Formation Evaluation

Lecture 7

The Density Log

Acknowledgements: Several of the figures were created by Pete Kane of Reservoir Management Limited (RML), Aberdeen.
Thanks to Peter Griffiths (Director, Geoscience) for permission to use RML’s training and teaching material.
R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University
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Density Log
Introduction

• The formation density log is one of the most important tools used by
petrophysicists because it can be used to accurately calculate the
total porosity of a formation.

• The density log can also be applied in many other ways to

understand the geology and geological history of a formation.

• Density logs are routinely run with gamma ray and neutron porosity
logs.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Density Log
Introduction

Density Log Combinations

• Density logs are frequently combined with the following logs:

• Sonic logs for generating Acoustic Impedance Logs and synthetic

seismograms.

• Litho-Density, or PEF Tools, which are a specialised density tool, that

can provide vital information on the matrix composition of a formation.

• Neutron Porosity logs for identifying lithology and locating hydrocarbon

zones.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Density Log
Density Tools and Principles of Measurement
Bulk Density

• The formation density log measures the bulk density of a formation.

Bulk density is the overall density of a rock, which consists of matrix
material and fluid filling the pore space.

• Bulk density is measured in grams per centimeter cubed (g/cm3).

The bulk density of a rock varies according to the porosity and the
mineralogy.

• For example, a pure quartz sandstone with no porosity has a bulk

density of 2.65 g/cm3, which is the density of pure quartz.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Density Log
Density Tools and Principles of Measurement
Bulk Density

• If this sandstone were water filled and had 10% porosity, the bulk
density would decrease to 2.49 g/cm3. The density tool would therefore
be reading the sum of the matrix density (90% quartz sand) and the
water filled pore space (10%).

• Therefore, if the fluid and matrix densities are known, the density log
can be used to calculate the total porosity of a formation. Porosity
calculations are routinely carried out using the density log.

• The density log can also be used to identify certain minerals, assess
organic matter content and help identify overpressured zones and
fracture porosity.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Density Log
Density Tools and Principles of Measurement
Gamma Rays

• Formation density tools are induced radiation tools, which bombard the
formation with radiation and measure how much radiation returns to the
recording device.

• The tool consists of a radioactive source and one (old tools), or two
detectors (modern tools).

• The standard source emits medium-high energy range energy gamma

rays (0.2-2 Mev), and usually consists of caesium-137 or cobalt-60.

• The returning gamma rays are measured by a short and a long-range

detector.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Density Log
Density Tools and Principles of Measurement
Count Rates and Density

• Gamma rays are focused into the formation, and gamma ray detectors
measure the attenuation between the tool source and the detectors.

• The attenuation (Compton scattering) is a function of the number of

electrons that the formation contains, its electron density
(electrons/cm3), which is closely related to the bulk density (g/cm3).

• In dense formations, the Compton scattering is extremely high, and few

gamma rays reach the detectors, thus count rates are low.

• In less dense formations, many more gamma rays reach the detectors,
thus count rates are much higher.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Density Log
Density Tools and Principles of Measurement
Count Rates and Density

• Modern density tools convert count rates directly into bulk density.

• Note that the electron density detected by the tool is almost identical to
the real density, but there are differences when water (hydrogen or
chlorine) is involved.

• Therefore, the log density values are transformed to give actual values
of calcite (2.71 g/cm3) and pure water (1 g/cm3).

• The three most important parameters that influence the readings on the
density tool are:
•ρb = the bulk density of the formation
•ρmc* = the effective density of the mudcake
•hmc = the thickness of the mudcake
R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University
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Density Log
Density Tools and Principles of Measurement
Mudcake Problems

• Early tools had a source and a single detector and were pressed
against the borehole wall by a spring-loaded arm.

• This type of tool was inaccurate because it was susceptible to

measuring the mudcake rather than the formation density.
Furthermore, these mudcake measurements varied by changes in
thickness and density.

• New tools now have two detectors to help correct for mudcake
measurement problems.

• These modern tools are termed compensated density logs, e.g.

Schlumberger’s Formation Density Compensated (FDC) tool.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Density Log
Density Tools and Principles of Measurement
Compensated Density Tools

• Compensated density tools have one short-spacing detector (7” from

the source), and one long-spacing detector (16” from the source).

