Natural Gamma Ray

Spectroscopy

Dr. M. Watfa
Natural γ Ray

GR Applications:

 All applications: Depth correlation from one log to another

 Petrophysics / Reservoir Engineering: Estimating Volume of
Shale
 Geology: Determine the clay type
 Geology: - Reservoir: depositional facies determination used
for geological modeling

2 Copyright ©2001-2011 NExT. All rights reserved Material: M. Watfa 2

Natural γ Ray

The GR Log
 GR is the measurement of the natural radioactivity of the
formation
 In sedimentary formation; this reflects the presence of
shale
 Radioactive elements tend to concentrate in shales.
 Clean (Shale-free) formations usually have low level of
radiation
 One exception; Dolomites may have some level of
Uranium
3 Copyright ©2001-2011 NExT. All rights reserved Material: M. Watfa 3
1- Gamma Ray Applications: Tool
Physics
Natural γ Ray
Gamma Rays are bursts
1.46 of high-energy
Potassium Series electromagnetic waves
that are emitted
K
spontaneously by some
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 radioactive elements.
Thorium Series Nearly all the Gamma
2.62 Radiation encountered on
Th Earth is emitted by:
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Radioactive potassium
Isotope 40(K40) with half
Uranium-Radium Series
life 1.3x109
1.76 Uranium 238 (U238) with
U half-life of 4.4 x 109
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 Thorium 232 (Th232) with
γ Ray Energy (MeV) half-life of 1.4 x 1010
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Natural γ Ray The emitted GR experiences successive Compton
Scattering collisions with atoms of formation
material, losing energy. At low energy the GR is
1.46 absorbed by the atoms. Rate of absorption varies
with the formation density.
Radioactive potassium Isotope
K 40(K40) decays quickly to argon 40
with the emission of 1.46 MeV.
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Thorium 232 (Th232) decays
sequentially through a long series
2.62 of “daughter” isotopes with a peak
Th for Thallium 208 at 2.62 MeV.

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 Uranium 238 (U238) decays

sequentially through a long series
of “daughter” isotopes with a peak
for Bismuth 214 at 1.76 MeV.
1.76
U These 3 characteristic peaks are
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
used gamma-ray spectroscopy to
γ Ray Energy (MeV) give values for U, Th and K
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Natural γ Ray
True (measured) Spectrum
 The GR
K40 x 10 Scale
interactions
degrades the
spectrum to the
Bi214
Ti208 smeared spectra
as shown.
 5 energy windows
are used to detect
Th+U+K K→ U→ Th→ GRs.
 W1 and W2 are
W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 slow energy to
give a total GR
 W3, W4 and W5 are used to detect high
count
energy GRs and compute: U, Th and K
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Natural γ Ray

A classical Gamma Ray

log showing the three
GR Components : U,
Th and K.

The high U values

below this depth (5325
ft) reflect the presence
of dolomites. Some of
the dolomites have
uranium deposits.
Courtesy of Schlumberger
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Natural γ Ray

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Natural γ Ray
GR Corrections:
Mud weight and hole diameter have highest
effects on the GR readings

Wmud  2.54 d hole 2.54 d sonde 

t   
GR Correction Factor

8.345  2 2 

t
10 Copyright ©2001-2011 NExT. All rights reserved Material: M. Watfa 10
 2- Gamma Ray Applications:
Depositional Facies Determination
Natural γ Ray
Gamma Ray Log – Uses in Depositional Facies Determination

Tidal flat Fluvial

Tide Dominated
COASTAL
(COL)
LOWER COASTAL
PLAIN (LCP)
Delta

Lagoon

Shoreface Fluvial Dominated

Tidal Channels
Delta
Lake

Tidal Flats
Marsh Interdistributary Bay

Tidal Channels
Distributary
Subtidal Bars
Channels
Shoreface
Distributary
Channels

Tidal Bars Mouth Bar

Crevasse Splay
Delta
FLUVIO MARINE INNER NERITIC

Shelf
FLUVIO MARINE OUTER NERITIC

Modified after Shell

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Natural γ Ray
Sedimentary Sequence Distributary Mouth Bar

(modified from Galloway and Hobday, 1983)

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3- Gamma Ray Applications:
Determining Vsh Values
Natural γ Ray Gamma Ray Log – Volume: Shale Determination

Gamma Ray Index  Igr

GRlog  GRmin
Igr 
GRmax  GRmin

GRmax = API value coinciding with 100% shale

GRmin = API value coinciding with 0% shale

Uncertainty
• GR may not reach 100% shale and/or 0%
shale.
• Effected by high GR sands or only ‘silty’ shale
section
• Vary between wells if not normalized.

