Patent ID: 8321131

Claim:
An apparatus for determining characteristics of earth formations surrounding a borehole, the apparatus comprising: a radiation source configured to generate two or more X-ray beams that enter a formation, the radiation source further configured to generate (1) a first X-ray beam that enters the formation at a first entrance angle during a first time interval and (2) a second X-ray beam that enters the formation at a second entrance angle during a second time interval, wherein the first time interval is different from the second time interval and the first entrance angle is distinct from the second entrance angle; at least one X-ray detector configured to generate a first signal indicative of X-rays returned from the formation to the at least one X-ray detector during the first time interval and a second signal indicative of the intensity of X-rays returned from formation to the at least one X-ray detector during the second time interval; and a housing accommodating the radiation source and the at least one X-ray detector.