• The source and both detectors are all heavily shielded to ensure that
the radiation enters only the formation and the mudcake, and detected
gamma rays come only from the mudcake or formation. The
background gamma radiation is also measured and removed.

• The leading edge of the tool has a small plough that scrapes off the
mudcake as the tool moves. The tool is pushed against one side of the
wellbore with considerable force by an extendable arm.

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Density Log
Density Tool
Compensated Density Tool Borehole Formation

• Long and Short Spacing Detectors

• The tool is pushed against one side

of the wellbore with considerable Tool Arm

force by an extendable arm.

• The leading edge of the tool has a

small plough that scrapes off the
mudcake as the tool moves.

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Density Log
Density Tool
Compensated Density Tool

• The short-spacing detector takes

80% of its measurement from the
first 5 cm of the borehole wall,
much of which is commonly
mudcake.

• The long-spacing detector takes

80% of its measurements from the
first 10 cm of the borehole wall.

• The density tool therefore has a

shallow depth of investigation.
However, the long and short-
spaced measurements can be
used together to remove the
mudcake signal.
R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University
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Density Log
Density Tool- Summary
far counts depend on...
tool mud formation
• electron density
• decays exponentially as density increases
• and formation fluid density!

source
near counts depend on...
• mostly mud properties
• and stand-off
2
100
near

ity
spine

dens
Far Count rate

Bulk
2.5

ribs
far

3
0
Near Count Rate
0 5000
far detector spaced at the edge To eliminate gaps between probe and borehole wall
of the gamma ‘cloud’ (Near detector is sensitive and plots on ribs if gap occurs)
R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University
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Density Log
Density Tools and Principles of Measurement
Mudcake Compensation

• Gamma rays measured by the short-spacing detector have penetrated

only a short distance into the formation, travelling mostly through the
mudcake.

• Gamma rays measured by the long-spacing detector have penetrated

through the mudcake and deeper into the formation before returning to
the detector.

• Calculations based upon the spine and ribs plots are used to
automatically correct the tool.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Density Log
Density Tools and Principles of Measurement
Spine and Ribs Plot

• Long-spacing versus short-spacing count rates can be plotted against

one another on a spine and rib correction plot. This plots different
formation densities, mudcake densities and mudcake thicknesses.

• The spine represents the centre of this plot with no different bulk
density measurements and zero mudcake. The ribs represent the effect
of mudcake at certain fixed formation densities.

• The spine and rib plot illustrates that for a given formation density there
is only one rib for all normal mudcake densities and thicknesses.
Therefore, even with three unknown variables, it is possible to make a
correction using two measurements.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Density Log
Density Tool
Spine and Ribs Plot

• Formation Density tool

mudcake correction plot

• No Mudcake Present

• Long-spacing signal is lower

than short-spacing signal
because of the greater
distance to the detector.

• All data falls on the spine.

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Density Log
Density Tool
Spine and Ribs Plot

• Formation Density tool B

mudcake correction plot

• ρb = 2.5 g/cm3
• ρmc = 1.5 g/cm3
A

• A mudcake thickness = 0

• B mudcake thickness = infinity

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Density Log
Density Tool
Spine and Ribs Plot

• Formation Density tool

mudcake correction plot

• ρb = 2, 2.5 and 3 g/cm3

• ρmc = 1.5 g/cm3

• Mudcake thickness = variable

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Density Log
Density Tool
Spine and Ribs Plot

• Formation Density tool

mudcake correction plot

• ρb = 2, 2.5 and 3 g/cm3

• ρmc = 1.5, 2 and 3 g/cm3

• Mudcake thickness = variable

A
• At point A, the mudcake is
denser than the formation and
the curve reverses.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Density Log
Density Tool
Mudcake
Spine and Ribs Plot with Barite

• The spine and ribs plot illustrates that for

a given formation density there is only

Long-Spaced Detector Counts

one rib for all normal mudcake densities
and thicknesses.

• Therefore, even with

three unknown
variables, it is possible
to make a correction
Mudcake
using two
without Barite
measurements.
Mudcake
Thickness
Increases

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University Short-Spaced Detector Counts 20

Density Log
Borehole Diameter

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Density Log
Density Tools and Principles of Measurement
Log Presentation

• The density log is normally plotted on a linear scale of bulk density

ranging from 1.95 to 2.95 g/cm3 (from left to right).