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Natural γ Ray
Evaluation of Shale volume

Shale

Gamma Ray Index= Igr

Shaly- Sand

GR  GR min
I gr 
GRmax  GRmin
Sand

Shaly- Sand

Shale
16 Copyright ©2001-2011 NExT. All rights reserved Material: M. Watfa 16
Natural γ Ray
Evaluation of Shale volume
100

GR-Index (IGR) to obtain Vsh

90
GR-Index Various correlations, based on
Linear
80
Clavier
Stuibar lab measurements, are used to
70
Stuibar
Clavier
Other
obtain Vsh from IGR. 3
60
examples are shown:
Vsh

50
0.5 I GR
Stuibar : Vsh 
40
1.5  I GR
30
Clavier : Vsh  1.7  3.38  ( I GR  0.7) 2
20
1 2 . I GR
10
Other : Vsh  (2  1)
3
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

IGR: GR-Index
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Natural γ Ray

General Gamma Ray Log Responses to Lithology

Lithology API Integrate with other logs
*Sandstone <30 Neutron-density, resistively, sonic, PEF
Limestone <20 Neutron-density, resistively, sonic, PEF
Dolomite <30 Neutron-density, resistively, sonic, PEF
Shale 80-300 Neutron-density, resistively, sonic, PEF
Coal <20 Neutron-density, resistively, sonic, PEF

Salt <10 Neutron-density, resistively, sonic, PEF

Anhydrite <10 Neutron-density, resistively, sonic, PEF

*High Gamma Sandstones occur due to high mica, feldspar, or heavy radioactive minerals
such zircon and apatite etc – Need NGT to resolve
18

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Natural γ Ray

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Natural γ Ray

20 Copyright ©2001-2011 NExT. All rights reserved Material: M. Watfa Courtesy of Schlumberger 20
Natural γ Ray

API
 Measures natural radiation emitted by the rock formations
(Uranium, Thorium & Potassium 40)
 Gamma rays are slowed and adsorbed at a rate which
depends on formation density
– Less dense formations generally more radioactivity
– Exceptions heavy radioactive minerals, coals etc
 Moderate depth of investigation – 6-8 inches
 Can be run in open (wireline and LWD) & cased hole
Applications
 Correlation & Depositional Facies Identification via log
shapes
 Lithology Identification (with other logs)
 ‘Shaliness’ (Volume Shale)
 Depth Calibration Tool – core gamma, Perforation
calibration tool etc.
 Radioactive tracer logging
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4- Gamma Ray Applications:
Clay Type
Natural γ Ray
CGR

SGR Th/K
Example of a Natural
Gamma Ray
Spectroscopy.
Th The example shows the
Caliper

total Gamma Ray

K (SGR) and the
corrected Gamma Rays
(CGR= SGR-U)
U The Ratio Th/K is also
displayed. This is an
indicator of clay type.

23 Copyright ©2001-2011 NExT. All rights reserved Material: M. Watfa

Ref: J. Doveton 23
Natural γ Ray

Outputs each of individual radioactive element

content - uranium, thorium & potassium 40)
Applications
– Similar to Total Gamma +
– Defines high organic matter zones and
condensed section at sequence stratigraphic
‘maximum marine flooding’ zones – High
uranium
– Investigation of clay types
– Identifies high radioactive minerals in in High
Gamma sandstones
• Micaceous & Feldspathic sands – High
potassium 40
• Heavy minerals – zircons & apatite – High
thorium
– Better ‘shaliness’ determination in high
gamma sands.
Courtesy of Schlumberger
– Fracture Identification – High uranium
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Natural γ Ray
Pe vs. Th/k in various clay environments

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Natural γ Ray

Courtesy of Schlumberger

Identifying Shale type

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