Patent ID: 8648309

Claim:
For use in conjunction with a subterranean formation traversed by a borehole, a well logging method comprising the steps of: performing across an interval of the well at least one logging operation in each of which a logging tool, having a neutron emitting source and at least one detector sensitive to thermal neutron capture gamma rays, is moved through the borehole and used to generate detector capture gamma ray energy spectra as a function of tool position along the borehole; and utilizing said capture gamma ray energy spectra obtained during the at least one logging operation to determine the presence of high thermal neutron capture cross section material-containing proppant in the formation and/or the borehole region; wherein said utilizing comprises distinguishing capture gamma rays from said high thermal neutron capture cross-section material-containing proppant from capture gamma rays produced by thermal neutron reactions with other downhole formation and borehole constituents; wherein said distinguishing step comprises spectral stripping, least squares fitting, or other spectral processing/deconvolution methods to resolve the capture gamma rays from the high capture cross-section material in the proppant from capture gamma rays originating from other downhole elements/materials; and wherein said determining in said utilizing step comprises the identification of intervals in the well where capture gamma rays from said high thermal neutron capture cross-section material are detected.