POROSITY DETERMINATION

FROM LOGS

Most slides in this section are modified primarily from NExT PERF Short Course Notes, 1999.
However, many of the NExT slides appears to have been obtained from other primary
sources that are not cited. Some slides have a notes section.

OPENHOLE LOG EVALUATION

Well Log
SP

Resistivity

POROSITY DETERMINATION BY LOGGING

Increasing
radioactivity

Increasing Increasing
resistivity
porosity

Shale
Oil sand
Shale
Gamma
ray

Resisitivity Porosity

POROSITY LOG TYPES

3 Main Log Types
Bulk density
Sonic (acoustic)
Compensated neutron
These logs do not measures porosity directly. To
accurately calculate porosity, the analyst must
know:
Formation lithology
Fluid in pores of sampled reservoir volume

DENSITY LOGS
Uses radioactive source to generate
gamma rays
Gamma ray collides with electrons in
formation, losing energy
Detector measures intensity of backscattered gamma rays, which is related
to electron density of the formation
Electron density is a measure of bulk
density

DENSITY LOGS
Bulk density, b, is dependent upon:
Lithology
Porosity
Density and saturation of fluids in pores
Saturation is fraction of pore volume
occupied by a particular fluid (intensive)

DENSITY LOG
0

GR
API

CALIX
IN

16

CALIY
IN

16

200

RHOB
G/C3
-0.25

3
DRHO
G/C3

0.25

4100

Gamma ray

Density
correction
4200

Caliper

Density

Mud cake
(mc + hmc)
Formation (b)

Long spacing
detector
Short spacing
detector
Source

BULK DENSITY

b = ma (1 ) + f
Matrix
Measures electron density of a formation
Strong function of formation bulk density
Matrix bulk density varies with lithology
Sandstone 2.65 g/cc
Limestone 2.71 g/cc
Dolomite 2.87 g/cc

Fluids in
flushed zone

POROSITY FROM DENSITY LOG

Porosity equation

ma b
=
ma f

Fluid density equation

f = mf Sxo + h (1 Sxo )

We usually assume the fluid density (f) is between 1.0 and 1.1. If gas is present, the
actual f will be < 1.0 and the calculated porosity will be too high.
mf

is the mud filtrate density, g/cc

is the hydrocarbon density, g/cc

Sxo

is the saturation of the flush/zone, decimal

DENSITY LOGS
Working equation (hydrocarbon zone)

b = S xo mf + (1 S xo ) hc
+ Vsh sh + (1 Vsh ) ma
b

Recorded parameter (bulk volume)

Sxo mf =

Mud filtrate component

(1 - Sxo) hc =

Hydrocarbon component

Vsh sh

Shale component

1 - - Vsh =

Matrix component

DENSITY LOGS
If minimal shale, Vsh 0
If hc mf f, then
b = f - (1 - ) ma

ma b
= d =
ma f

d = Porosity from density log, fraction

ma = Density of formation matrix, g/cm3
b = Bulk density from log measurement, g/cm3
f = Density of fluid in rock pores, g/cm3
hc = Density of hydrocarbons in rock pores, g/cm3
mf = Density of mud filtrate, g/cm3
sh = Density of shale, g/cm3
Vsh = Volume of shale, fraction
Sxo = Mud filtrate saturation in zone invaded by mud filtrate, fraction

BULK DENSITY LOG

001) BONANZA 1
GRC
0
150
SPC
-160 MV
40
ACAL
6
16
10700

ILDC
0.2

200
SNC

0.2

200

RHOC
1.95
2.95
CNLLC
0.45
-0.15

DT
150 us/f 50

MLLCF
0.2

200

RHOC
1.95

10800

10900

Bulk Density
Log

2.95

NEUTRON LOG
Logging tool emits high energy
neutrons into formation
Neutrons collide with nuclei of
formations atoms
Neutrons lose energy (velocity) with
each collision

NEUTRON LOG
The most energy is lost when colliding
with a hydrogen atom nucleus
Neutrons are slowed sufficiently to be
captured by nuclei
Capturing nuclei become excited and
emit gamma rays

NEUTRON LOG
Depending on type of logging tool either gamma
rays or non-captured neutrons are recorded
Log records porosity based on neutrons
captured by formation
If hydrogen is in pore space, porosity is related
to the ratio of neutrons emitted to those counted
as captured
Neutron log reports porosity, calibrated
assuming calcite matrix and fresh water in pores,
if these assumptions are invalid we must correct
the neutron porosity value

NEUTRON LOG
Theoretical equation
N = S xo Nmf + (1 S xo ) Nhc
+ Vsh sh + (1 Vsh ) Nma
N

