FORMATION

EVALUATION:
NATURAL GAMMA RAY LOGGING
CONVENTIONAL GAMMA RAY
LOGGING
• The standard gamma ray (GR) tool is usually included on a modern
cased hole logging tool string. This tool contains no source and
responds only to gamma ray emissions from the downhole
environment. It is run to tie-in with open hole logs (depth control), to
provide information regarding shale, and for numerous other
applications relating to naturally occurring or intentionally placed
radioactive materials downhole.
CONVENTIONAL GAMMA RAY
LOGGING
• Sources of Gamma Radiation In Earth Formations
• Naturally occurring gamma rays in earth formations arise primarily
from three basic radioactive chemical sources. These are potassium 40
12

(K uranium 238 (U and daughter elements, and thorium 232 (Th

40 ) , 238 ) 232 )

and daughter elements

Types of Gamma Ray Detectors and Tools
• Two main types of gamma ray detectors have been commonly used in
the oilfield. The least sensitive is the Geiger Mueller detector which
measures incident gamma rays by gas ionization. This type tends to be
rugged and unaffected by high temperatures. It, however, lacks the
sensitivity of the newer scintillation detectors and hence is not often
used by the major wireline companies today. The scintillation detector
is typically a sodium iodide crystal coupled with a photomultiplier
tube to detect tiny flashes of light associated with penetrations of the
crystal by gamma rays.
Types of Gamma Ray Detectors and Tools
• Gamma ray tools are typically available in all sizes from as small as 1.0
in. (25.4 mm) diameter for through tubing applications to larger sizes.
They are rated to at least 350°F(177'C) and 15,000 psi (103.4 MPa) for
both temperature and pressure, respectively.
•#
APPLICATIONS OF THE GAMMA RAY MEASUREMENT
• The Gamma Ray-Collar Locator for Depth Control
• The casing collar locator (CCL) is a magnetic device which is sensitive to the increased
metal at a casing collar. It is almost universally run with cased hole logs and is the primary
depth control log, although a gamma ray alone may be used for depth control in some
cases.
• Bed Definition
• Because the gamma ray looks into the formation, it is useful for bed definition purposes.
Within a well it is used to define potential zones which are relatively clean and shale free.
• Evaluation of Shale Volume from the Gamma Ray Log
• It is extremely important to note that after a well is in production, the gamma ray log may
change due to the build-up of radioactive salts over time. These salt deposits or scales are
often referred to as "Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials" or NORM. As a result, if
an analysis is to be done for shale volume, the initial open hole gamma ray log should be
used if possible.
Shall calculation
NATURAL GAMMA RAY SPECTROMETRY MEASUREMENTS

• Gamma Ray Emission Spectra

• The main sources of gamma rays downhole are the uranium 238
(U238) and the thorium 232 (Th 232) series, including their daughter
elements, and potassium 40.4 Unlike conventional gamma ray tools,
the natural gamma ray spectrometry tools evaluate the energy
spectrum of the incident gamma radiation
APPLICATIONS OF SPECTRAL GAMMA RAV
MEASUREMENTS
• Improved Shale Volume Computations
• Mineral and Clay Identification and Volumes
• Logs Showing Spectral Gamma Ray Applications
• The following annotated log examples highlight the applications listed
below:
• Source rock/false shale having production potential
• Location of water producing perforations
• Radioactive scaling within reservoir rock
• Effect of muds/wellbore fluids containing potassium
• Natural fracture identification (slat deposits in fractures)
POINTS TO REMEMBER
• The conventional gamma ray log responds to all sources of gamma ray
emissions down­hole regardless of energy.
• The gamma ray equipment contains no radioactive material.
• The primary sources of naturally occurring gamma rays downhole are
potassium 40, tho­rium 232, and uranium 238.
• Th and K tend to accumulate in shales while U is soluble and not
necessarily associated with shales.