• The main density log is often accompanied by a curve indicating the

borehole and mudcake corrections that have been automatically applied.

• A record of cable tension may also be included because the tool is prone
to sticking in poor holes.

• The tool is typically run as a density-neutron combination with a gamma

ray and caliper log.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Litho-Density / PEF Log
Typical Log Response

Layout of a typical LDT-CNL-GR tool run.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University
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Density Log
Typical Log Response

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University From Rider (1996) 24

Density Log
Density Tools and Principles of Measurement
Depth of Investigation

• Experiments show that the depth of investigation of the density tool is

very shallow, with 90% of the measurements coming from 13 cm (5“) or
less from the tool.

• In average formations with modern tools, the measurement distance is

more like 5” from the tool.

• Therefore, the density tool is highly influenced by bad hole conditions.

It is therefore advisable to interpret the density log in combination with
the caliper log.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Density Log
Density Tools and Principles of Measurement
Depth of Investigation

• In porous formations, the tool will generally measure the invaded zone,
and the fluid filling the pore space will be mostly mud filtrate.

• Because of invasion and the displacement of hydrocarbons, the

density tool is unlikely to differentiate between oil and mud filtrate.

• However, because mud filtrate invasion is never complete in gas

zones, there may be a significant amount of gas to influence the
reading of the density log.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Density Log
Density Tools and Principles of Measurement
Vertical Resolution

• Although the depth of investigation is shallow, the bed resolution is good.

• At average logging speeds (400 m/hr, 1300 ft/h), true formation densities
can be read down to a vertical resolution of around 60 cm (2 ft).

• At lower logging speeds and higher sampling rates it may be possible to

resolve beds down to 15 cm (6”). Therefore, partial reaction from the
density log may be due to thin beds, such as high density cemented
layers.

• Calcareous nodules as thin as 5 to 10 cm can be seen as peaks on the

density logs.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Density Log
Density Tools and Principles of Measurement
Data Quality Issues

• The shallow investigation of the density log makes it prone to

erroneous readings due to caving and rough hole.

• Older tools were prone to the influence of high density muds (e.g.
barite), but this is automatically corrected for in modern tools using
the spine and ribs correction

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Density Log
Lithology Identification

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Density Log
Interpretation

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University From Rider (1996) 30

Density Log
Interpretation

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University From Rider (1996) 31

Density Log
Interpretation

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University From Rider (1996) 32

Density Log
Interpretation

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University From Rider (1996) 33

Density Log
Interpretation

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University From Rider (1996) 34

Density Log
Interpretation

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University From Rider (1996) 35

 Ø
Density Log
Interpretation
Calculation of Porosity

· The density log is commonly used in petrophysics to calculate the

total porosity of a formation.

· In order to calculate the density porosity, the matrix density and the
type of fluid in the borehole must be known.

· The bulk density, ρb, of a formation can be written as a linear

contribution of the density of the rock matrix, ρma, and the fluid
density, ρf, representing (1- Ø) and Ø, respectively.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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 Ø
Density Log
Interpretation
Calculation of Porosity

· Therefore: ρb = (1- Ø) ρma + ρf

This equation can be re-written in terms of porosity as:

• Where:
• ρb = the bulk density of the formation
• ρma = the density of the rock matrix
• ρf = the density of the fluids occupying the pore space
•Ø = the porosity of the rock
R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University
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 Ø
Density Log
Interpretation
Calculation of Porosity

• Fluid densities can often be obtained from RFT sampling. If the fluid
densities are available, they should be corrected to borehole
temperature conditions.

• However, values of 1.0 g/cm3 for fresh water and 1.1 g/cm3 for salt water
are often used.

• Remember that the tool measures the invaded zone, so the relevant
fluid is the mud filtrate in most circumstances.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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 Ø
Density Log
Interpretation
Calculation of Porosity

• If the formation is hydrocarbon-bearing, the fluid density can be

calculated by:

• Where:

•SXO = the saturation of the mud filtrate in the invaded zone

•ρmf = the density of the mud filtrate
•ρhc = the density of the hydrocarbon
•ρf = the fluid density

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 Ø
Density Log
Grain or Matrix Density Variation

· The porosity calculated for the density log can vary quite significantly
if the matrix density changes in the formation. The matrix density
depends upon the lithology and mineralogy of the formation.