= Recorded parameter

Nma = Porosity of matrix fraction

Sxo Nmf

= Mud filtrate portion

Nhc = Porosity of formation saturated with

(1 - Sxo) Nhc = Hydrocarbon portion

Vsh Nsh

= Shale portion

(1 - - Vsh) Nhc = Matrix portion where = True

porosity of rock
N = Porosity from neutron log measurement, fraction

hydrocarbon fluid, fraction

Nmf = Porosity saturated with mud filtrate, fraction
Vsh = Volume of shale, fraction
Sxo = Mud filtrate saturation in zone invaded
by mud filtrate, fraction

POROSITY FROM NEUTRON LOG

001) BONANZA 1
GRC
0
150
SPC
-160 MV
40
ACAL
6
16
10700

ILDC
0.2

200
SNC

0.2

200

RHOC
1.95
2.95
CNLLC
0.45
-0.15

DT
150 us/f 50

MLLCF
0.2

200

CNLLC
0.45

10800

10900

Neutron
Log

-0.15

ACOUSTIC (SONIC) LOG

Tool usually consists of
one sound transmitter
(above) and two receivers
(below)
Upper
transmitter
R1
R2
R3
R4
Lower
transmitter

Sound is generated,
travels through formation
Elapsed time between
sound wave at receiver 1
vs receiver 2 is dependent
upon density of medium
through which the sound
traveled

Compressional
waves

E1

E3

E2

T0
50
sec

Rayleigh
waves

Mud waves

COMMON LITHOLOGY MATRIX

TRAVEL TIMES USED
Lithology
Sandstone
Limestone
Dolomite
Anydridte
Salt

Typical Matrix Travel

Time, tma, sec/ft
55.5
47.5
43.5
50.0
66.7

ACOUSTIC (SONIC) LOG

Working equation
t L = S xo t mf + (1 S xo ) t hc
+ Vsh t sh + (1 Vsh ) t ma
tL

= Recorded parameter, travel time read from log

Sxo tmf = Mud filtrate portion

(1 - Sxo) thc = Hydrocarbon portion
Vsh tsh

= Shale portion

(1 - - Vsh) tma = Matrix portion

ACOUSTIC (SONIC) LOG

If Vsh = 0 and if hydrocarbon is liquid
(i.e. tmf tf), then
tL = tf + (1 - ) tma
or

t L t ma
s = =
t f t ma
s = Porosity calculated from sonic log reading, fraction
tL = Travel time reading from log, microseconds/ft
tma = Travel time in matrix, microseconds/ft
tf = Travel time in fluid, microseconds/ ft

ACOUSTIC (SONIC) LOG

0

GR
API

CALIX
IN

DT
200

16

140

USFT

40

30

SPHI
%

10

4100
Sonic travel time
Gamma
Ray
Sonic
porosity

4200

Caliper

SONIC LOG
The response can be written as follows:

t log = t ma (1 ) + t f
=

t log t ma
t f t ma

tlog = log reading, sec/ft

tma

the matrix travel time, sec/ft

tf = the fluid travel time, sec/ft

= porosity

SONIC LOG
001) BONANZA 1
GRC
0
150
SPC
-160 MV
40
ACAL
6
16

ILDC
0.2

200
SNC

0.2

200

RHOC
1.95
2.95
CNLLC
0.45
-0.15

DT
150 us/f 50

MLLCF
0.2

200

10700

150

10800

Sonic
Log
10900

DT
us/f

50

EXAMPLE
Calculating Rock Porosity
Using an Acoustic Log
Calculate the porosity for the following intervals. The measured travel times from the
log are summarized in the following table.

At depth of 10,820, accoustic log reads travel time of 65 s/ft.

Calculate porosity. Does this value agree with density and neutron
logs?
Assume a matrix travel time, tm = 51.6 sec/ft. In addition, assume the formation is
saturated with water having a tf = 189.0 sec/ft.

EXAMPLE SOLUTION SONIC LOG

001) BONANZA 1
GRC
0
150
SPC
-160 MV
40
ACAL
6
16

ILDC
0.2

200
SNC

0.2

200

RHOC
1.95
2.95
CNLLC
0.45
-0.15

DT
150 us/f 50
SPHI
45
ss
-15

MLLCF
0.2

200

10700

10800

SPHI

10900

FACTORS AFFECTING SONIC

LOG RESPONSE
Unconsolidated formations
Naturally fractured formations
Hydrocarbons (especially gas)
Rugose salt sections

RESPONSES OF POROSITY LOGS

The three porosity logs:
Respond differently to different matrix
compositions
Respond differently to presence of gas or
light oils

Combinations of logs can:

Imply composition of matrix
Indicate the type of hydrocarbon in pores

GAS EFFECT
Density - is too high
Neutron - is too low
Sonic - is not significantly
affected by gas

ESTIMATING POROSITY FROM

WELL LOGS
Openhole logging tools are the most common method
of determining porosity:
Less expensive than coring and may be less
risk of sticking the tool in the hole
Coring may not be practical in unconsolidated
formations or in formations with high secondary
porosity such as vugs or natural fractures.
If porosity measurements are very important, both
coring and logging programs may be conducted so
the log-based porosity calculations can be used to
calibrated to the core-based porosity measurements.

