Neutron Activation Analysis is the most sensitive analytical technique used to determine concentration of elements in a sample. Methods of neutron activation analysis have been known for quite a long time, since 1936. However, active development of this method in its technological applications has been started together with recent developments of powerful and safe sources of neutrons, precise and fast gamma detectors, high speed electronics, increased processing ability of the computers and growing demands for industrial processes automation quality control. We discuss as these latest developments influenced performance and utility of different Neutron Activation Analysis techniques and first of all accuracy and stability of analytical results. As a result of the mentioned improvements wide variety of neutron analysis devices has been employed recently for reliable and precise control in cement and coal industry, borehole logging, security monitoring, industrial elemental analysis for production automation and quality control, nondestructive testing. Company RatecLab Ltd develops universal detection system of high resolution gamma spectroscopy for tagged neutron analysis with time-of-light filtering (Skolkovo Grant 2014-2015. Such high resolution detection platform would address the shortcuts and problems associated with conventional detection systems that utilize detectors with relatively low resolution prone to high background problem and slow response time. We perform thorough research of new potential applications of such precise and fast Neutron Activation Analysis system for some unresolved demanding problems of industries such as gas and oil industry. In our opinion there are multiple new possibilities to apply systems with neutron interrogation for industrial production control, nondestructive pipe inspection, neutron radiography etc.

Monitoring of the process of oil production is essential for oil production control and optimization. About 70% of oil resource in a world is heavy oil. Largest of oil reserves located in Venezuela, Canada, Russia, Kuwait, Saudi, Mexico, China, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, USA consists from heavy oil, extra heavy oil and bitumen. It is still a challenge to find adequate and fair technology for heavy oil metering and control. The large number of multiphase flowmeters is defined for use in oil wells with viscosity much lower than 500cP, while metering of the Heavy Oil, Extra Heavy Oil, or bitumen in Hot Production brings lots of problems that conventional methods couldn't resolve. Ideal measurement technology for heavy oil production control must works at wide range of temperature, in low pressure environment, ensures accurate metering of fluids of high viscosity, with high water-cuts, be resistant to erosion, plugging, unaffected by entrained gas or solid particles, has low sensitivity to changes in emulsion characteristics and velocity profile changes. The best solution will be if measurement can be made inline, right on site provides measurement in a real time. We propose development of the multiphase flow meter based on the neutron activation analysis as the possible answer to heavy oil production control challenges. Preliminary investigations show that with careful adaptation of various neutron activation analysis techniques, measurements of the ratio of sulphur and chlorine, concentration and speed of oxygen, and other elements in flow will give precise information about water-cut level, oil/water/gas content, water fraction velocity and other characteristics crucial for well production process.