FORMATION EVALUATION

PETE 321

Lab 2
_______
GR

Spring 2005

Sections 501, 502 Sections 503, 504

Dr. David Schechter Dr. James Russell
Lab: Charles Ozobeme Lab: Kalwant Singh
Lab 3 objectives
o More information about GR
o Calculation of Vsh
o Geographix PRIZM tutorial
 Gamma Ray Log
Natural gamma-ray log is based on the measurement of natural
radioactivity of formation rocks, which depends on the content of
radioactive isotopes of uranium, potassium and thorium and, also,
on the lithological composition of formation rocks.

Types:
Natural
Spectral
Thorium, Uranium, Potassium

Applications:
Correlation.
Lithology indicator
Determining the shale content of rocks.
Introducing depth corrections to other well logs.
Detection of radioactive minerals.
Paleoenvironmental indicator
 Gamma Ray Log Interpretation
The interpretation of gamma ray logs can be
summarized as follows:

Clean sands, sandstones, limestones, and dolomites

have low radioactivity. Anhydrite, salt, lignite and coal
have also a low radioactivity.

Ordinary shales have a much higher radioactivity

than the rocks listed above. Shales are sufficiently
high in radioactivity and can generally be easily
distinguished from the other rocks on a gamma ray
log.
Gamma Ray Log

Figure: Scintillation Gamma Ray Detector

Gamma Ray Log
Gamma Ray Log

Gr max
Shale

Gr min Sand

Shale
 Spectral Gamma Ray Log

It is a borehole log
indicating the concentration
of thorium (Th), uranium
(U), and potassium (K) in
the rocks surrounding a
borehole.
Applications:

Estimate volume and type of clay

minerals
Identify fractures
Differentiate radioactive
carbonates from shales and clays
Spectral Gamma Ray
 Spectral Gamma Ray Log Vs Gamma Ray Log
Spectral Gamma Ray Log
It is able to detect and
identify the radioactive
source (gamma-rays from
Th, U, and K respectively.)
It is displayed as three
curves from all sources of
thorium, uranium and
potassium.
Gamma Ray Log
It is not able to discern
between the gamma-rays
from Th, U, and K
respectively; it just "counts"
the total number of gamma-
rays that hits the detector
per second.
The "output" is counts per
second (cps) that also may
be converted to API units for
gamma radiation.
Gamma Ray Log
Gamma Ray Log
Gamma Ray Log
Shale Content from GR Log
Shale Content from GR Log
GR GRMIN
I SH
GRMAX GRMIN