Influence Of Clay-Mineral Distribution

On Effective Porosity
Dispersed Clay
Pore-filling

Pore-lining
Pore-bridging

Clay
Minerals

Detrital Quartz
Grains

e
e
Clay Lamination

Structural Clay
(Rock Fragments,
Rip-Up Clasts,
Clay-Replaced Grains)

ee

GEOLOGICAL AND PETROPHYSICAL

DATA USED TO DEFINE FLOW UNITS
Core Lithofacies

Core Pore
Plugs Types

Petrophysical
Data

Gamma Ray Flow

Log
Units

Capillary
vs k Pressure

5
4
3

Schematic Reservoir Layering Profile

in a Carbonate Reservoir
Baffles/barriers
SA -97A

Flow unit

SA -251
3150

3200

SA -356 SA -71 SA -344

3150

3100

SA -371

3100

SA -348
3250

SA -346

SA -37

3150

3100
3200
3200

3150
3200

3300

3150

3250

3200

3150

3250
3250
3300

3250

3200

3250

3250

3200
3300
3350

3300

3250

3300
3250

3350

3350

From Bastian and others

I. ROCK POROSITY
VI) Subsurface measurement of porosity
A. Types of logs from which porosity can be derived
1. Density LogPrinciple
a) A radioactive source, such as Cobolt-60, is applied to the borehole wall in a
shielded sidewall skid and emits medium-energy gamma rays into the
formations. These gamma rays may be thought of as high-energy particles
that collide with the electrons in the formation. At each collision a gamma ray
loses some, but not all, of its energy to the electron, and then continues with
diminished energy. This type of interaction is known as Compton scattering.
The scattered gamma rays reaching the detector, at a fixed distance from the
source, are counted as an indication of formation density.
b) The number of Compton-scattering collisions is related directly to the number
of electrons in the formation. Consequently, the response of the density tool
is determined essentially by the electron density (number of electrons per
cubic centimeter) of the formation. Electron density is related to the true bulk
density, b, which, in turn depends on the density of the rock matrix material,
the formation porosity, and the density of the fluids filling the pores.
2. Sonic LogPrinciple
a) A sonic tool consists of a transmitter that emits a sound pulse and a receiver
that picks up and records the pulse as it passes the receiver. The sonic log is
simply a recording versus depth of the time, t, required for a sound wave to
traverse one foot of a formation. Known as the interval transit time, t or
slowness, t is the reciprocal of the velocity of the sound wave. The interval
transit time for a given formation depends upon its lithology and porosity.
This dependence upon porosity, when the lithology is known, makes the
sonic log very useful as a porosity log.
b) The propagation of sound in a borehole is a complex phenomenon. It is
governed by the mechanical properties of several separate acoustical
domainsthe formation, the borehole fluid column, and the logging tool
itself.

3. Neutron LogPrinciple
a) Neutrons are electrically neutral particles, each having a mass almost
identical to the mass of a hydrogen atom. High-energy (fast) neutrons are
continuously emitted from a radioactive source in the sonde. These neutrons
collide with nuclei of the formation materials in what may be thought of as
elastic billiard-ball collisions. With each collision, the neutron loses some
of its energy.
b) The amount of energy lost per collision depends on the relative mass of the
nucleus with which the neutron collides. The greater energy loss occurs
when the neutron strikes a nucleus of practically equal massi.e., a
hydrogen nucleus. Collisions with heavy nuclei do not slow the neutron very
much. Thus, the slowing of neutrons depends largely in the amount of
hydrogen in the formation.
c) Within a few microseconds the neutrons have been slowed by successive
collisions to thermal velocities, corresponding to energies of around 0.25 eV.
They then diffuse randomly, without losing more energy, until they are
captured by the nuclei of atoms such as chlorine, hydrogen, or silicon.
d) The capturing nucleus becomes intensely excited and emits a high-energy
gamma ray of capture. Depending on the type of neutron tool, either these
capture gamma rays or the neutrons themselves are counted by a detector in
the sonde.
e) When the hydrogen concentration of the material surrounding the neutron
source is large, most of the neutrons are slowed and captured within a short
distance of the source. On the contrary, if the hydrogen concentration is
small, the neutrons travel farther from the source before being captured.
Accordingly, the counting rate at the detector increases for decreased
hydrogen concentration, and vice versa.