GAMMA RAY

A majority of the elements are found in a variety of isotopic forms. Many of these isotopes are
unstable and decay to a more stable form, while emitting radiation of several types. Gamma rays
have significantly high penetrations and can be measured by simple devices such as Geiger
counters or scintillation detectors on logging tools. Of the many radioactive isotopes which are
known, only three types occur in any appreciable abundance in nature:

The uranium series

The thorium series, and

The potassium-40 isotope

The measurement scale of the gamma-ray log is in API (American Petroleum Institute) units,
accepted as the international reference standard that allows consistent comparisons to be made
between a wide variety of gamma-ray counting devices. The API standard is set by the primary
calibration test pit at the University of Houston where a radioactive cement calibrator is assigned
a value of 200 API units and conceived originally so that a typical Midcontinent shale would
register at about 100 API units.
Analyses of the North American Shale Composite (NASC) reference standard reported values of
Th 12.3 ppm, U 2.66 ppm., K 3.2%, which converts to an equivalent gamma-ray log reading of
121.7 API units. Although higher than the vague assertion that a typical Midcontinent shale
should read about 100 API units, the hypothetical log value of the NASC standard is a good
match with the gray shales of the Pennsylvanian succession shown in the figure at right. The
black shales, however, are prominent as thin anomalously radioactive zones. Their markedly
different character is produced by a high U content that supplements radioactive sources in gray
shales of 40K contained in illite and other K-bearing minerals, and Th contained in monazite in
the silt and clay fraction and adsorbed at clay-mineral surfaces.
In the majority of stratigraphic and petroleum geological applications, the gamma ray log is used
as a "shale log", both to differentiate shales and "clean" formations and to evaluate shale
proportions in shaly formations. Typical sandstones, limestones and dolomites have relatively
low concentrations of radioactive isotopes as contrasted with shales. Most carbonates show very
low levels of radioactivity unless they contain disseminated shale or have been mineralized by
uranium-bearing solutions. Simple orthoquartzites show similarly low values, although relatively
high readings may be introduced by significant amounts of shale, felspar, mica or heavy minerals
such as zircon.
DENSITY AND NEUTRON LOG OVERLAY

The gamma-ray log generally allows a basic distinction of shales from non-shales but is not
usually diagnostic of the rock type in hydrocarbon reservoir or aquifer formations. Neutron and
density logs are used to evaluate porosity in these units but are also affected by the neutron
moderating characteristics and densities of the formation minerals. By overlaying the two logs on
a common reference scale, a true volumetric porosity can be estimated and the formation

lithology interpreted. A scale of equivalent limestone percentage porosity is the most commonly
used reference because limestone is intermediate in its neutron-density properties between
sandstone and dolomite.
A hypothetical overlay is shown of neutron and density logs for some common reservoir
lithologies and a shale in the figure. Shales show a high gamma-ray reading, a high neutron
reading, and a moderate density reading. Limestones generally have a low gamma-ray value, and
a coincident density and neutron response, because of common calibration to an assumed
limestone porosity scale. Dolomites have a low gamma-ray value, a relatively low density
porosity (because the grain density of dolomite is higher than calcite) and a relatively high
neutron reading (because the neutron moderating character of dolomite is higher than calcite).
Sandstones have a low gamma-ray value, a relatively high density porosity (because the grain
density of quartz is less than calcite), and a relatively low neutron reading. The true, effective
porosity of shale-free zones in the reservoir lithologies is approximately midway between the
two extremes of the neutron and density porosities.

THE PHOTOELECTRIC INDEX

The photoelectric index (Pe) is a supplementary measurement by the latest generation of density
logging tools, and records the absorption of low-energy gamma rays by the formation in units of
barns per electron. The logged value is a direct function of the aggregate atomic number (Z) of
the elements in the formation, and so is a sensitive indicator of mineralogy. The values are less
sensitive to pore volume changes than either the neutron or density logs, so that the index is an
excellent indicator of mineralogy. The common reservoir mineral reference values are : quartz
1.81 ; dolomite 3.14 ; calcite 5.08 barns/electron. The photoelectric index log is commonly
scaled on a range between 0 and 10 barns/electron, and a generalized interpretation guide is
given in the figure. The variable compositions of clay minerals means that their position on the
scale should only be taken as a broad indication. The ordering of clay minerals on the index is
almost entirely a function of their likely content of iron.
The photoelectric index log is particularly useful when considered in conjunction with the
neutron/density porosity overlay as an additional input to resolve mixtures of minerals such as
commonly occur in "complex carbonates" as cherty dolomitic limestones or anhydritic
dolomites. Successful interpretation requires the disposition of the neutron/density porosity
traces to be considered simultaneously with the Pe curve. The photoelectric factor curve should
be watched most carefully, because it has a finer vertical resolution (about half a foot) than the
neutron/density curves (about 2 feet). As a result, the Pe character can give a better reading on
lithology in thin beds, where the averaging effect of adjacent thick beds may smooth the neutron
and density responses adversely.

PEF VS SNPE
PEF is Photoelectric Effect Factor log recorded by wireline conveyed logging tools.
SNPE is Smoothed Near Detector Photoelectric Effect Factor log, recorded using LWD (Logging
While Drilling) tools. Most probably it is a log recorded by Halliburton Sperry Sun drilling
services.
Theorectically, both PEF and SNPE should be giving you similar readings.

