A talk
on
Characteristics of Density Logs in
Hydrocarbon identification
Presented by:
Muhammad Ahsan Khalid
M.Phil 2nd Semester
University of the Punjab
Lahore
Layout
What is density logging, how it works and tools for it.
Different attributes of density logs.
Uses of density logs.
Characteristics of density logging in hydrocarbon
identification.
Photoelectric factor log (or litho-density)
Introduction
Density log is a
continuous record of a
formation’s bulk density
along the borehole.
Bulk density depends
upon the density of
minerals forming a rock
(matrix) and volume of
free fluids which it
encloses (porosity) .
Figure 1: Courtesy by Malcolm H Rider
Principle
The principle behind the density log is that formation
is bombarded with collimated beam of medium to
high energy (0.2 – 2.0 Mev) Gamma rays.
When these gamma rays interact with electrons
associated with atoms they are scattered (Compton
scattering) and lose their energy.
This attenuation of energy depends upon the no. of
electrons in the formation (Electron density) .
Principle
Electron density is related to the bulk density by
2𝑍
⍴e = ⍴b [ ]
𝐴
2𝑍
where as ≌ 1 for common elements in
𝐴
sedimentary rocks
So electron density is approximately equal to the
bulk density of the formation.
In dense formations attenuation is extreme and
only a few gamma rays reach the detector.
Detector counts are directly converted to bulk
density.
Principle
Figure 2: From Bassiouni, 1994 Figure 3: Courtesy by Malcolm H Rider
Tool
Standard density tool have collimated gamma ray
source and two (near and far) detectors.
Source is usually radio-cesium or radio-cobalt (they
emits gamma rays at 662 Kev).
Near detector is usually for borehole effects and
when it is subtracted from far detector response
gives the formation effects.
Source and detector are mounted on plough
shaped pad which is pressed against borehole wall
during logging.
Logging speed 15- 30 fpm
Depth of investigation 3 to 6”
Vertical resolution 1 ft.
Figure 4
Modern density tools
Density measurement:
Formation Density Compensated (FDC) : Schlumberger
Compensated Densilog (CDL) : Western Atlas
Halliburton
Compensated Density (CDS) : BPB
Density and photo electric measurement:
Litho-Density Tool (LDT) : Schlumberger
Compensated Z-Density (ZDL) Western Atlas
Photo-Electric Density (PDS) BPB
Spectral Density Tool (HSDL) Halliburton
Log characteristics
Log presentation
Density log is normally plotted on linear scale with
density between 1.95 to 2.95 g/cm3.
Log is run across tracks 2 and 3 while in track 1
usually caliper log is present.
Log is accompanied by a curve indicating borehole
and mudcake corrections.
Tool is typically run as a neutron density
combination along with gamma ray and caliper
tools.
Lines in track 1
shows caliper and
gamma ray log
readings while
density and
density correction
are shown in track
2 and 3.
Figure 5: from Next
1999
Log characteristics
Depth of
investigation and
bed resolution: it’s
depth of investigation is
very shallow however
bed resolution is good
(up to 2 feet or even
1.5 feet).
Figure 6: Original FDC Shlumberger
response. From Malcolm H Rider
Mudcake compensation
If mudcake density is different from that of formation
then count rates of near and far detectors vary.
The zero mudcake line is referred to as spine.
When the mud cake thickness starts increasing
from zero the curve starts departing from the
straight line and its locus is called rib.
Rib extend to the left side of the spine for mudcake
having density more than formation density.
Surface equipment determine the position of a
point on rib and spine chart and estimate the spine
and corrected value of density
Mudcake compensation
Figure 7: From Richard M Bateman Figure 8: From Richard M Bateman:
Figure 9: From Richard M Bateman
Uses of density log
Porosity can be calculated from density logs.
Density log determines the gas zone and
impedance.
Shale age and unconformity can be estimated.
Certain mineral are identified by using density log.
Fracture and over-pressure zones may be
identified.
TOC (total organic content) of source rocks can be
calculated.
Density log can be excellent indicator of lithology
when employed with neutron log in the presence of
Pe curve.
Density log in hydrocarbon
identification
Porosity calculation
The formula for bulk density can be written as
Porosity calculation
Density of fresh water =1 g/cm3 , Density of
salted water = 1.1 g/cm3
Matrix density = 2.65 g/cm3 (For sandstone)
When solved for porosity the equation becomes
Where
ma = matrix density
f = fluid density
b = bulk density (as measured by the tool)
Porosity calculation
Relationship between bulk density and
calculated porosity can be close when grain
density remains constant.
If constant grain density figures are applied to a
formation whose density is not constant then
porosity calculated will be incorrect.
When grain density used is too low calculated
porosity will be low.
Gas zone identification
In the presence of gaseous hydrocarbons
(.0007 g/cm3) fluid density drops dramatically.
Porosity calculated is correct in case of oil
because densities of oil and water are very
close to each other.
When density log is combined with neutron log
we can identify the gas zone (where gap
between two curves widens).
If density can be calculated from other means
the log can be used to calculate hydrocarbon
density.
Gas effect: log
reads 35% porosity
while it should read
27%
Gas
Water
Figure 10:. From Malcolm H Rider
Acoustic impedance calculation
Density log is used
in conjunction with
sonic log to calculate
the acoustic
impedance.