· For sandstones, the density of quartz is 2.65 g/cm3. This matrix

density changes if the sandstone contains other minerals.

· For limestones, the density of calcite is 2.71 g/cm3, which is the

dominant mineral in clean or pure limestones.

· The mineralogy of clay or shale varies quite significantly and its range
overlaps with sandstones and limestones.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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 Ø
Density Log
Grain or Matrix Density Variation

· Core data is often used to provide accurate grain, or matrix densities for
a particular reservoir interval. Care must be taken in some lithological
intervals because the composition of the matrix may change.

· For example, an error in matrix density of as little as 0.01 g/cm3

translates into an error of 0.5% in the calculated porosity.

· This might sound tiny, but the grain density of a clean sandstone can
change significantly if biotite is added, changing the matrix density from
2.65 g/cm3 to 2.84 g/cm3.

· This situation occurs in some North Sea reservoirs, and leads to an error
of 10% in the porosity calculation when the bulk density is measured as
2.6 g/cm3 .

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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 Ø
Density Log
Grain or Matrix Density Variation
Matrix Density Experiment

A B
2.65 2.84
ρb = the bulk density of the formation 2.6 2.6
ρ ma = the density of the rock matrix 2.65 2.84

ρf = the density of the fluids occupying the pore space 1 1

Ø = the porosity of the rock 0.030303 0.130435

3.03% 13.04%

Difference 10.01%

3 3
2.65 g/cm to 2.84 g/cm .

Note: Shale in sandstones (shaly sands) can cause problems in accurately determining the
effective porosity. Vshale needs to be removed in the calculation and this will be addressed
later in the course.
R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University
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Density Log
Density Tool
Grain Densities

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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 Ø
Density Log
Calibrate Porosity and Grain Densities

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 Ø
Density Log
Fluid Density Variation

· Porosity calculations may also be in error if the fluid density is

incorrectly judged.

· The fluid usually measured by the density tool is mud filtrate.

· The density of the mud filtrate varies with temperature and composition,
so accurate values for the actual reservoir formation water at the
relevant reservoir temperatures should be used wherever possible.

· Mud filtrate densities are now corrected automatically for temperature

and pressure in most petrophysical software.

· However, the correction can be carried out in the original way by using a
correction chart.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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 Ø
Density Log
Gas Effect

· Porosity can be overestimated on the density log if gas is present in

the formation because the density of gas is very low (approximately
0.0001 g/cm3).

· This may be a problem if the formation is gas bearing because a

significant amount of gas is always left in the invaded zone.

· This can be demonstrated for a sandstone with a matrix density of

2.65 g/cm3 and a bulk density of 2.3 g/cm3. If the fluid content is
incorrectly judged to be oil instead of gas, the porosity will change
from about 13 to 19%, an overestimation of around 6%.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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 Ø
Density Log
Gas Effect

Note: Oil is rarely a problem because it is mostly displaced by mud filtrate

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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 Ø
Density Log

calculating total porosity from the density log

( ρma - ρb )
Øt =
(ρma - ρf )

ρma = matrix density

Ρb (tool measured density)
ρb = formation density (bulk density- tool
measured)
ρf = fluid density in borehole
ρf • note the assumption...
• lithology!
rock ρma rock ρma
sst 2.65 anh 2.98
ρma lst 2.71 salt 2.03
dol 2.85 coal 1.0 - 1.8
ρf ρf clays 2.0 - 3.0 oil 0.8
gas 0.08

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 Ø

PRACTICAL EXERCISE
1. Calculate porosity from the density log

(Assume freshwater based mud and a

sandstone formation)

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 Ø
Density Log
VSH

DEPTH
0 V/V 1
• Density Porosity
FEET
CALI
6 IN 16 RHOB PHITDEN PHITDEN NET
BADHOLE
0 NONE 1 1.95 G/C3 2.95 0.5 V/V 0 1 V/V 0
Calculation
100 Assuming freshwater
2.2 based mud and a
200
sandstone formation
300

400
Øt = ( ρma - ρb )
500
Rhob = approx 2.2 g/cc
(ρma - ρf )
600

ρf = 1.0 g/cc,
ρma = 2.65 g/cc
700

800

Ø = (2.65-2.2) / (2.65-1)
900
Ø = 27.3%

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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