Gamma ray log

BY
M U H A M M A D I R FA N

Gamma Ray Log

The gamma ray log is a record of a formations

radioactivity.
The radiation emanates from naturally occurring

uranium ,thorium and potassium.

The simple gamma ray log gives the radioactivity of

the three elements combined unlike the spectral

gamma ray log.
The geological significance of radioactivity lies in the

distribution of these three elements.

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Amongst the sediments ,shales have

by far the strongest radiation. It is the

reason that the simple gamma ray log
has been called the shale log.

Gamma ray log

Principal uses
Quantitative use of simple gamma ray log:

The gamma ray log is principally used quantitatively to derive

shale volume, the gamma ray value for shales varies enormously in
any one area or well, the values for pure shale tend to be constant.
Volume of shale % = GR log - GR (min)
GR(max) - GR(min)

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Qualitative use of gamma ray log

In it s simple form it can be use to

correlate , to suggest facies and sequences
and of course ,to identify the lithology
(shalyness).

Qualitatively it can indicate dominant

clay minerals types ,give indication of
depositional
environment
,indicate
fractures and help to localize source rocks.

Gamma Ray Log

Qualitative use of gamma ray log

Radioactivity of sandstones and other Arenaceous rocks.

Sandstone consequently shows the low gamma ray values,
however, associated detrital minerals are radioactive such
as feldspar, micas, heavy minerals and lithic fragments.
The first two groups contains potassium , the third contain
thorium and the last one contain shale. All of these makes
sandstone with high to moderate gamma ray values.

Gamma ray log

Some marine sands contain glauconite and if the

concentrations are sufficiently high ,renders the sands

radioactive.
o Radioactivity in carbonates

Carbonates in their pure form doesnt contain

radioactivity and this aids their identification .but in som
facies carbonates contain organic matter and this is
frequently radioactive due to uranium. Shaly carbonates
will show the presence of potassium and thorium.

Gamma ray log

o Radioactivity in evaporites
The most common evaporites ,such as salt, anhydrites gives extremely and low values on the
gamma ray log. However, the high radioactivity in some evaporites caused by the potassium
content.

o Radioactivity in Coal and organic rich shale

The high gamma ray values often correspond to organic matter rich , source rock intervals.
The relationship between organic matter and uranium enrichment is the basis for being able to
identify organic rich shales (source-rock).
Coals have low gamma ray values ,while shaly coal coals have a gamma ray value depends
on the shale.

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Unconformities

Unusually high gamma ray values often occur as narrow,

isolated peaks, these peaks are generally associated with
uranium concentrations.

The uranium concentration indicates extreme conditions

of depositions. These depositions frequently occur around
unconformities where a long passage of time is
represented by little deposition.

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Facies and Grain size
An interesting and fairly comprehensive scheme for facies identification in

detrital sediments (sand-shale) has been developed using gamma ray log
shapes. The basis for the scheme is the relationship between grain size and
shale content.
It is shale content that the gamma ray log indicates, but it is interpreted in terms

of grain size.
For example: a coarse grains sand will have a very low shale content, a

medium grained sand some shale and a fine grained sand may be very shaly.
The changes in grain size will be followed by the changes in gamma ray value.

Gamma Ray Log

Natural gamma radiation
Natural radiation in rocks comes essentially from only three elemental sources ,the

radioactive elements of the thorium family,of the uranium-radium family and of the
radioactive isotope of potassium K.
Potassium is by far the abundant then the rest of the others but its overall radioactivity

contribution is small than the uranium and thorium.

Each of three sources emits gamma ray spontaneously. They emit photons with no mass

and no charge but great energy .

The energy in the case of uranium,spectrum,thorium and potassium emission ocurs in the

spectrum from 0-3MeV.

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Tools
The simple gamma ray tool is a sensitive gamma ray

detector consisting of scintillation counter and a

photomultiplier.
The scintillation counter is typically a sodium iodide

crystal,2cm in diameter and 5 cm long in the simple tool,

with minor impurities of thallium. When gamma rays
pass through the crystal , they cause a flash.
These are collected by the photo-multiplier and stored in

the attached condenser over a setperiod of time, the time

constant.

Gamma Ra
Log characteristics
Simple gamma ray log- the accepted unit for radioactivity logging is the

API (AmericanPetroleum Institute).

API unit for gamma ray tool is 1/200.
The simple gamma ray log is usually recorded in track 1along with the

caliper. Scale are chosen locally, but 0-100 or 0-150 API are common.
The tool is small and can be combined with practically any other tool be

it a resistivity or porosity device.

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o Depth Investigation
The depth from which radiations can be detected by the simple

gamma ray tool is generally small but difficult to be precise about.

One experiment found that 75%of radiations detected came from a

14cm radius and 25cm vertically above and below the detector.
This was for gamma rays with a single energy of 1.76MeVand the

detector centralised in a 15cm diameter hole filled with1.2cm3

density mud.

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o Logging speed
Because gamma radiations are discrete events and are measured in the

gamma ray tools by counting, there are restrictions on logging speeds.

Radiations are counted by the tool over a fixed period of time called time

constant.
A borehole tool is constantly moving, too long a time-constant will blur bed

boundaries and mix several lithologies.

With a rapidly moving tool, the rock being counted 'at the beginning of a

long time-constant will nt be the same as the rock being counted at the end.

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o Unwanted Borehole Effects .
Simple gamma ray the simple gamma ray log is

relatively unaffected by the small-scale borehole

irregularities, but is affected by large caves.
The effect is due to the increased volume of drilling

mud between the formation and the gamma ray

detector which causes increased Compton scattering and
a consequent diminution in the gamma ray log value.

Gamma Ray Log

Radioactivity of shales and clays .
In petroleum borehole logging the commonest natural radioactivity

(by volume) is found in shale's (clays).

A high gamma ray value frequently means shale.
A typical shale analyzed by a spectral gamma ray tool shows that

each of the three elements U,TH,K is contributing and an analysis of

shale's in general shows the relative contribution of each element to
the overall radioactivity.

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The individual behaviour of radioactive elements in

clay minerals and clays in general is so different.
Potassium is a moderately good shale indicator.
Uranium is poor shale indicator because its
distribution is very irregular ,its affinity is to
secondary component and not the main the rock
forming minerals.
Thorium is a good shale indicator .