Well Logging Lab

Open Ended Lab

Problem Statement:
Determine, analyze and summarize the relationship between sonic slowness, bulk density and
neutron porosity.

Related theory:

Sonic Log:

❖ The sonic log is a porosity log that measures interval transit time (Δt, delta t, or DT) of a
compressional sound wave traveling through the formation along the axis of the borehole.
The sonic log device consists of one or more ultrasonic transmitters and two or more
receivers. Modern sonic logs are borehole-compensated (BHC) devices. Interval transit
time (Δt) in microseconds per foot, μsec/ft (or microseconds per meter, μsec/m) is the
reciprocal of the velocity of a compressional sound wave in feet per second (or meters per
second).

Principle:

❖ “The principles of borehole sonic logging are based on the theory of wave propagation in
an elastic medium.”
❖ The sonic or acoustic log measures the travel time of an elastic wave through the
formation. This information can also be used to derive the velocity of elastic waves
through the formation. Its main use is to provide information to support and calibrate
seismic data and to derive the porosity of a formation.

Density log:
❖ Formation Density logging is a well logging tool that can provide a continuous record
of a formation's bulk density along the length of a borehole.

Working Principle:
❖ A density-logging tool sends gamma rays into a formation. These gamma rays interact
with electrons in the formation and are scattered in an interaction known as Compton
scattering. The number of scattered gamma rays that reach the detector, placed at a set
distance from the emitter, is related to the formation's electron density, which itself is
related to the formation's bulk density via

❖ Where A is the atomic number, and Z is the molecular weight of the compound. The
electron density in g/cm³ determines the response of the density tool.
Bulk Density:
❖ Formation bulk density (ρb) is a function of matrix density (ρma), porosity and
formation fluid density (ρfl).
❖ Bulk density depends on:
✓ Lithology
✓ Porosity

Neutron logs:
❖ Neutron logs are porosity logs that measure the hydrogen concentration in a formation.
In clean formations (i.e., shale-free) where the porosity is filled with water or oil, the
neutron log measures liquid-filled porosity (φN , PHIN, or NPHI).

Working Principle:
❖ Neutrons are created from a chemical source in the neutron logging tool. The chemical
source is usually a mixture of americium and beryllium which continuously emit
neutrons. When these neutrons collide with the nuclei of the formation the neutron loses
some of its energy.

Density -Sonic Combination:

❖ Separation between the density and neutron logs is a common method for calculating
shale content because the two logs are often recorded simultaneously on one log. Thus,
this approach is easy to use. The sonic density combination is also practical, since the
separation in porosity units, is also proportional to shale content (as well as mineral
effects).

Advantage:
➢ Potential reservoirs plot along the closely spaced lithology lines, while shales tend to
fall toward the lower right of the plot.
➢ This can indicate the presence of radioactive reservoirs which are intermingled with
shales (which tend to have high radioactivity).
➢ Quite useful for determining some evaporite minerals.

Disadvantage:
➢ The choice of the lithology pair has a significant effect on the estimation of the porosity.
➢ The lithology lines are closely spaced, so any uncertainty in the measurements produces
large changes in lithology and porosity estimates

Sonic-Neutron Log Combination:

❖ The sonic neutron cross-plot method involves the simultaneous solution of the sonic
and neutron response equations for porosity. They are similar in form to the density
neutron pair and will not be repeated here.
 ❖ Complex lithology is best suited to this method. Since both logs respond similarly to
shale, the formulae do not have much accuracy in shaly sands. Gas effect is similar to
the density neutron cross plot.

Advantage:
➢ Given two possible lithology pair solutions, the porosity remains relatively invariant
between the solutions .
➢ The sonic is less sensitive to rough holes than the density.

Disadvantage:
➢ The combination of sonic and neutron data is not common.
Neutron – Density Combination:
❖ The combination of the neutron and density measurements is probably the most widely
used porosity log combination.
❖ Both the neutron and density curves are normally recorded in limestone porosity units,
however, porosity referenced to sandstone and dolomite can also be recorded.
❖ The combination of the density and neutron logs provides a good source
of porosity data, especially in formations of complex lithology. Better estimates of
porosity are possible with the combination than using either tool or sonic separately
because inferences about lithology and fluid content can be made.

Advantage:
➢ Given two possible lithology pair solutions, the porosity remains relatively invariant
between the solutions.

Disadvantage:
➢ In rough holes or in heavy drilling muds, the density data might be invalid.
Relationship Between Logs:

The relationship of these logs are as follows.

❖ (Sonic -Neutron Combination Curve) gives the relationship between sonic slowness
(Δt, delta t, or DT) and neutron porosity (NPHI), which is:
DT or Δt∝ NPHI
❖ When DT increases it means that rock is less dense that means it has more porosity.

❖ (Density -Neutron Combination Curve) gives the relationship between Bulk density
(RHOB) and neutron porosity (NPHI), which is:
NPHI∝1/RHOB(ρb)
❖ if a rock shows NPHI high means rock is highly porous that it is less dense.

❖ (Sonic-Density Combination Curve) gives the relationship between Bulk density

(RHOB) and sonic slowness (Δt, delta t, or DT), which is:
DT or Δt∝1/RHOB(ρb)
Combining these relations:

Δt∝NPHI∝1/RHOB(ρb)

Analysis of Relationship:
❖ Combined relationship shows that if a sonic wave take more time to reach the receiver
it means this rock is more porous and hence less dense. In contrast, if a sonic wave
take less time to reach the receiver it means this rock is less porous and hence more
dense.

Calculations:

Depth (ft.) Sonic Log Bulk Density Neutron Log

(Delta T, µsec/ft) (RHOM, g/cc) (NPOR)
11500 50 + .03 0.02
11550 52 - .06 .03
11650 57 + .06 .30
Comments & Observation:
➢ According to the calculations the transit interval time increases with the increase in the
porosity pf the formation. Increase in the bulk density value indicates the decrease in
the value of porosity.
➢ If a zone has high porosity then its neutron porosity will be high but bulk density will
be less as the velocity in high porosity zone will be less and hence increasing the
transient time so the sonic slowness will be more in high porosity zone.
➢ The graphical analysis using combination cross plots from time average data confirms
the same results at the value of transit interval time increases and the value of bulk
density decreases the porosity of the formation increases. Hence indicates that the bulk
density and porosity have inverse relation whereas transit interval time and porosity
have direct relation.
➢ Gas in the pores causes the density porosity to be too high (gas has a lower density
than oil or water) and causes the neutron porosity to be too low (there is a lower
concentration of hydrogen atoms in gas than in oil or water).