However, since SNPE being an LWD log as well as using the near detector only, it may have
different readings when compared to wireline log PEF. Furthermore, the wireline log can be
more affected by borehole conditions and mud cake.
Having said that, the PEF values of 3-4 for shales seem more reasonable than the SNPE values.
Maybe the SNPE log is affected by barite in the mud, making it read higher.
If the PEF or SNPE values are reasonable in the reservoir zones, it should be alright to use both
these logs.
I don't think there is a way to convert SNPE into PEF log.
However, you may be able to normalize the SNPE log to a PEF log from a key well.
MULTIPLE LOG OVERLAY
The addition of the photoelectric index curve to the gamma ray and neutron-density log overlay
provides both additional validation of simple lithology picks and the resolution of ambiguities in
interpretation of "complex" (multimineral) lithologies. The generalized expectations of log
patterns for shales and endmember reservoir lithologies of limestone, dolomite, and sandstone
are shown in the figure.
In the examination of the neutron-density log overlay, dolomites and siliceous rocks (either
sandstones or cherts) can be recognized by the curve separations. However, the close overlay of
the two could be caused either by a limestone or a cherty dolomite (or a cherty dolomitic
limestone!). The inclusion of the photoelectric index can be used to choose between these
alternatives. Similarly, a dolomite reading on the photoelectric index curve could also be caused
by a cherty or sandy limestone. The simultaneous consideration of the neutron-density log
overlay resolves the more likely of these two interpretations. An example of the log
interpretation of simple and "complex" lithologies is described on the next page.

EXAMPLE FROM CENTRAL KANSAS

The example section has a variety of common rock type mixtures, which makes it a good
demonstration of the interpretive power of the combined photoelectric index and neutron/density
overlay. The Cherokee "Burgess Sandstone" is picked out by the density/neutron crossover
which is shown to be a silica matrix effect rather than "gas effect" by the Pe value. As with the
other log measures, the photoelectric index does not distinguish whether the silica mineral is
quartz sand or chert. This additional distinction must be made either from drill-cuttings
information or inferred from petrographic experience of correlative units.
The carbonates in the underlying Mississippian have zones with almost every mixed lithology
drawn from the three endmembers of limestones, dolomites and cherts. Limestones are easily
recognized as segments of Pe curve trace which are about 5 barns/electron, and a close match of
the neutron and density porosity curves. At higher porosities, limestones will show minor drifts
in the Pe value below 5, but these zones could equally represent either dolomitic limestone
(recognized by systematically higher neutron than density porosity, but "clean" gamma-ray
response), shaly limestones (higher neutron than density porosity, but indications of shale from
the gamma-ray logs), or cherty limestones (density porosity higher than neutron porosity).
Cherty dolomites are sometimes difficult to discern on the neutron/density overlay alone, and
may even look like limestones, because of the conflicting effects of dolomite and quartz.
However, cherty dolomites are marked on the photoelectric index by distinctive shifts downward
from the dolomite towards the quartz value. As with so many visual processes, the pattern
recognition of lithologies from these logs is easier to do than to describe in words! After some
limited practice, log sequences can be "read" for rocktype very rapidly, particularly since most
zones are simple lithologies.

LOGGING PROPERTIES OF EVAPORITES

The geological interpretation of log overlays is easily extended to sedimentary lithologies other
than the common reservoir lithologies of sandstone, limestone, and dolomite. The common
evaporite minerals of gypsum, anhydrite, and halite (listed in the order of their evaporitic
appearance in the Usiglio Sequence) have highly distinctive logging properties as shown in the
table:
Pe

neutron porosity

density porosity (bulk density)

Halite

4.7

-3

39 (2.04)

Anhydrite

5.1

-2

-16 (2.98)

Gypsum

4.0

60

21 (2.35)

and on the figure. Halite and anhydrite have markedly low and high bulk densities, respectively,
while the very high neutron porosity of gypsum is caused by hydrogen in its water of
crystallization.

LOGGING PROPERTIES OF COAL SEQUENCES

Clastic successions containing coals were commonly developed in deltaic environments with
clastic deposits of shales, siltstones, and sandstones, as well as occasional ironstones (typically
siderite). The clay mineralogy of the finer-grained rocks is quite variable and can show elevated
contents in kaolinite, particularly in paleosols. The logging properties of coals vary according to
their rank, but typical figures are:
Pe
Anthracite

0.16

neutron porosity
38

density porosity (bulk density)

72 (1.47)

Bituminous

0.17

60

86 (1.24)

Lignite

0.20

52

89 (1.19)

OZ MACHINE
When the Oz Machine is started it generates a synthetic lithology sequence and the
corresponding logs, displaying the logs only, leaving the depth track ready to be "painted" with
the an interpreted lithological sequence.
Painting is accomplished by clicking on the desired lithology icon on the right and then clicking
on locations in the depth track to which you wish to assign that lithology. The 100-foot thick

sequence is divided into 50 two-foot thick intervals, each of which can accept a single lithology
image. The lithology assignment for an interval can be changed by clicking on that interval after
selecting a different lithology or cleared by clicking on the interval after selecting the
"Unknown" button.
At any point in the excercise, you may turn on the "Check lithology" option (by clicking the
checkbox) to have the code compare your lithology assignments to the true (synthetic) lithology
values. Any incorrect selections are flagged with a red diamond and remain flagged until
replaced with the correct value (or until the "Check lithology" option is turned off again).
Clicking on the "New (without lithology)" button clears the display and replaces it with a new
synthetic log sequence with an empty lithology column.
Alternatively, you may click on the "New (with lithology)" button to generate a new sequence
with the depth track filled in with the true values, providing an opportunity to study the log
signatures produced by different lithological sequences.