Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Methods and means for casing integrity evaluation using backscattered x-ray radiation in a wellbore environment
-
Application No.: US16165579Application Date: 2018-10-19
-
Publication No.: US11035220B2Publication Date: 2021-06-15
- Inventor: Philip Teague , Melissa Spannuth
- Applicant: Philip Teague , Melissa Spannuth
- Applicant Address: US TX Houston; US TX Houston
- Assignee: Philip Teague,Melissa Spannuth
- Current Assignee: Philip Teague,Melissa Spannuth
- Current Assignee Address: US TX Houston; US TX Houston
- Agency: Adams and Reese LLP
- Agent Raymond R. Ferrera
- Main IPC: G01V5/00
- IPC: G01V5/00 ; E21B47/002 ; G01N23/203 ; G01V5/12 ; E21B47/007

Abstract:
An x-ray-based casing imaging tool, defined by a combination of source collimators, located cylindrically around an X-ray source and a rotatable two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector array, is provided, the tool including at least an x-ray source; a radiation shield to define the output form of produced x-rays; a direction controllable two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector array; an imaging window within the tool housing that reduces attenuation of x-rays passing through said tool housing; sonde-dependent electronics; and a plurality of tool logic electronics and PSUs. A method of using an x-ray-based casing imaging tool to determine the integrity of well casing or tubing is also provided, the method including at least: producing x-rays in a shaped output; measuring the intensity of backscatter x-rays returning from materials surrounding the wellbore; controlling two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays; and converting image data from said detectors into consolidated images of the wellbore materials.
Public/Granted literature
Information query