Determination of oil and water in drilled bore cores via fast-neutron resonance transmission radiography

Fast-Neutron Resonance Transmission (FNRT) Radiography was applied to the rapid, non-destructive and quantitative determination of the oil and water weight fractions in cores taken from subterranean or underwater geological formations. In this article, we describe the FNRT method and present results of an experimental determination of oil and water weight fractions in synthetic samples containing minerals, oil and water as well as in 10 cm thick rock samples of Berea Sandstone and Indiana Limestone formations. Moreover, Monte-Carlo simulations, demonstrate the possibility of determining the oil grade contained in the rock by calculating its C/H ratio. This is of a prime importance in decision-making during a drilling process. The technique is suitable for all types of formations, including tight shales, clays and oil sands.