Scintillation detector package having radioactive support apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9715022-B2
Application number	US-201313895130-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2013
Priority date	May 15, 2013
Publication date	Jul 25, 2017
Grant date	Jul 25, 2017

Abstract

A radiation detector package includes a support apparatus at least part of which is constructed from a naturally occurring radioactive material. A scintillator is associated with the support apparatus. The support may include a detector housing carrying a photodetector and the scintillator, and the detector housing may be constructed from the naturally occurring radioactive material.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A radiation detector package for detecting first radiation incoming from outside of the radiation detector package and second radiation from a naturally occurring radioactive material from within the radiation detector package, the radiation detector package comprising:
a support apparatus at least part of which comprises the naturally occurring radioactive material;
a scintillator at least partially supported in position by the support apparatus, wherein the support apparatus and the scintillator are configured to enable the scintillator to detect both the first radiation incoming from outside of the radiation detector package and the second radiation from the naturally occurring radioactive material from within the radiation detector package, wherein said support apparatus is configured to enable the radiation detector package to sustain downhole drilling or logging operations;
a photodetector optically connected with the scintillator; and
a gain stabilization circuitry communicatively connected with the photodetector, wherein the gain stabilization circuitry is operable to gain stabilize the radiation detector package based on signals caused by the second radiation detected by the scintillator.

2. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the support apparatus comprises a detector housing carrying the photodetector and the scintillator; and wherein the detector housing comprises the naturally occurring radioactive material.

3. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the support apparatus comprises a scintillator housing carrying the scintillator, and a detector housing carrying the photodetector and the scintillator housing; and wherein the scintillator housing comprises the naturally occurring radioactive material.

4. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the support apparatus comprises a scintillator housing carrying the scintillator, and a detector housing carrying the photodetector and the scintillator housing; and wherein the detector housing comprises the naturally occurring radioactive material.

5. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the support apparatus comprises:
a scintillator housing carrying the scintillator and having first and second ends;
a detector housing carrying the photodetector and the scintillator housing, the photodetector being adjacent the first end of the scintillator housing;
a base plate in the detector housing and adjacent the second end of the scintillator housing;
a biasing member in the detector housing positioned such that it urges the base plate toward the second end of the scintillator housing, thereby urging the scintillator housing toward the photodetector;
and wherein the base plate comprises the naturally occurring radioactive material.

6. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the support apparatus comprises:
a scintillator housing carrying the scintillator and having first and second ends;
a detector housing carrying the photodetector and the scintillator housing, the photodetector being adjacent the first end of the scintillator housing;
a base plate in the detector housing and adjacent the second end of the scintillator housing;
a biasing member in the detector housing positioned such that it urges the base plate toward the second end of the scintillator housing, thereby urging the scintillator housing toward the photodetector;
and wherein the biasing member comprises the naturally occurring radioactive material.

7. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the support apparatus comprises:
a scintillator housing carrying the scintillator and comprising a transparent window at an end thereof;
a detector housing carrying the photodetector and the scintillator housing;
a base plate in the scintillator housing adjacent the scintillator and opposite the transparent window;
a biasing member in scintillator housing positioned such that it urges the base plate toward the scintillator, thereby urging the scintillator toward the transparent window;
and wherein the base plate comprises the naturally occurring radioactive material.

8. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the support apparatus comprises:
a scintillator housing carrying the scintillator and comprising a transparent window at an end thereof;
a detector housing carrying the photodetector and the scintillator housing;
a base plate in the scintillator housing adjacent the scintillator and opposite the transparent window;
a biasing member in scintillator housing positioned such that it urges the base plate toward the scintillator, thereby urging the scintillator toward the transparent window;
and wherein the biasing member comprises the naturally occurring radioactive material.

9. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the support apparatus comprises:
a detector housing carrying the photodetector and the scintillator;
a base plate in the detector housing adjacent the scintillator and opposite the photodetector;
a biasing member in the detector housing being positioned such that it urges the base plate toward the scintillator, thereby urging the scintillator toward the photodetector;
and wherein the base plate comprises the naturally occurring radioactive material.

10. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the support apparatus comprises:
a detector housing carrying the photodetector and the scintillator;
a base plate in the detector housing adjacent the scintillator and opposite the photodetector;
a biasing member in the detector housing being positioned such that it urges the base plate toward the scintillator, thereby urging the scintillator toward the photodetector;
and wherein the biasing member comprises the naturally occurring radioactive material.

11. The radiation detector package of claim 1 further comprising a housing disposed about the support apparatus and the scintillator, wherein the support apparatus comprises a sleeve between the housing and the scintillator, and wherein the sleeve comprises the naturally occurring radioactive material.

12. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the naturally occurring radioactive material comprises a metallic substance in solid form.

13. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the naturally occurring radioactive material comprises a naturally occurring radioactive metal alloyed with at least one non-radioactive metal.

14. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the naturally occurring radioactive material is integrated in or on a non-radioactive substrate.

15. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the naturally occurring radioactive material is integrated within a ceramic.

16. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the naturally occurring radioactive material comprises at least one radioactive oxide.

17. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the naturally occurring radioactive material comprises Lu 2 O 3 .

18. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the naturally occurring radioactive material comprises lutetium and/or potassium and/or thorium and/or lanthanum or combinations thereof.

19. The radiation detector package of claim 1 , wherein the support apparatus comprises a detector housing carrying the photodetector and the scintillator; and comprising a naturally radioactive reflective material between at least a portion of the scintillator and the detector housing.

20. The radiation detector pack

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Ziegler Wolfgang
• Stoller Christian
• Stephenson Kenneth E

Classifications

• G01T1/20

  with scintillation detectors · CPC title

• G01T1/40 Primary

  Stabilisation of spectrometers · CPC title

• G01T1/20189

  Damping or insulation against damage, e.g. caused by heat or pressure · CPC title

• G01T1/20185

  Coupling means between the photodiode and the scintillator, e.g. optical couplings using adhesives with wavelength-shifting fibres · CPC title