A Novel Uranium Quantification Method Based on Natural <i>γ</i>-Ray Total Logging Corrected by Prompt Neutron Time Spectrum

The drilling core sampling and chemical analysis method for the quantitative determination of solid mineral deposits has several drawbacks, including a low core drilling efficiency, a high core sampling cost, and a long chemical analysis cycle. In current uranium quantification practices, advanced t...

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Main Authors: Yan Zhang, Jinyu Deng, Bin Tang, Haitao Wang, Rui Chen, Xiongjie Zhang, Zhifeng Liu, Renbo Wang, Shumin Zhou, Jinhui Qu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7219
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author Yan Zhang
Jinyu Deng
Bin Tang
Haitao Wang
Rui Chen
Xiongjie Zhang
Zhifeng Liu
Renbo Wang
Shumin Zhou
Jinhui Qu
author_facet Yan Zhang
Jinyu Deng
Bin Tang
Haitao Wang
Rui Chen
Xiongjie Zhang
Zhifeng Liu
Renbo Wang
Shumin Zhou
Jinhui Qu
author_sort Yan Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The drilling core sampling and chemical analysis method for the quantitative determination of solid mineral deposits has several drawbacks, including a low core drilling efficiency, a high core sampling cost, and a long chemical analysis cycle. In current uranium quantification practices, advanced techniques have been developed to preliminarily determine the formation of uranium content based on the interpretation results of natural <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>γ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>-ray total logging. However, such methods still require supplementary core chemical analysis to derive the uranium–radium–radon balance coefficient, which is then used for equilibrium correction to obtain the true uranium content within the uranium-bearing layer. Furthermore, conventional prompt neutron time spectrum logging is constrained by low count rates, resulting in slow logging speeds that fail to meet the demands of practical engineering applications. To address this, this study proposes a uranium quantification method that corrects the natural <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>γ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>-ray total logging using prompt neutron time spectrum logging. Additionally, a calibration parameter determination method necessary for quantitative interpretation is constructed. Experimental results from standardized model wells indicate that, in sandstone-type uranium deposits, the absolute error of uranium content is within <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>±</mo><mn>0.002</mn><mo>%</mo><mspace width="3.33333pt"></mspace><mi>eU</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, and the relative error is within <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>±</mo><mn>2.5</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>. These findings validate the feasibility of deriving the uranium–radium–radon balance coefficient without relying on core chemical analysis. Compared with the prompt neutron time spectrum logging method, the proposed approach significantly improves the logging speed while producing results that are essentially consistent with those of natural <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>γ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>-ray total logging. It provides an efficient and accurate solution for uranium quantitative interpretation.
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spelling doaj-art-72f22040b4cd4315a7b728802361ecd72025-08-20T02:35:47ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-06-011513721910.3390/app15137219A Novel Uranium Quantification Method Based on Natural <i>γ</i>-Ray Total Logging Corrected by Prompt Neutron Time SpectrumYan Zhang0Jinyu Deng1Bin Tang2Haitao Wang3Rui Chen4Xiongjie Zhang5Zhifeng Liu6Renbo Wang7Shumin Zhou8Jinhui Qu9National Key Laboratory of Uranium Resources Exploration-Mining and Nuclear Remote Sensing, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Uranium Resources Exploration-Mining and Nuclear Remote Sensing, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Uranium Resources Exploration-Mining and Nuclear Remote Sensing, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Uranium Resources Exploration-Mining and Nuclear Remote Sensing, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Uranium Resources Exploration-Mining and Nuclear Remote Sensing, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Uranium Resources Exploration-Mining and Nuclear Remote Sensing, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Uranium Resources Exploration-Mining and Nuclear Remote Sensing, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Uranium Resources Exploration-Mining and Nuclear Remote Sensing, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Uranium Resources Exploration-Mining and Nuclear Remote Sensing, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaNational Key Laboratory of Uranium Resources Exploration-Mining and Nuclear Remote Sensing, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaThe drilling core sampling and chemical analysis method for the quantitative determination of solid mineral deposits has several drawbacks, including a low core drilling efficiency, a high core sampling cost, and a long chemical analysis cycle. In current uranium quantification practices, advanced techniques have been developed to preliminarily determine the formation of uranium content based on the interpretation results of natural <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>γ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>-ray total logging. However, such methods still require supplementary core chemical analysis to derive the uranium–radium–radon balance coefficient, which is then used for equilibrium correction to obtain the true uranium content within the uranium-bearing layer. Furthermore, conventional prompt neutron time spectrum logging is constrained by low count rates, resulting in slow logging speeds that fail to meet the demands of practical engineering applications. To address this, this study proposes a uranium quantification method that corrects the natural <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>γ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>-ray total logging using prompt neutron time spectrum logging. Additionally, a calibration parameter determination method necessary for quantitative interpretation is constructed. Experimental results from standardized model wells indicate that, in sandstone-type uranium deposits, the absolute error of uranium content is within <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>±</mo><mn>0.002</mn><mo>%</mo><mspace width="3.33333pt"></mspace><mi>eU</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, and the relative error is within <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>±</mo><mn>2.5</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>. These findings validate the feasibility of deriving the uranium–radium–radon balance coefficient without relying on core chemical analysis. Compared with the prompt neutron time spectrum logging method, the proposed approach significantly improves the logging speed while producing results that are essentially consistent with those of natural <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>γ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>-ray total logging. It provides an efficient and accurate solution for uranium quantitative interpretation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7219uranium–radium–radon balance coefficienturanium quantitativenatural γ-ray total loggingprompt neutron time spectrum loggingscale parameter calculating method
spellingShingle Yan Zhang
Jinyu Deng
Bin Tang
Haitao Wang
Rui Chen
Xiongjie Zhang
Zhifeng Liu
Renbo Wang
Shumin Zhou
Jinhui Qu
A Novel Uranium Quantification Method Based on Natural <i>γ</i>-Ray Total Logging Corrected by Prompt Neutron Time Spectrum
Applied Sciences
uranium–radium–radon balance coefficient
uranium quantitative
natural γ-ray total logging
prompt neutron time spectrum logging
scale parameter calculating method
title A Novel Uranium Quantification Method Based on Natural <i>γ</i>-Ray Total Logging Corrected by Prompt Neutron Time Spectrum
title_full A Novel Uranium Quantification Method Based on Natural <i>γ</i>-Ray Total Logging Corrected by Prompt Neutron Time Spectrum
title_fullStr A Novel Uranium Quantification Method Based on Natural <i>γ</i>-Ray Total Logging Corrected by Prompt Neutron Time Spectrum
title_full_unstemmed A Novel Uranium Quantification Method Based on Natural <i>γ</i>-Ray Total Logging Corrected by Prompt Neutron Time Spectrum
title_short A Novel Uranium Quantification Method Based on Natural <i>γ</i>-Ray Total Logging Corrected by Prompt Neutron Time Spectrum
title_sort novel uranium quantification method based on natural i γ i ray total logging corrected by prompt neutron time spectrum
topic uranium–radium–radon balance coefficient
uranium quantitative
natural γ-ray total logging
prompt neutron time spectrum logging
scale parameter calculating method
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7219
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