PNN Conference 2009

Pulse Neutron Neutron (PNN) tool logging for porosity

Some theoretical aspects
Goran Mancic
Hotwell, Austria, Klingenbach
gmancic@hotwell.at

Introduction
Perhaps the most criticism of Pulse Neutron Neuron (PNN) logging methods has been charge
that PNN is to sensitive to the borehole. By this, it is usually meant that the response of neutron
logs is influenced excessively by such factors as borehole size, type of fluid in the borehole or the
position of the logging instrument in the borehole. To these, can be added the adverse effect of
mudcake in open-hole logging and cementing in cased-hole applications.
The best measures for alleviating these various difficulties are not immediately obvious. However,
it is known that on a relative basis the strong attenuator for both epithermal and thermal neutrons
is the liquid-filled borehole and a weak attenuator is the formation. Thus, to increase sensitivity to
the properties of the formation (or decrease borehole sensitivity) the detector should be
positioned as far from the source as possible, allowing those neutrons which travel toward the
detector within borehole to be attenuated relative to those traveling in the proper direction within
the formation.
At least two neutron groups are required for thermal neutron computations, one for epithermal
neutrons (energies above 1eV), and one for the thermal neutrons (energies less than 1 eV).

Theoretical Considerations
Two group neutron diffusion equations:

Depith. 2epith. repithermal epith + S = 0

(1)

Dth.ermal 2th.ermal rthermal thermal + repithermal epithermal = 0

(2)

Where: - neutron flux, S is the neutron source strength per unit volume, D is the diffusion
coefficient and r is removal cross section. (*- explanation below).
Solution of (1) and (2) for the case of a point source in an infinite homogeneous medium is:
2

Q e Lepith
epith (r ) =
4Depith
r

(3)

r
r
Lepitherma

l
e
QL2thermal
e Lthermal
thermal (r ) =

r
r
4Dthermal ( L2epithermal L2thermal )

(4)

Where: Q-is the point neutron source strength (neutron/sec), r is distance source-detector.
Slowing down length Lepithermal and thermal neutron diffusion length Lthermal are defined by:

*-In mathematics and physics, the Laplace operator or Laplacian, denoted by

or
and named after PierreSimon de Laplace, is a differential operator, specifically an important case of an elliptic operator, with many applications.
In physics, it is used in modeling of wave propagation, heat flow and forming the Helmholtz equation. In three dimensions,
it is common to work with the Laplacian in a variety of different coordinate systems.In Cartesian coordinates,

Neutron tools logging for porosity

Some theoretical aspects
Author: Goran Mancic

PNN Conference 2009

Lepithermal =

Lthermal =

Depithermal

(5)

repithermal

Dthermal
rthermal
Porosity (%)
5
15
30

(6)

L1 (cm)
19.1
12.0
9.6

L2 (cm)
11.5
7.3
4.6

Table 1- Epithermal and thermal neutron parameters for silicate sandstone saturated with salt water containing
100000ppm NaCl.

The spatial behavior of thermal will be governed for large values of r by L1 or L2, depending upon
which is larger. This is important because Table 1 shows that L1 is always larger than L2 for salt
water saturated sandstone. Thus, for sufficiently large r, the spatial distribution of thermal
neutrons will be governed by an epithermal neutron parameter Lepithermal.
For the low porosities, using exponential part of equation 4 can be shown that part which contains
Lepithermal or slowing down length is always greater than part which contains diffusion length of
thermal neutrons. If r is more than 70cm, parameter which contains diffusion length is negligible.
This effect is more emphasized on higher porosities. (Figure 1 and 2).

Figure 1 Red color epithermal part of equation (4), blue color thermal part of equation (4), black color is difference
between epithermal part and thermal part of equation (4). Theoretical values for silicate sandstone 30 pu, 100000ppm of
NaCl.

Figure 2 Red color epithermal part of equation (4), blue color thermal part of equation (4), black color is difference
between epithermal part and thermal part of equation (4). Theoretical values for silicate sandstone 5 pu, 100000ppm of
NaCl.

Neutron tools logging for porosity

Some theoretical aspects
Author: Goran Mancic

PNN Conference 2009

This result implies that for source detector spacing of 70cm or greater the equation (4) can be
rewrite as a reasonable approximation:
r
Lepitherma
l
e
QL2thermal
thermal (r ) =

r
4Dthermal ( L2epithermal L2thermal )

(7)

Although the spatial shape of this expression is governed by slowing down length, the magnitude
of thermal neutron flux is still scaled by thermal neutron parameters. Clearly, the essentially all
dependence of a thermal neutron measurement upon thermal neutron parameters can be
eliminated simply by making measurements at two sufficiently distant points r1 and r2 and taking
their ratio; thus

2 (r1 ) r2 L
e
1 (r2 ) r1

r1 r2

epithermal

(8)

This ratio is not only independent of thermal neutron diffusion length and coefficient, but Q
(neutron source strength) as well.
There are several reasons for wanting to make a thermal neutron measurement which is sensitive
only to slowing down length. First, slowing down length is principally determined by the
concentration of hydrogen in a medium and hydrogen concentration can be frequently be related
to rock porosity. (Notable exceptions are zones containing low pressure gas or substantial
amounts of bound hydrogen.) It is also very desirable for the response to be independent of
diffusion length because diffusion length varies significantly with water salinity and rock type. Of
equal importance, the measurable thermal neutron density at any point in the borehole or
formation usually exceeds the measurable epithermal neutron density at that point by a
considerable amount.

