata traversed by the bore, whereby said solid are deposited on the walls of the bore, and thereafter determining variations in the intensity of radiation from said deposited solids with respect to the depth thereof.
2. The method of logging boreholes which comprises introducing into the bore a fluid having suspended therein 7 finely-divided radioactive solids under sufficient pressure to force said fluid into the strata traversed by the bore, whereby said solids are deposited on the walls of the bore, and thereafter determining variations in the intensity of radiation from said deposited solids with respect to the depth thereof said radioactive solids being those prepared by allowing a comminuted resin selected from the class consisting of polyethylene and non-ion-exchanging polyvinyl resins having an average particle size between about 30 and about 300 mesh to remain in contact with a solution of an elemental radioactive halogen in a liquid which is a non-solvent for said resin for g3. period of about 2 hours at ambient temperature in the absence of a halogenation catalyst followed by washing said solution from the resin so treated and drying the washed resin. 0
3. The method of logging boreholes which comprises introducing into the bore a fluid having suspended therein finely-divided radioactive solids under suflicient pressure to force said fluid into the strata traversed by the bore, whereby said solids are deposited on the walls of the bore, and thereafter determining variations in the intensity of radiation from said deposited solids with re spect to the depth thereof said radioactive solids being those prepared by allowing a comminuted resin selected from the class consisting of polyethylenue and non-ionexchanging polyvinyl resins having an average particle size between about 30 and about 300 mesh to remain in contact with a solution of a radioactive isotope of iodine in a liquid which is a non-solvent for said resin for a period of at least about 2 hours at ambient temperature in the absence of a halogenation catalyst followed by washing said solution from the resin so treated and drying the washed resin. 7
4. A method as defined by claim 3 wherein the said resin employed in preparing said radioactive solids is polyethylene.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 22, 1950
Claims (1)
1. THE METHOD OF LOGGING BOREHOLES WHICH COMPRISES INTRODUCING INTO THE BORE A FLUID HAVING SUSPENDED THEREIN A FINELY-DIVIDED SYNTHETIC RESIN SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF POLYETHYLENE AND NON-ION-EXCHANGING POLYVINYL RESINS, SAID SYNTHETIC RESIN HAVING PREVIOUSLY BEEN RENDERED RADIOACTIVE BY TREATMENT WITH A RADIOACTIVE HALOGEN IN ELEMENTAL FORM, APPLYING SUFFICIENT PRESSURE TO FORCE SAID FLUID INTO THE STRATA TRAVERSED BY THE BORE, WHEREBY SAID SOLIDS ARE DEPOSITED ON THE WALLS OF THE BORE, AND THEREAFTER DETERMINING VARIATIONS IN THE INTENSITY OF RADIATION FROM SAID DEPOSITED SOLIDS WITH RESPECT TO THE DEPTH THEREOF.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US535291A US3070696A (en) | 1955-09-19 | 1955-09-19 | Radioactive solid particles for use in well logging |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US535291A US3070696A (en) | 1955-09-19 | 1955-09-19 | Radioactive solid particles for use in well logging |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US3070696A true US3070696A (en) | 1962-12-25 |
Family
ID=24133588
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US535291A Expired - Lifetime US3070696A (en) | 1955-09-19 | 1955-09-19 | Radioactive solid particles for use in well logging |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3070696A (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3252916A (en) * | 1960-06-30 | 1966-05-24 | Standard Oil Co | Process for impregnating an adsorbent catalyst with a radioactive metal isotope |
| US3339072A (en) * | 1962-06-14 | 1967-08-29 | Nuclear Science And Engineerin | Method of tracing iodine using i-129 |
| US3489218A (en) * | 1966-08-22 | 1970-01-13 | Dow Chemical Co | Method of killing organisms by use of radioactive materials |
| US3600582A (en) * | 1968-06-03 | 1971-08-17 | Dresser Ind | Radioactive tracer well logging |
| US3940612A (en) * | 1974-10-04 | 1976-02-24 | Continental Oil Company | Method for detecting and locating water-producing zones and/or water thief zones in subterranean formations |
| US4421982A (en) * | 1980-06-16 | 1983-12-20 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Apparatus and method for downhole injection of radioactive tracer |
Citations (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2462241A (en) * | 1946-11-26 | 1949-02-22 | United States Radium Corp | Radioactive metal products and methods of making same |
| US2503252A (en) * | 1947-06-27 | 1950-04-11 | Du Pont | Halogenation of polymers |
| GB646414A (en) * | 1946-05-31 | 1950-11-22 | Egyesuelt Izzolampa | Improvements in and relating to fluorescent luminous bodies |
| US2540049A (en) * | 1948-10-23 | 1951-01-30 | Continental Oil Co | Method of locating leaks in wells and well fittings |
| US2544412A (en) * | 1949-10-13 | 1951-03-06 | James M Bird | Process for measuring permeability and porosity of borehole substrata |
| US2554476A (en) * | 1949-01-25 | 1951-05-22 | Louis B Werner | Radioactive product and method of producing the same |
| US2588210A (en) * | 1949-11-18 | 1952-03-04 | Gulf Research Development Co | Method of locating leaks in well bores |
| US2733353A (en) * | 1956-01-31 | Auto-radiography of wells | ||
| US2805346A (en) * | 1952-12-22 | 1957-09-03 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Method of and apparatus for locating zones of lost circulation of drilling fluids |
-
1955
- 1955-09-19 US US535291A patent/US3070696A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2733353A (en) * | 1956-01-31 | Auto-radiography of wells | ||
| GB646414A (en) * | 1946-05-31 | 1950-11-22 | Egyesuelt Izzolampa | Improvements in and relating to fluorescent luminous bodies |
| US2462241A (en) * | 1946-11-26 | 1949-02-22 | United States Radium Corp | Radioactive metal products and methods of making same |
| US2503252A (en) * | 1947-06-27 | 1950-04-11 | Du Pont | Halogenation of polymers |
| US2540049A (en) * | 1948-10-23 | 1951-01-30 | Continental Oil Co | Method of locating leaks in wells and well fittings |
| US2554476A (en) * | 1949-01-25 | 1951-05-22 | Louis B Werner | Radioactive product and method of producing the same |
| US2544412A (en) * | 1949-10-13 | 1951-03-06 | James M Bird | Process for measuring permeability and porosity of borehole substrata |
| US2588210A (en) * | 1949-11-18 | 1952-03-04 | Gulf Research Development Co | Method of locating leaks in well bores |
| US2805346A (en) * | 1952-12-22 | 1957-09-03 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Method of and apparatus for locating zones of lost circulation of drilling fluids |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3252916A (en) * | 1960-06-30 | 1966-05-24 | Standard Oil Co | Process for impregnating an adsorbent catalyst with a radioactive metal isotope |
| US3339072A (en) * | 1962-06-14 | 1967-08-29 | Nuclear Science And Engineerin | Method of tracing iodine using i-129 |
| US3489218A (en) * | 1966-08-22 | 1970-01-13 | Dow Chemical Co | Method of killing organisms by use of radioactive materials |
| US3600582A (en) * | 1968-06-03 | 1971-08-17 | Dresser Ind | Radioactive tracer well logging |
| US3940612A (en) * | 1974-10-04 | 1976-02-24 | Continental Oil Company | Method for detecting and locating water-producing zones and/or water thief zones in subterranean formations |
| US4421982A (en) * | 1980-06-16 | 1983-12-20 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Apparatus and method for downhole injection of radioactive tracer |
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