Density Log

FAMILY OF NUCLEAR TOOLS

Particle GR Neutrons

Emitted
Source Natural GR Emitted GR
Neutrons

Shaliness Porosity
Application Porosity
Correlation Density
Lithology

Gas
Oil
GR Tools Density Tools Neutron Tools
 NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY
Spontaneous emission of ,  and  particles
from the nucleus of a atom
 DENSITY LOG

• Uses radioactive source to generate gamma

rays
• Gamma ray collides with electrons in
formation, losing energy
• Detector measures reduced intensity of gamma
rays
• Response of density tools is a function of the
formation’s electron density
• Electron density is a measure of bulk density
 DENSITY LOG

Bulk density, b, is dependent upon:

– Rock lithology
– Formation porosity
– Density and saturation of fluids in pore
space
 DENSITY PRINCIPLE
Detect GR’s from the source which have been
scattered back by the formation

Formation Low Density

Windows
Hydraulic
Stabilizer
sonde Cesium
Skid Source

Caliper
arm Detectors
Gamma rays Tungsten
Near Detector Bore Liner
Gamma ray Tungsten Far Detector
emitting source Shield
 DENSITY PRINCIPLE

• GR’s emitted into formation from source

• Detectors used to measure returning GR

• Energy level of returning GR measured

– High energy GR relate to - Density

– Low energy GR relate to - Lithology

 EXAMPLE DENSITY LOG
GR RHOB
0 API 200 2 G/C3 3
CALIX DRHO
6 IN 16 -0.25 G/C3 0.25
CALIY
6 IN 16

4100

Gamma ray Density

Density
correction

4200
Caliper
 DENSITY MEASUREMENTS
b
D
• Uses
Pe
– Porosity
– Lithology
• Curves
– Bulk density
(b and D)
– Pe
 BUT WHY TWO DETECTORS?
• If the tool is to read the density correctly, all
gamma rays must travel through the formation
• This is difficult due to mudcake and borehole
mud
• To avoid mud, the detectors are pad mounted
and press against the borehole wall.
• However, the mud cake is still present and
therefore there are two detectors to
compensate for it’s effect.
COMPENSATED TWO DETECTOR
Mud cake
(mc + hmc) Source : 662 KeV Cs-
137 gamma ray source.
Formation (b) Two detectors : Short
spaced and the long
spaced.
Long spacing Source and detectors
detector are pad mounted to give
contact with the
Short spacing
detector
borehole wall.
Source
 DENSITY LOG RESPONSE
1.7 Density (gr/cc) 2.7
es (ohmm) 2000 0.6 NPHI (v/v) 0 APPLICATIONS
Shale
Gas
Oil
Water
Sandstone

1.7 Density (gr/cc) 2.7

es (ohmm) 2000 0.6 NPHI (v/v) 0
Shale
Coal

Limestone

Shale To determine bulk density

Coal and fluids density
 BULK DENSITY INTERPRETATION

• The bulk density (in gm/cc) is the weighted

sum of the matrix and fluid densities

 b  (1 )  ma  fl
• Typical values
• Matrix density 2.65 SS; 2.71 LS; 2.87 Dol
• Fluid density
• 0.9 - 1 OBM and fresh WBM
• 1.1 - 1.2 salty WBM
 BULK DENSITY LOG
001) BONANZA 1
GRC ILDC RHOC DT
0 150 0.2 200 1.95 2.95 150 us/f 50
SPC SNC CNLLC
-160 MV 40 0.2 200 0.45 -0.15
ACAL MLLCF
6 16 0.2 200
RHOC
10700
1.95 2.95

10800

Bulk Density
10900
Log
 POROSITY FROM DENSITY LOG

• Porosity equation
ma  b

ma   f
• The fluid density equation
f  mf Sxo  h (1  Sxo 
 BULK DENSITY INTERPRETATION

• Rearranging the
equation gives
porosity

 ma   b
D 
 ma   fl
• Charts
– POR-5 (S)
– POR-10 (H)
 BULK DENSITY INTERPRETATION
• The D curve is “measurement quality”
• Poor pad contact gives D > 0.05
• Often correlates with caliper
D
CAL

-0.25 0 +0.25
 FACTORS AFFECTING
DENSITY LOG RESPONSE

• Borehole and mud filtrate effects

– mf can be measured
– Sxo can be calculated from shallow resistivity
logging tool
• Shales and clays
– Vsh and sh can be obtained from log readings in
shale zones
• Hydrocarbons
– In oil zones, hc = o which can be measured from
fluid samples
– In gas zones, hc = g which can be measured or
calculated using gas properties
 PHOTOELECTRIC INTERPRETATION
• The Pe value (in barns/electron) is the weighted sum
of the matrix and fluid capture cross sections

(1   ) ema Pema   e fl Pe fl
Pe 
(1   ) ema   e fl
• Typical Values
• Matrix Pe: 1.8 SS; 5.1 LS; 3.1 DOL
• Matrix ePe: 4.8 SS; 13.8 LS; 9 DOL
• Fluid ePe:
• 0.1 - 0.4 OBM and fresh WBM
• 0.4 - 1 salty WBM
 PHOTOELECTRIC INTERPRETATION

• The logging curve is Pe

• The product ePe = U, capture cross-section/cc

U  (1   )U ma  U fl
• This looks like the density equation
• We don’t solve for  because Ufl << Uma
 TYPICAL FORMATIONS
2 RHOB 3
0 PEF 10

Limestone 5.1 2.71

Dolomite 3.1 2.87

Sandstone 1.8 2.65

TYPICAL VALUES
 WIRELINE TOOL HISTORY

Powered Gamma Litho Density

Tool (PGT) Three-Detector
Tool (LGT)
Lithology Density
(TLD)

Flex
Joint

Nal(TI)Scintillation Detector Nal(TI) Scintillation Detector Nal(TI) Scintillation Detector

Geiger-Muller Detecter Nal(TI) Scintillation Detector Nal(TI) Scintillation Detector
Gamma Ray Source Gamma Ray Source GSO(Ce) Scintillation Detector
Gamma Ray Source

Flex
Joint
 DENSITY SUMMARY

• Very reliable tool

• Shallow depth of investigation - 10 to
15 cm
• Wireline tool caliper reads dh - hmc
• Logging While Drilling (LWD) version
has sonic caliper