WELL LOGGING (PE413)

GAMMA RAY (GR) LOG

NUCLEAR LOGS

There are a very large number of nuclear well logs, the more common basic logs are:

1. Conventional Natural Gamma Ray (GR).

2. Spectral Gamma Ray (SGR).

3. Formation Density Compensated (FDC).

4. Photoelectric Effect or Lithology (PE).

5. Compensated Neutron (CNL).

6. Sidewall Neutron Porosity (SNP).

Sophisticated nuclear logs now detect particular and measure individual element
compositions for C, 0, Cl, H, Si, Ca, Fe, and S.

 WHAT IS GAMMA RAY LOG?

Defined is a tool measurement of natural Radioactivity in formation verses in depth,

produced by three radioactivity series found in the earth crust which are :

Potassium (K40) by (%).

Uranium (U) by (ppm).

Thorium (Th) by (ppm).

It is known as shale log, because is reflects shale or clay content K, Th, U tend to be
concentrated in shale’s and are low or absent in clean sandstones and carbonates, the
gamma response is similar to the SP log.

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 THE RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS IN SEDIMENTARY ROCK?

The three radioactive elements measured by the Gamma Ray log occur in different parts of the
sedimentary Rock.

In Carbonate
Uranium: indicates phosphates, organic matter and stylolites.
Thorium: indicates clay content.
Potassium: indicate clay content, radioactive evaporates.
In Clastic (Sand)
Thorium: indicates clay content, heavy mineral.
Potassium: indicate mica, micaceous clay, and feldspars.
In Shale
Uranium: suggest source rock.
Thorium: indicates amount of detrital materials.
Potassium: indicate clay type and mica.

 HOW IT IS WOK GAMMA RAY LOG TOOL?

A Gamma source used to bombard the Formation and the scattered energy returning to
wellbore which is measured.
The source is pressed onto the borehole wall by a pad. Two detectors are used at different
distances from source so that a correction for the effect of mud cake can be made.
The GR passing through rocks are slowed and absorbed at rate depend on formation density.
Less dense formations exhibit more radioactivity than Dense Formation even though there
may be the same quantities of radioactivity material per unit volume.

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 TYPE OF GAMMA RAY LOG TOOLS:

I-Standard/total gamma ray (SGR/GR):

It is measure the gamma ray emitted from K, Th and U in the formation.

II-Natural Gamma Ray Spectrometry (NGS):

It is measure the total gamma ray and the Concentration of K, Th and U in formation.

III-Computed Gamma Ray (CGR):

It is measured gamma ray emitted from K and Th without the contribution of U.

 SPECTRAL GAMMA RAY (SGR):

The Spectral gamma ray logs record individual responses for K-, Th- and U-bearing minerals.
The detectors record radiation in several energy windows as GR-K, GR-U, GR-TH.

The main applications use of spectral gamma logs tool are:

1. Clay content evaluation:

Logs will distinguish between clays and other radioactive minerals such as phosphate.

2. Clay type identification:

Ratios such as Th and K are used to distinguish particular clay minerals.

3. Source rock potential:

There is an empirical relationship between U and K ratios and organic carbon in shale’s.

 GAMMA RAY LOGS USES:

 Identified clean formations which have low radioactivity level.
 Correlation between wells.
 Determination of bed boundaries.
 Evaluation of shale content within a formation.
 Depth control for log tie-ins, side-wall coring or perforating.

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 FACTORS INFLUENCING GAMMA RAY LOG:

 Borehole size: Low levels of gamma rays are detected if borehole diameters is large
 Drilling fluid density: If the drilling fluid density is high, gamma ray is significantly
attenuated.
 Formation Bulk density: Denser formation display a slightly lower radioactivity.
 Tool Position relative to borehole:
 Gamma ray tool may be run centered or eccentred, centered detected tool is lower
than gamma ray level detected by eccentred tool.
 Drilling Fluid Composition: KCI and bentonite mud are radioactive and therefore they
increase the degree of radioactivity.
 Bed Thickness: If the thickness of the bed is small, GR tool will not attain the correct
value as a result of the surrounding layers.
 Casing and Tubing: Casing, tubing and cement behind the casing attenuate GR
radiation causing low GR detected by tool sensor.
 THE GAMMA RAY VERTICAL RESOLUTION:
The Vertical resolution of the gamma ray is about feet, depth of investigation depend on:
I. Hole Size.
II. Bulk Density.
III. Drilling Fluid.
 THE GAMMA RAY LOG PRESENTING:
 Track I
 Measuremed by API.
 Scale from 0 to 100 or 150 %.
 It is usually run with Caliper and Spontaneous potential log.

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 GAMMA RAY RESPONSE TO LITHOLOGY:

 THE GR AND SP COMPARASIN:

The Gamma Ray and Spontaneous potential logs deflect to the right for shale's and to the left
for clean sands.
The Gamma Ray log response is much less sensitive to bed thickness and that coals produce
almost no gamma response.
Because Gamma Ray is not sensitive to bed thickness and can be run as a cased hole log, it is
used to delineate zones for perforation.
Spontaneous potential is ineffective in salt mud and nonconductive mud. GR is unaffected
and is valuable in these situations.

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 SHALE VOLUME CALCULATION:

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