Porosity

Epithermal parameters

Thermal parameters
Fresh Water
Salt water 100000 ppm
L(cm)
D(cm)
L(cm)
D(cm)
L(cm)
D(cm)
3
17.8
91.4
14.3
1.07
13.1
1.08
11
13.7*
85.4
10.7
0.742
8.5
0.750
23
11.5*
80.4
7.7
0.514
5.6
0.523
34
10.5*
77
6.2
0.393
4.2
0.401
50
9.1
73.6
5.8
0.298
3.1
0.304
100
7.0*
68.8
2.8
0.167
1.7
0.171
Table 2 Experimental and computed neutron parameters, for fast neutrons mean energy
4.46MeV.

FIELD SIMULATION
It has shown theoretically that thermal neutron measurements made at large source detector
spacing respond almost exclusively to changes in Lepithrmal.
Above conclusions was used on field example for modeling PNN response. In august 2007, PNN
was logged in open hole, immediately after OH logging. Open hole was logged with Western Atlas
3600 series equipment. Logged was CN2435 and compensated density, CDL 2227, with other
logs.
Well was drilled with standard 8.5 bit. Drilling mud was in the borehole. Open hole log is shown
on figure (3).
Based on porosity log, L and D for epithermal and thermal parameters were calculated for PNN
based on the data shown in table 2. These data were input in formula 4. Parameter r detector
source distance is set as for PNN, rnear was 40cm, and rfar was 54cm. Applying formula (4) with
these parameters, blue curve was created as a ratio between count rates on two detectors. Red
curve represents logged ratio curve from PNN log. Black curve is logged ratio curve from
compensated neutron CN 2435. This is shown in figure 4.
Neutron tools logging for porosity
Some theoretical aspects
Author: Goran Mancic

PNN Conference 2009

It is clearly that blue and red curve does not fit with black one, which represents neutron porosity
curves.
According to conclusions listed above, values for rnear=70cm and rfar=92cm were chosen. To fit as
much as possible with CN 2435 ratio curve, offset=-2 was added to simulated ratio. This situation
is presented on figure 5.

Figure 3 Open hole diagram. Blue is CN in the scale 60-0,

red is bulk density on the scale 1.95-2.95, and green is
GR in the scale 50-350

Figure 4 Different ratio curves. Black is ratio curve

CN 2435, , red is logged PNN ratio curve, and blue
is simulated ratio curve, using equation 4, with
with rnear=40cm and rfar=54cm.

Neutron tools logging for porosity

Some theoretical aspects
Author: Goran Mancic

PNN Conference 2009

Figure 5 Different ratio curves. Black is ratio curve CN 2435, Figure 6 Black is logged porosity with CN 2435 tool,
and blue is simulated ratio curves, using equations 4,
red is simulated porosity curves with longer spacing using
with rnear=70cm and rfar=92cm
same polynomial presentation as for CN 2435, with tool
constant 0.96, and blue one is PNN porosity curve with
the same polynomial presentation.

This approach was tested on few other wells where was CN2435 data available. Results were
same as on previous example, so other diagrams were not shown.
Field, real, data are different from simulated data. Based on polynomial presentation from
CN2435, new polynomial was generated to fit all data from the well. Natural GR curve was used
to normalize ratio depend on the lithology. Both ratios in combination were used to create CN
curve, using idea that the truth is somewhere between them.
Result is shown on figure 7. Fairly good matching is achieved. Analyses of data showed that PNN
obtained data are inside of (+/-) 7% value logged with CN2435, which can be accepted as a
repeatability allowed for CN2435 tool.
Following examples shows results of the same procedure applied on different wells.

Neutron tools logging for porosity

Some theoretical aspects
Author: Goran Mancic

PNN Conference 2009

Figure 7 Blue curve is original CN2435 log, and red curve is obtained from PNN log. Scale is +45pu right and -15pu left.

Example A Well drilled 8.5 bit, produced from open hole, perforated from 1287-1377, water
salinity inside borehole 138000ppm, two years before PNN logging, well was treating with acid
from 1287m to 1358m. Bottom of the well 1367m. Casing shoe 1287m.
Results presented on the figure 8.
Example B In the well is tubing 2-7/8 to 2720m, and depth in casing is up to 2772m.
Perforated interval 2725m 2735m. Fluid in the well was water, and formation water salinity
40000-50000ppm. Well logged in shut in condition. Results presented on the figure 9.

Neutron tools logging for porosity

Some theoretical aspects
Author: Goran Mancic

PNN Conference 2009

Figure 8 Well A - Left - SSN blue, LSN red. Right CN curve blue, PNN porosity curve red.

Neutron tools logging for porosity

Some theoretical aspects
Author: Goran Mancic

PNN Conference 2009

Figure 9 Well B - Left - SSN blue, LSN red. Right CN curve blue, PNN porosity curve red.

Neutron tools logging for porosity

Some theoretical aspects
Author: Goran Mancic

PNN Conference 2009

CONCLUSION
Two-group neutron diffusion theory was used in this paperwork to study theoretical response of
PNN tool for porosity evaluation. In undisturbed open hole conditions, theoretical results obtained
thru simple simulation were very similar to data recorded on the field.
Relation between ratio curve and porosity curve from open hole was established through same
polynomial presentation as for the Western Atlas CN tool series 2435.
Changing distance between neutron generator and two detectors was shown that relative number
of thermal neutrons detected on two detectors (their ratio) can be used as a measure of single
epithermal neutron parameter, the slowing down length of the formation.
For real data keeping CN2435 polynomial as a basic, it is possible to use only one polynomial
presentation for all PNN tools with porosity calculations in the limits of acceptable. Well conditions
must be taken in account in porosity evaluation.

Literature L.S.Allen,C.W.Tittle,W.R.Mills,R.L.Caldwell,
DUAL-SPACED NEUTRON LOGGING FOR POROSITY
Geophysics, VOL.XXXII, NO.1 (February 1967)

Neutron tools logging for porosity

Some theoretical aspects
Author: Goran Mancic