FORMATION EVALUATION

PASSIVE MEASUREMENTS NATURAL GAMMA

PASSIVE MEASUREMENTS
Caliper
Spontaneous Potential
Gamma Ray
Natural
Spectral

GAMMA RAY LOGS

Uses
Correlation
Lithology indicator; exploration
for radioactive materials
Evaluation of shale content
Paleoenvironmental indicator
Open or cased hole; any fluids
Fracture detection
Properties
Measures natural gamma
radiation
random fluctuations

Rock Formations

GR Tool

GAMMA RAY TOOLS

1. The gamma ray tool records the natural
radioactivity of the formation without
regard to the source
2. The spectral gamma ray tool identifies
the source and gives the contribution
of each elements (potassium , uranium,
and thorium ) to the overall spectrum.
Also, it is useful in identifying fractures

API: (1/200) OF THE DIFFERENCE IN LOG

READING BETWEEN A HOT AND A COLD
ZONE

GAMMA CALIBRATION
HOT AND COLD ZONES
The Gamma tool is placed in the hot zone
(200 API)
and the gamma counts are recorded.
It is then placed in the cold zone and the
gamma
counts are recorded. The difference in
counts is
API
UNIT: (1/200)
OF THE
converted
by a gain
factor to represent
DIFFERENCE
IN LOG READING
200
API.
BETWEEN A HOT ZONE AND A COLD
ZONE

NATURAL GR PRINCIPLE
Cause
Unstable isotopes in
formation
Isotopes decay
Emit GRs (various energies)

Three main contributors

K40 with half-life 1.3x109 yrs
Th232 with half-life 1.4x1010
yrs
U238 with half-life 4.4x109 yrs

Sources
K40 feldspar, mica, illite
Th232 heavy minerals, clays
U238 organic material

Probability of Emission per Disintegration

1.46
Potassium

Thorium Series

2.62

Uranium-Radium Series
1.76
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Gamma Ray Energy (MeV)

GAMMA RAY CORRECTIONS

Gamma ray is corrected for borehole
effects
1. Hole size
2. Mud density
3. Tool position in hole (centering)
4. Casing diameter
5. Casing size and weight
6. Cement thickness
Depth of investigation 12 inches - 90%
from the first 6 inches

EXAMPLE
Gr log = 67 API
Hole size = 8 inches
Mud weight = 16 lbs/gal
Tool is centered
Od. of the tool = 3-3/8 inches

16

C.F=1.8

SOLUTION
GR COR /GR LOG = 1.8
GR COR

= 1.8 * GR
= 1.8 * 67
= 120.6 API

LOG

SHALE WASHOUT

From Dresser Atlas, 1982

WASHOUT

CORRECTED AND
UNCORRECTED
GAMMA RAY
CURVES
IN WASHOUT

From Dresser Atlas, 1982

STATISTICAL ISSUES
Measurement problem

API
0

120

GR emissions random
Tool moving

Shale

Results
Imprecise measurement
Details smeared out

Procedures
New tools better
detectors
Limit logging speed

5,400 ft/hr
1,800 ft/hr

4ft
sand

Old tools 1800 fph

New tools 3600 fph

Exercise care interpreting

boundaries

600 ft/hr

Shale

GR 2.25 FILTER
150
100 FPM

GR 2.25 FILTER
150
13 FPM
0

Are these
reversed?

GR UNFILTERED
13 FPM
150

EFFECTS OF
LOGGING
SPEED AND
FILTER LENGTH
ON GAMMA
RAY LOG
High-resolution logging
for thin bed, .I.e. coal, is usually
done at low speed to
better define bed boundaries
and partings

GR RESPONSE IN COMMON FORMATIONS

Shales often radioactive
Clays
Trace and heavy minerals

Sandstones may be radioactive

Units
GR calibrated to standard
Response in mid-continent
shale equals 200 API units
Calibration pits

50

100 API units

Shaly sand
Shale
Very shaly sand
Clean limestone
Dolomite
Shale
Clean sand
Coal
Shaly sand
Anhydrite
Salt
Volcanic ash
Gypsum

BOREHOLE

Non-clay minerals, e.g., mica,

feldspar
Clays

ZONATION

Zonation - Defining intervals of similar lithologic and fluid properties to

identify lateral and vertical changes in reservoir properties
Criteria
Lithology (correlation)
Fluids
Porosity and permeability
Lithology - Identify correlation markers
Distinctive shale spikes
Distinctive log patterns
Above and below interval of interest (bracket)
Begin with coarse zonation
Initially, well-to-well correlation of thick (several hundred ft)
sedimentary packages between distinctive markers
Next, correlate finer intervals (100 - 300 ft)
Finally, detailed evaluation of sedimentary facies (5 - 60 ft thick)
Considerations
Subtle lithologic (facies) changes
Fluid changes
Types of logs available

PASSIVE LOG
CORRELATION
GR, SP, and CAL
often correlate
different
measurements
different reasons
Correlation helps
GR instead of SP in
OBM
Easier detection of
shales
Facilitates
zonation

VOLUME OF SHALE

Gamma Ray Index

I SH

GR GRMIN

GRMAX GRMIN

RELATIONSHIP

EQUATION

Linear

Vsh = Ish

Clavier

Vsh= 1.7-(3.38-(Ish+.7)2 )1/2

Steiber

Vsh= 0.5*(Ish/(1.5-Ish))

Bateman

Vsh= Ish (Ish +GRFactor)

GRFactor = 1.2 1.7

CALCULATING CLAY CONTENT

(VSHALE)
Shale Index
GR GRmin
I sh
GRmax GRmin

GR (API)

GR (max)

100

90 GAPI

Shale

Calculating Vsh

Some Models:

Vsh I sh
Vsh I sh /( 2 I sh )
Vsh I sh /( 4 3I sh )
Vsh 0.33(2 2 I sh 1)

GR

Shaly
sand

48 GAPI
GR Tool

Numerous models
Always have Vsh < Ish
May only apply locally

GR 15 GAPI
(min)
90 GAPI

Clean
sand
Shale

I sh

GR GRmin
GRmax GRmin

I sh

48 15
90 15

C
ib
on
er
so
(~
lid
Te
at
rti
ed
ar
y
R
oc
Cl
as
ks
tic
)
s)

V SH RELATIONSHIPS

Example from Slide 28

I sh 0.44

Li

I sh 0.327

20%
14%

St
e

I sh

50 10

132 10

26%

C
la
vi
er

GR GRmin
I sh
GRmax GRmin

(~

Example from Slide 31

ar
e
n

0.327 0.44

EXAMPLE PROBLEM
Choose value for
GRmax and GRmin and
compute Vsh in sand
C using linear,
Clavier, and Steiber
methods

SOLUTION
GRmin = 10API

Grlog =50 API

GRmax =132

I sh

GR GRmin
GRmax GRmin

I sh

48 15
90 15

C
ib
on
er
so
(~
lid
Te
at
rti
ed
ar
y
R
oc
Cl
as
ks
tic
)
s)

V SH RELATIONSHIPS

Example from Slide before

I sh 0.44

Li

I sh 0.327

20%
14%

St
e

I sh

50 10

132 10

26%

C
la
vi
er

GR GRmin
I sh
GRmax GRmin

(~

Example from Slide before

ar
e
n

0.327 0.44

SOLUTION
GRmin = 10 API
GRmax = 132 API
Choosing a depth in SAND C , say GR =50 API
Linear

Vsh = 0.327

Clavier Vsh = 0.175

Steiber

Vsh = 0.139