Feasibility study of experimental detection of the hydrogen content in rock material by a pulsed neutron method

Abstract

Theoretical principles of a pulsed neutron method to measure the water or hydrogen content in a rock material have been tested on the experimental set-up at the fast neutron generator in the INP. The time decay constant of the thermal neutron flux in the samples has been measured as a function of the hydrogen content. Dry crumbled granite has been used as a rock sample. The hydrogen content has varied due to addition of a defined amount of polyethylene (0 to 20 %). A few arrangements (neutron source + sample) have been tried. A dedicated pulsed thermal neutron source has been designed and built. The measuring set-up has been chosen for a final elaboration of the method.