DENSITY LOGS

Assoc. Prof. Issham Ismail

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia,
Johor Bahru
 USES

- Measures the bulk density of the formation using Compton Scattering

of gamma rays.

- Bulk density can be related to porosity when the lithology is known.

- Shales usually indicate medium to high densities (low porosity).

- Bulk density does not correlate well with resistivity logs because
shales show up as low porosity.

- Has unit of gram/cc.

RELATIONSHIP -
MATRIX DENSITIES
DENSITY LOG
 DENSITY MEASURING INSTRUMENT

- Instrument consists of a gamma

ray source, i.e., cesium 137 and
two detectors.
- The source and detectors on the
skid/pad are forced against the
side of the hole.
- The long spaced detector reads
mostly the formation.
- The short detector reads both
formation and the materials
between the pad and the
formation.
 DENSITY MEASUREMENT

- The gamma rays leaving the source are scattered in the materials
being measured.
- The Compton Scattering results in the loss of energy of the
gamma rays.

- If the material is very dense, the gamma rays are scattered more,
and more are absorbed by the material due to low energy. Thus,
fewer gamma rays reach the detector.

- In less dense material, the gamma rays are not slowed down as
much and more reach the detector.
 DENSITY MEASUREMENT

- Common reservoir rocks have electron densities that are directly

proportional to the bulk density.

- Density logs are calibrated in limestone formations that are filled

with water.

- The density sonde must be run slowly, i.e., 20 to 30 ft per minute.

- Readings are the average of at least two to three feet.

- It measures on one side of the borehole.

 DENSITY MEASUREMENT

- Vertical resolution is just over two feet. The depth of investigation

into the formation is between two and four inches.

- Density logs can be run with any fluid in the borehole.

- It also can be used to detect abnormal pressured zones.

- Shale on the density log appears to be low porosity. This means

that shaly sandstone porosities from the density log are very
close to the true effective porosity.
 POROSITY

- In most moderate to low porosity formations, when invasion of

mud filtrate is sufficiently deep, measurement is not significantly
influenced by HCs which has lower densities than water.
- Fluid densities, f, equal to 1.0 are used in fresh water mud
calculation while for very salty mud, f = 1.1 are applied
- The density measured (and thus the porosity) has no influences
of compaction or pore geometry as the measurement is at the
atomic level.
- Gas significantly affects the density of a formation. Porosity
calculated will be too high for non-invaded gas sandstone.
- In a non-invaded sandstone, the fluid density can be calculated:
FORMATION WATER DENSITY
DETERMINATION
POROSITY DETERMINATION
POROSITY DETERMINATION
 POROSITY

This equation can be used to calculate

porosity when there is no invasion and low
values of Rw/Rt, or can use Figure 8.6.
 POROSITY

This equation can be used to calculate

porosity when there is no invasion and low
values of Rw/Rt, or can use Figure 8.6.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE (FIG @ 8-6)
EXAMPLE (FIG @ 8-7)
 GAS DENSITY

Note: If specific
gravity of gas is not
available, you may
use 0.7.
POROSITY