Figure 11: From Outokumpu Deep Drill Hole
Lithology identification
Lithology identification
Density log alone is poor indicator of lithology
because densities of common rocks overlap each
other.
However when combined with neutron log is the
best indicator of lithology.
Shale Compaction, Age, and
Unconformities
Shale undergoes compaction and increase in
density with increasing depth of burial and age.
When formation density data is plotted on small
depth scale, the compaction trend appears
continuous but small rate of increase of density
with depth.
It is common that the more compact shales are
older.
The sudden change of density within a given shale
interval represents an unconformity.
Figure 12 :Determination of unconformity
Mineral identification
Density can be indicative of specific minerals
when it is extraordinarily high or low from the
average 2.3 g/cm3
Coal are identified by very low densities between
1.2 to 1.8 g/cm3.
Pyrite is characterized by very high density
between 4.8 to 5.17 g/cm3.
Carbonate nodules within general lithology
represent sudden high peaks in log response.
Evaporites are usually found in pure state and
have well defined densities so identified easily.
Figure 13: identification of coal and pyrite
Overpressure identification
Generally the density of shale increases with
depth due to expulsion of pore and interstitial
water .
Sometimes fluid does not escape and if it is
trapped becomes over-pressured.
This is registered on density log as break in
normal compaction trend.
The density break therefore identifies the
overpressure zone.
Figure 14: Identification of overpressure, courtesy
from Malcolm H Rider
Fracture recognition
Log comparison of density log porosity with sonic
log porosity gives identification of fracture.
Density tool record bulk density including
inter-granular and fracture porosity while sound
waves in sonic tool take the quickest path avoiding
the fractures.
Sonic log gives only inter-granular porosity and the
difference between the two log is due to fracture
porosity.
Figure 15: Effect of fractures on density and sonic logs, by Magara 1968.
Source rock evaluation
The presence of organic matter can reduce the
density of shales by up to 0.5 g/cm3.
The effect of organic matter on density log can be
quantized.
Traditional method:
To do this, relationship between organic matter
content and density log was normalized using
sample analysis.
The normalized log was then used to interpolate
between analyzed points.
Figure 16: Comparison of organic
content derived from derived from
density log and from core analysis.
TOC= Total organic content.
Figure 17: Effect of organic matter on density log
Source rock evaluation
Modern methods: give a quick derivation of
the organic content from density log without lengthy
normalization.
One of the methods discussed below have the
following assumptions.
1. Source rock is composed of mudrock (matrix
density = 2.7 g/cm3) , water filled porosity
(density = 1.05 g/cm3) and kerogen (density = 1.1
g/ cm3).
2. Non-source interval have the same matrix density,
water density and water filled porosity as source
interval
Equ. 1
Equ.2
Equ. 3
⍴ns = density of non-source interval (average from log)
⍴s = density of source interval (from log)
⍴ma = 2.7 g/cm3 assumed mudrock density
⍴fl = 1.05 g/cm3 density of water
⍴ker =1.1 g/cm3 kerogen density
ϕfl = water filled porosity derived from equ. 1
ϕker = kerogen filed porosity derived from equ.2
TOC% = 0.85× wt.% kerogen
Photoelectric factor log (Litho-Density)
Photoelectric factor log (PEF or Litho-Density)
is a continuous record of photoelectric
absorption cross section index (Pe) of the
formation.
Pe strongly depends upon the atomic number Z
of the formation’s atoms and hence refer to the
composition or lithology.
It is basically used for qualitative and
quantitative determination of lithology especially
when cross plotted with corresponding density
log.
Principle
When low energy (below 100 Kev) gamma rays
are passed through matter photoelectric effect
take place.
In photoelectric effect gamma ray is absorbed by
electron bound to atom and displace from its orbit.
𝑈
The ratio between Pe and U is Pe =
⍴𝑒
U = photoelectric absorption cross section per unit
volume (low energy window)
⍴e = electron density index (high energy window)
Pe = photoelectric absorption factor per unit weight
Figure 18: litho-density log, from Malcolm H Rider.
Figure 19: Gamma ray spectrum, courtesy by Richard M Bateman.
Identification
of lithology.
Figure 20: cross plot
of density and PEF.
This figure can be
used to determine
the lithology..
Summary
We discussed density log depends upon electron density
(⍴e) within the formation.
Density log response runs in track 2 and 3 with usually
caliper or gamma ray log running in track 1.
Tool consist of a gamma ray source and two detectors.
Tool automatically compensates for mucake correction
We then discuss different uses of density log i.e.
determination of porosity, gas zones, acoustic impedance,
lithology, unconformity, over-pressure zone fracture zone
and TOC.
At the last litho-density log involves photoelectric effect
caused by low energy gamma rays and lithology can be
determined when it is used in combination with density log.
References
Rider, M. H. (1986). The geological interpretation of well
logs.
Richard, M. B. (2012). Openhole log analysis and formation
evaluation.
Liu, H. (2017). Principles and applications of well logging.
Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
http://infohost.nmt.edu/~petro/faculty/Engler370/fmev-
Chap9-densitylog.pdf
http://homepages.see.leeds.ac.uk/~earpwjg/PG_EN/CD%20
Contents/GGL-
66565%20Petrophysics%20English/Chapter%2013.PDF
