GAMMA RAY LOG

INTRODUCTION

Gamma ray logs is a common and inexpensive

measurement that measure natural radioactivity of
formations and properties of rock.
They can be used for identifying lithologies and
correlating zones.
particularly helpful because shales and sandstones
typically have different gamma ray signatures.
Shale-free sandstones and carbonates have low
concentrations of radioactive material and give low
gamma ray readings.
The standard gamma ray tool responds only to gamma
ray emission from the downhole environment.
Pottassium (K40), Uranium (U238), Thorium (32)

BASIC
PRINCIPLE

The tool consists simply of a highly sensitive gamma ray

detector in the form of a scintillation counter composed of
a thalium activated single sodium iodide crystal backed by
a photomultiplier.
When a gamma ray strikes the crystal a small flash of light
is produced. This flash is too small to be measured using
conventional electronics. Instead, it is amplified by a
photomultiplier, which consists of a photocathode and a
series of anodes held at progressively higher electrical
potentials, all of which are arranged serially in a high
vacuum.

Gamma rays passing through the sodium iodide crystal

cause it to emit minute bursts of light. These bursts of
light are amplified by the photomultiplier (PM) tube and
converted into electrical pulses.
The photomultiplier tube requires a voltage of
approximately 1200 volts to operate correctly,
The gamma ray pulses from the PM tube are coupled to
the signal processor section of the electronics. A
predetermined threshold voltage is applied to reject low
energy gamma rays and noise. After amplification and
shaping, the pulses are fed to the line driver section for
transmission up the logging cable to the data acquisition
circuits in the surface system.

ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFECT

Interpretation of Gamma Ray Logs

1. In a given area, only the relative radioactivity of the

various rocks is of significance.
2. Rocks of low radioactivity include primarily clean sands,
sandstones, limestones, and dolomites. Anhydrite, salt,
lignite and coal have also a low radioactivity. Their
radioactivity increases when they are shaly.
3. Ordinary shales have a much higher radioactivity than
sedimentary rocks. The radioactivity of sandy shales is
less than that of shales. Shales are sufficiently high in
radioactivity and can generally be easily distinguished
from the other rocks on a gamma ray log.

Figure : Some typical responses gamma ray log

ADVANTAGES

The gamma ray method is very simple, fast, and

generally the most reliable. It can be used with the
potassium or thorium curves and with the uranium
corrected total gamma ray curve from the spectral
gamma ray.

Gamma log works through the steel and cement

walls of cased boreholes. Although concrete and
steel absorb some of the gamma radiation, enough
travels through the steel and cement to allow
qualitative determinations.

LIMITATIONS

Gamma ray readings must be corrected for hole size

first. This method does not work well in areas where
radioactivity is not primarily associated with the clays,
such as in feldspathic sands.

Scintillation counters are relatively small devices,

which means that the gamma ray tool can have a high
vertical resolution.

CONCLUSION

Gamma ray logging is a method of using natural gamma

radiation to characterize the rock or sediment in a
borehole.
Gamma Ray Logs measure the intensity of natural
radioactivity of rocks. The intensity of GR is high in the
Shale. The radioactive particles like Uranium, Potassium,
Thorium are very fine grains.
During deposition these particles deposit with shale
because Shale is also fine grain rock. Thats why the
value of GR is high in Shale. GR is the best log for
correlation.