Reading the Rocks from Wireline Logs

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<< Gamma Ray || Density and Neutron Log Overlay || Photoelectric index >>
The gamma-ray
log generally
allows a basic
distinction of
shales from nonshales 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.

http://www.kgs.ku.edu/PRS/ReadRocks/Overlay.html

14/12/2013

Reading the Rocks from Wireline Logs

Page 2 of 2

Kansas Geological Survey, Oil and Gas Information

Updated Nov. 2003
Comments to webadmin@kgs.ku.edu
The URL for this page is HTTP://www.kgs.ku.edu/PRS/ReadRocks/Overlay.html

http://www.kgs.ku.edu/PRS/ReadRocks/Overlay.html

14/12/2013