Bulk Density Measurement

Bulk Density Measurement

Notes

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© Schlumberger 1999 1
 Bulk Density Measurement It uses gamma ray interactions in the Compton Scattering energy range to
measure the bulk density of the formation.
This interaction is when the incident gamma ray reacts with an electron
Gamma Ray Physics -density -1 deflecting it from its path and losing energy in the process.
The PEX TLD has three detectors and the LDT two.
The Density Tools use a chemical gamma ray
source and two or three gamma ray detectors.

The number of gamma rays returning to the

detector depends on the number of electrons
present, the electron density, ρe.
The electron density can be related to the bulk
density of the minerals by a simple equation.

ρe = ρ( 2Z/A ) Notes

Where Z is the number

of electrons per atom
and A is the atomic
weight.

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 Bulk Density Measurement The assumption is a very good one in the majority of cases. Hydrogen is a
problem but this doesn’t affect the final density product.

Gamma Ray Physics -density 2

The assumption made in the interpretation is
that:
Z/A = 0.5

This is very close for most elements commonly

encountered, except hydrogen which has little
effect on the measurement. Therefore ρe = ρ

Element Z/A
H 0.9921
C 0.4996 Notes
O 0.5
Na 0.4785
Mg 0.4934
Al 0.4819
Si 0.4984
S 0.4989
Cl 0.4794
K 0.4860
Ca 0.499

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 Bulk Density Measurement The calibration of the bulk density is made to set up the tool under known
conditions. Limestone is chosen as it can be found as a pure substance,
sandstone always contains impurities.
Calibration The calibration sits all the major minerals well except for some of the
evaporites as noted.
The tool measured density, ρb, has been
experimentally related to the electron density;

ρb = 1.0704 ρe - 0.1883

The tool needs to be calibrated in a known

condition.
This condition is fresh water and limestone,
densities, 1.00 and 2.71 respectively.
Notes
The bulk density versus the electron density
equation fits for all the common minerals with a
few exceptions:
Salt - true density 2.165
density tool value 2.03

Sylvite - true density 1.984

density tool value 1.862
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 Bulk Density Measurement The LDT tool has two detectors measuring the same density. If there is
no mudcake (an impermeable formation) both will read the same. If there
is mudcake there will be a slight difference which can be computed and
Spine and Ribs hence the measurement corrected.
The Spine and Ribs plot is the graphical representation of the method
used.
The spine represents the line of increasing
formation density on the plot of the long spacing
In the case of the TLD, a forward modelling algorithm is used to compute
count rate versus short spacing count rate. the formation and mud cake densities and the mud cake thickness.

The presence of mud cake causes a deviation

from the line in a predictable manner. Thus a
correction can be made to obtain the true density.

1.9

2.0
Mud cake
with barite
Notes
2.1

2.2
B
2.3 Increasing
C A Mud cake
2.4 Thickness
Long Spacing Count Rate

Increasing
Mud cake 2.5
Thickness
2.6 Mud cake
without
.
2.7 barite

2.8

2.9

Short spacing Count Rate

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 Bulk Density Measurement The presence of a lighter mudcake will make the short spacing read too
low, moving the point from A to B. It is corrected by following down the
ribs to the spine.
Spine and Ribs In heavier mud cake the shift is in the opposite direction.

1.9

2.0
Mud cake
with barite 2.1

2.2
B
2.3 Increasing
C A Mud cake
2.4 Thickness
Long Spacing Count Rate

Increasing
Mud cake 2.5
Thickness
2.6 Mud cake
without
.
2.7 barite

2.8
Notes
2.9

Short spacing Count Rate

Example:
The correct reading is at point A.
An increasing mud cake thickness moves
the point to B or C depending on whether
there is heavy material (barite) in the mud
or not.
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 Bulk Density Measurement The standard log from the LDT tool shows both of these curves, the
principal curve RHOB and DRHO. The latter is a very good indication of
poor hole condition. If the hole is rugous the algorithm will have applied
Density Outputs a lot of correction, hence the DRHO will be very active. In some cases the
caliper will show a large hole but the DRHO will be flat while in some
small holes the opposite will be true.
The TLD tool has RHOZ as the principal density output, with DSOZ as
The outputs are: the density standoff.
RHOZ/RHOB (ρb), the corrected bulk density.
DRHO (∆ρ), the correction that has been
applied to ρb (LDT only).

RHOZ/RHOB is the main output;

DRHO is a quality control curve (LDT only).

Notes

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 Bulk Density Measurement The measurement has a very little correction as the major perturbation to
the reading ( mudcake ) is automatically taken care of using the two
detector system. The only problem affecting the reading is the bad hole
Borehole Effects conditions which affect all pad tools.

The LDT is a pad tool with collimated source and

detectors. It experiences little or no
environmental effect.

In large holes, the curvature of the pad versus

that of the hole causes a minor error that needs to
be corrected.

Notes

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 Bulk Density Measurement Rugosity effects can usually be seen on the DRHO curve, the caliper may
be irrelevant.

Borehole Effects One major cause of problems are turbo-drilled holes, deviated or
horizontal wells. The use of a turbine can cause a hole to corkscrew. This
shape looks to the tools as a very rugous hole, with, in extreme cases, the
log being useless.

Notes

Hole rugosity may affect the measurement.

The source and detectors "see" different

formations/borehole.

