Cesium-137 (Caesium-137) Gamma Well Logging Sources | Am-241/Be Neutron Well Logging Sources
QSA Global Inc. has over 30 years experience designing high-integrity sources for major well logging companies worldwide. Logging source designs are based on existing QSA Global IAEA-certified sources, or custom engineered & prototyped based on customer requirements. QSA also arranges for IAEQ Special Form Certificates, regulatory approval, and assigning US Model Numbers for new designs.
The design of well logging sources is generally constrained by the geometric dimensions imposed by existing bull plug and/or logging tool design. Other well logging source design considerations include implementing external features on the source housing to facilitate handling during wireline logging and logging while drilling (LWD) applications.
QSA Global manufactures a range of its own design logging sources. All gamma and neutron well logging sources manufactured by QSA meet or exceed the criterion for well logging as contained in ANSI N.542-1977, as well as the more stringent requirements of the Texas Regulations for Control of Radiation: 25 Texas Administrative Code §289.253(l)(1)(c), Part 36 108(a)(3), and the Louisiana Administration code 33:XV.2017.A.3.
Materials used in well logging encapsulations comply with the recommendations of the NACE standard MR 01-75 for materials used down bore holes in a sour gas environment.
High Integrity Sealed Source Encapsulation
The inner capsule is generally engineered using one of three industrial-grade metals; high quality AISI316L stainless steel, heat treated Armco 17-4PH stainless steel, or multiphase alloy MP35N in the cold worked aged condition. The outer capsule is made from either Armco 17-4PH stainless steel in a heat treated condition, or multiphase alloy MP35N in the cold worked aged condition.
Logging source material certifications are available upon request. Oil well logging sources are designed to withstand forces encountered during wireline logging and logging while drilling, without compromising encapsulation integrity.
Sealed Source Safety: Sol-Gel
The Cs-137 is contained in the form of a high temperature glass fused into a 316L stainless steel insert. Cs-137 in ceramic form is geometrically & mechanically stable and insoluble in most solvents.
The leachability of Cs137 from these ceramics exceeds the requirements of ANSI/HPS N43.6 1997 (ISO 2919), which defines non-leachable.
Quality Control
Well logging sources are sealed by high quality Laser or Tungsten Inert Gas autogenous welding. Pre and post production weld trials may be carried out for each batch of sources made; these welds are sectioned and examined for penetration and weld quality.
Each production sealed source may undergo a high pressure test. Logging sources can be certified for use, and tested at 30,000 psi or higher upon request. QSA Global has facilities capable of testing up to 60,000 psi at ambient temperature.
Each oil well logging source is leak and contamination tested as required by ISO 9978. Sources can also be examined by X-radiography. Inner source encapsulations are measured in a re-entrant ion chamber using standards traceable to a national laboratory.
Quality Assurance
All oil well logging sources are manufactured to a Quality Plan approved by ISO 9001 (2000) by LRQA (Lloyds Register Quality Assurance).
Regulatory Approval
All QSA Global gamma well logging sources are registered with the USA Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for use in well logging. In addition, they comply with the stringent requirements of the Texas Regulations for Control of Radiation: 25 Texas Administrative Code §289.253 (l)(1)(c), and the Louisiana Administrative Code 33:XV.2017.A.3.
QSA well logging sources also comply with the NACE standard MR 01-75 for corrosion resistance of materials for use down bore holes in sour gas environments. All well logging sources also have a current Special Form Certificate from a regulating authority.
Loading Facilities
Source loading into customer supplied bull plugs or nose cones, and assembly testing is available upon request. Visit Turn-key Services for more information.
Sealed Source Inspection and Re-encapsulation
In some cases, used sources can be removed from bull plugs and inspected, tested, re-certified, and re-encapsulated in new bull plugs. Further information can be provided upon request.
Well Logging Sources:
Contact QSA for more information on our gamma and neutron well logging encapsulation services.