Alternatives to the Americium-Beryllium Neutron Source for the Compensated Neutron Porosity Log

Abstract

Monte Carlo simulations of neutron porosity logs were performed to examine the possibility of replacing the standard Americium-Beryllium neutron source. The candidate replacement sources were the Californium-252 radioisotope and the Deuterium-Tritium fusion reaction based particle accelerator neutron source. It was found that the differences in the energy spectra of neutrons emitted by the sources made an impact on the observed response. Both candidates were found to have potential as sources for the log.