The effect is an erratic and incorrect log.

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 Bulk Density Measurement This method works better on this type of tool than on the neutron porosity
devices as the detectors and sources are collimated and smaller.

Alpha Processing

As the density tool also uses two detectors it can

be Alpha processed in exactly the same way as the
CNT.

The resulting log shows a great improvement

over the standard output.

Notes

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 Bulk Density Measurement The density of each mineral is unique. The tool is calibrated in limestone ,
sandstone has a lower density and dolomite is higher; shale varies with the
precise clay minerals present.
Density Parameters The vertical resolutions of the density measurements is better than the
neutron tool. With alpha processing a very high resolution can be
obtained.
Vertical resolution:

Standard 18"
Enhanced 6"

Depth of investigation 6"-9"

Readings in:

Notes
Limestone (0pu) 2.71
Sandstone (0pu) 2.65
Dolomite (0pu) 2.85
Anhydrite 2.98
Salt 2.03
Shale 2.2-2.7
Coal 1.5

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 Bulk Density Measurement The density is often used in a development situation as the porosity tool.
This is possible if the matrix density is known.

Interpretation/Uses Combination with sonic measurements gives both rock mechanical

properties and the acoustic impedance. The latter is used in seismic
applications.
The density tool is extremely useful as it has high
accuracy and exhibits small borehole effects.

Major uses include:

Porosity.

Lithology (in combination with the

neutron tool).

Mechanical properties (in combination Notes

with the sonic tool).

Acoustic properties (in combination with

the sonic tool).

Gas identification (in combination with the

neutron tool).

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 Bulk Density Measurement The matrix density ρma is known from core analysis or from the neutron
density crossplot. The fluid density ρf , is the density of the mud filtrate.
This can be measured on a sample or computed knowing the salinity. In
Density Porosity the case of oil base mud it has to be measured.

ρb = ρ f φ + ρma (1 − φ)

ρma − ρb
φ=
ρma − ρ f
Notes

There are two inputs into the porosity equation:

the matrix density and the fluid density.

The fluid density is that of the mud filtrate.

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 Bulk Density Measurement The scales on a neutron - density log often reflect the use to which the log
is to be put. In an exploration situation or in a complex lithology the
identification of the matrix and then the porosity is the major use. In a
Scaling/Porosity development well in a simple ( ,or single ) lithology the porosity is the
requirement.
The density tool is usually run with the neutron. The basic scale has the neutron having a total of 60 porosity ( % ) over
two tracks encompassing the most common values. In the “ limestone
To aid quicklook interpretation they are run on
compatible “ scale the density is fixed to also cover 60 pu ( this is
"compatible scales". equivalent to 1.0g/cm3 ) and also to overlay the neutron in limestone. In a
This means that the scales are set such that for a sandstone the density will be at a “ higher “ porosity ( lower density ) than
the neutron, in dolomite it will be the opposite.
given lithology the curves overlay.
To change to a sandstone compatible scale the density log is shifted so
The standard scale is the "limestone compatible" where
that its matrix value for sandstone, 2,65g/cm3 coincides with the zero for
the neutron porosity scale is:
the neutron porosity.

To fit this the density log has to have its zero limestone point (2.7
g/cc) on the same position as the neutron porosity zero and the Notes
range of the scale has to fit the neutrons 60 porosity units hence the
scale is:

Changing to a sandstone compatible scale would put the zero

sandstone density, 2.65, over the neutron porosity zero to give:

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 Bulk Density Measurement The energy is absorbed expelling the electron from its atom.
The low energy window in the detector gives the gamma ray population
which can be related to Pe.
Pef Physics The photoelectric effect happens at the low energy end of the gamma ray
spectrum. This means that it is badly affected by barite in the mud which
The Photoelectric effect occurs when the incident reduces the counts reaching the detector.

gamma ray is completely absorbed by the

electron.

It is a low energy effect hence the Photoelectric

Absorption index, Pe, is measured using the
lowest energy window of the tool. Notes

Pe is related directly to Z, the number of

electrons per atom, hence fixed for each element.

Pe = ( Z/A )3.6

Its units are barns/electron.

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 Bulk Density Measurement The major need for the Volumetric Photoelectric Absorption Index is in
formation evaluation equations when a link between the measurements
and the formation components such as porosity are required.
Pef Theory The Pef alone gives an excellent indication of the lithology. Its major
drawback is the effect of barite on the measurement. As the measurement
is of gamma rays the dense barite material reduces the amount seen by the
Pe can be easily computed for any lithology by tool. However the major effect is the Pe of barite at 267 is far above the
summing the elemental contributions. normal formation component figure of <6. Hence a little of this material
in the mud (and hence the mudcake) will make the reading completely
incorrect.
Measurement is virtually porosity and fluid
independent.

Major use is Lithology identification.

Another way of using it is express it in volumetric
terms as:
Notes
U = Peρe

This is called the Volumetric photoelectric

absorption index.
This parameter can then be used in a formula for
computing the components of the reservoir.

U = φUφ+ (1 - φ) Uma
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 Bulk Density Measurement

Pef Parameters
Vertical resolution:

Standard 4"

Readings in:

Limestone 5.08
Sandstone 1.81
Dolomite 3.14
Notes
Shale 1.8-6
Anhydrite 5.05
Salt 4.65

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