Doc. No.

001/AI-EDD/LOG/PJA/IV/05 - Standard Operating Procedure

Issued on April 1, 2005

Developed by Imanuel W Pranoto
Date April 1, 2005
Reviewed by Peter J Altamore
Date April 1, 2005

GEOPHYSICAL LOG INTERPRETATION

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is aimed to ensure that:
1. Site or contract geologist & engineers have guidance to identify coal resource
from geophysical log.
2. Site or contract geologist & engineers have guidance to measure coal bed
thickness & partings.
3. Site or contract geologist & engineers have guidance to identify other apparent
feature such as structural geology and quality.

FREQUENCY OF REVIEW
-

METHODS
The geophysical log types generally used in coal bed recognition and stratigraphic identification
and rank, quality, and thickness evaluations are gamma ray & density. Because coal thicknesses
interpreted from geophysical logs are considered as points of measurement for calculating coal
resources, it is advisable to use only those coal thicknesses that are determined with confidence.
The gamma ray log records the natural gamma radiation from rocks adjacent to a drill hole. Coal
generally has low natural radioactivity as compared with other rocks, particularly shale, in a coal-
bearing sequence (figs. 1).
 Figure 1 Typical gamma ray responses in Figure 2 Typical density responses in
sedimentary formations (after Firth, 2000) sedimentary formations (after Firth, 2000)

A density log records the bulk density of rocks adjacent to a drill hole by measuring the induced
gamma rays emitted by the rocks after bombardment by a gamma ray source encased in a probe
and lowered into the drill hole. The denser the adjacent rocks, the more gamma rays are absorbed
and not returned to a detector in the probe. Most ranks of coal are low in density (about 0.7 to 1.8
grams/cm3) compared to adjacent rocks; therefore, a density log is an excellent tool for coal-bed
evaluation (figs. 2). A caliper log, which measures the diameter of a well, is generally run in
conjunction with these logs so proper interpretation and correction can be made. The cross plot of
gamma ray and density logs data for coal bed is shown in figs. 3.
 Figure 3 Lithology analysis derived from the log data
cross plotted (after Firth, 2000)

The measurement of thickness of coal beds on geophysical logs requires the identification of the
top and base of the coal beds by either of the following methods: (1) 1/3-point of inflection
method (the points where curves change direction), or (2) midpoints of inflection method
(arbitrary points located midway between the points of inflection). The 1/3 point of inflection
method is used for measuring the thickness of coal on gamma ray logs (figs. 4). The midpoint of
inflection method is used to identify the top and base of thick coal beds on the density (figs. 5).
Figure 4 Coal bed boundary determination Figure 5 Coal bed boundary determination
from the gamma ray log (after Firth, 2000) from the density log (after Firth, 2000)

DETAILS OF WORK PROCEDURE

1. The standard logging activity is by using a single probe with multiplex that
usually have dual density measurement in addition to gamma ray and caliper;
those are:
a. LSD = LD = Long Space Density
b. SSD = SD = Short Space Density = BRD = Bad Resolution Density
The old probe density usually only uses density (high source) & microDensity.
2. Check data completeness. Generally, there are 2 logs, those are gamma ray and
density log divided into two sheets of data, for 1:25 or 1:20 scale and 1:100 scale.
3. Log interpretation should be commenced from 1:100 scale to notice/observe
general condition and consistency of the hole entirely.
4. In 1:100 scale the followings should be concerned:
a. Sharp curves indicating main coal seams (SU, SM, and SL). Mark the
main seam interval to be interpreted further in a smaller scale.
b. Caliper curve accompanying density log. A good hole is indicated by a
straight and constant caliper. Caving is indicated by a sudden caliper
curve.
c. There is possibility of the same coal interval repeat indicating a
geological structure of fault or fold.
5. Then at the smaller log scale (1:25 or 1:20), determine the coal interval
previously marked at 1:100 scale according to the following method:
a. Starting from the thick and easily obvious interval, particularly for the
main coal seams.
 b. Mark the beginning and end of the curve at log and determine the mid-
point at SSD log or BRD log and decide the one third point from the
initial maximum curve (⅓-point) at gamma-ray log (Figure 4) to mark
coal seams. For Long Space Density (LSD), it is 1/5 from the beginning
of the minimum curve.
c. At the log density curve showing coal interval, it should also be noticed
small curves indicating material density value difference that can be
interpreted as parting inside seams.
d. Parting thickness interpretation can be supported by checking the
gamma-ray curve at the same depth where parting is estimated to exist.
e. Mark the respective interval above as roof and floor of each coal seam
and parting inside.

ACCOUNTABILITY
A. Manager Mining Services:
1. To provide all necessary resources for the task
B. Engineering Superintendent – Development:
1. To ensure the procedure is appropriate.
C. Senior Mine Engineer/Senior Geologist/Supervisor:
1. To ensure site or contract geologist follow the procedure in interpreting
geophysical log
2. To ensure site or contract geologist and engineers are adequately trained or
competent to interpret geophysical log
D. Site Geologist/Contract Geologist/Mining Engineers:
1. To apply procedure in coal resource identification from geophysical log
2. To apply procedure in coal & parting thicknesses interpretation from geophysical
log

Additional notes:
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References:
• BPB Instruments Limited, Coal Interpretation Manual, 1981
• David Firth edited by Peter Elkington, Log Analysis for
Mining Applications – Reeves, 2000
• Gordon H. Wood, Jr., Thomas M. Kehn, M. Devereux Carter
and William C. Culbertson, Coal Resource Classification
System of the U.S. Geological Survey, USGS Circular 891,
1983
• ID Balyden, PW Goodwin, AC Cook, Coal Basin Exploration
– Strategies, Methods, Analytical Programs and Case Histories,
1982
APPROVAL
Engineering Superintendent – Manager Mining Services
Development
Review #1 Name: Imanuel W Pranoto Name: Peter J Altamore
Date: April 1, 2005 Date: April 1, 2005

Review #2 Name: Name:

Date: Date: