Q Society of Petroleum Engineers
SPE 30598
Improved Pulsed Neutron Capture Logging With Slim Carbon-Oxygen Tools:
Methodology
R.E. Plasek, SPE, R.A. Adolph, C. Stoller, SPE, D.J. Willis, and E.E. Bardon, Schlumberger Wireline & Testing, and M.G.
Portal, Anadrill
Copyright 1995 , Society of Petroleum Engineers
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Annual Technical Conference & Exhibllion
held In Dallas, U.S.A., 22-25 October, 1995.
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Abstract
Recently, two new slim through-tubing carbon-oxygen tools
were introduced and described in the literature. In addition to
carbon-oxygen water-saturation capability, these new
instruments can provide, during the same trip, pulsed neutron
capture (PNC) measurements (formation sigma, porosity,
borehole fluid salinity, etc.). The answers have improved
accuracy and precision compared to prior logging instruments.
This paper describes the Dual-Burst* PNC measurement scheme
for the RST* Reservoir Saturation Tool, as well as the algorithm
methodology for determining corrected sigma, porosity,
borehole fluid salinity, log quality and other associated outputs.
Also documented are database measurements on which the
algorithms are based, accuracy benchmarks in industry-standard
calibration facilities, and precision (repeatability) comparisons.
Log examples are presented.
Diffusion, borehole and lithology effects must be considered
when transforming observed quantities such as decay times or
near-to-far ratios to actual physical quantities. However, these
effects are difficult to account for in direct analytical approaches
over the entire range of oilfield conditions. Therefore, a multidi-
mensional dynamic parameterization technique, based on an ex-
tensive set of laboratory measurements, has been developed and
refined. This technique keeps the order of parameters low, re-
sulting in a well-behaved response both inside and outside the
range spanned by the database. The supporting database for each
tool includes over 1000 measured points augmented with ap-
*Mark of Schlumberger
729
proximately 400 modeled points spanning different lithologies,
porosities, borehole sizes, casing sizes and weights, formation
fluid salinities, and borehole fluid salinities typically encoun-
tered in the oilfield.
Also reported are the sigma and porosity accuracy benchmark
measurements made in the industry-standard calibration facili-
ties (EUROPA facility, Aberdeen, Scotland and API test pits,
University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA). Precision (re-
peatability) is also compared to prior PNC logging instruments,
demonstrating logging speeds typically several times faster for
comparable precision.
Introduction
Two new through-tubing carbon-oxygen (C/O) tools, the
I 11/16-in. RST tool ("RST-A") and the 2 II2-in. RST tool
("RST-B"), were recently introduced.1,2,3 In addition to C/O
capability, these new tools can provide, during the same trip in
the hole, pulsed neutron capture (PNC) "sigma" logging with
substantially improved accuracy, precision, and borehole
salinity compensation compared to dedicated PNC tools
presently used in the industry.
PNC logging determines formation oil saturation indirectly by
measuring the "absence of salinity" much in the same wayan
electrical log does in open hole. PNC logs measure the macro-
scopic thermal neutron capture cross section (1:) of the forma-
tion, a quantity which is highly influenced by the salinity of the
formation water. When the formation water is fairly saline an
anomalously low sigma provides the hydrocarbon signature much
like a low conductivity reading on an electrical log. Unfortu-
nately, the ability of PNC logs to unambiguously detect liquid
hydrocarbons breaks down in fresh or low-salinity environments
since fresh water and hydt'ocarbons have nearly the same cap-
ture cross section and thus "fresh water looks like oil."
Nevertheless, in most situations PNC tools can be logged at
acceptable speeds with precision sufficient to detect changes in
the reservoir, when run in time-lapse mode. However, during
the past few years PNC has been used in increasingly difficult
environments such as mixed-salinity (waterflooded) reservoirs
where the salinity may be unknown, low-contrast (low-salinity)
reservoirs where the dynamic range of formation sigma is small
 2 IMPROVED PULSED NEUTRON CAPTURE LOGGING WITH SLIM CARBON-OXYGEN TOOLS: METHODOLOGY
and often borehole fluids are fresh, as well as reservoirs with
limited openhole data. These kinds of logging environments
impose more stringent accuracy and precision requirements for
PNC measurements.
Carbon-oxygen logging, on the other hand, determines forma-
tion oil saturation and holdup by measuring directly the carbon
and oxygen signals through nuclear gamma ray spectroscopy.
Although a priori a direct measurement such as C/O might
seem preferable to an indirect one such as sigma, C/O has some
practical limitations. In particular, its relatively slower logging
speed often precludes surveying large sections of the reservoir.
In short, both measurements have their value in reservoir man-
agement and monitoring, but until now typically one or the
other has been chosen to avoid using multiple tools and mak-
ing multiple trips into the well. The RST tools provide expanded
reservoir diagnostic and management capability by combining
for the first time full-spectrum inelastic spectroscopy (through-
tubing C/O), elemental spectroscopy (silicon, calcium, chlo-
rine, iron, sulfur, magnesium, etc.), Dual-Burst PNC measure-
ments (sigma, porosity, borehole salinity, etc.), activation mea-
surements (water flow), and optional production logging mea-
surements (temperature, Gradiomanometer*, spinner, etc.) dur-
ing the same trip in the hole. Already at least three new appli-
cations resulting from the single tool, single trip availability of
C/O, sigma, and elemental spectroscopy have been reported. 4
1:, the capture cross section of the formation, is determined by
sending a burst of neutrons from the tool and watching the de-
cline of the gamma ray count rate with time as the neutrons are
captured by the surrounding materials (neutron capture) and as
they diffuse farther away (neutron diffusion). :E is inferred from
this observed decline in the gamma ray count rate versus time.
However, in addition to the neutron capture, two key environ-
mental effects contribute to the observed decline, or decay rate:
diffusion and the so-called "borehole contamination." These
need to be carefully characterized in order to determine the
correct :E throughout the wide range of operating conditions
typically encountered in the oilfield. These effects are controlled
by parameters which include borehole size, casing size, casing
weight, borehole fluid salinity, porosity, and lithology. Some
approaches to handle these environmental effects have been.
described in the literature. 5,6.7,H
It has been difficult to account for these environmental effects
in an analytical model that is simple, physical, and yet accurate
in most logging conditions encountered. Complex analytical
models can be unstable outside the characterized range, whereas
simple models may not adequately correct for all the environ-
mental effects.
To address these requirements a dynamic parameterization tech-
nique, based on an extensive set of laboratory and modeled data,
has been developed to provide answers including formation
sigma, formation porosity, salinity of borehole fluid, and other
quality control curves. This methodology will be discussed along
with its performance in industry-standard calibration facilities
such as the EUROPA (sigma) facility, Aberdeen, Scotland, and
730
SPE 30598
the API test pits (porosity), University of Houston, Houston,
Texas. This technique meets the requirement that the model be
simple and accurate and that its behavior be predictable outside
the database range.
The following paragraphs describe the tool hardware, the da-
tabase, the algorithm methodology, accuracy and precision and
show several log examples. It is assumed that the reader is fa-
miliar with the concepts and applications ofPNC logging. Read-
ers desiring historical information might begin with the Au-
gust, 1979 SPWLA reprints volume titled "Pulsed Neutron Log-
ging" and work forward in time through the literature accord-
ing to their specific interests.
Hardware
Building on experience with pulsed neutron tools, the RST tools
further develop pulsed neutron logging with next-generation
hardware for :E (capture cross section), as well as inelastic
spectroscopy, capture spectroscopy, and activation
measurements. Exploiting this new hardware significantly
improves logging speed, accuracy, vertical resolution, reliability,
and especially repeatability -- both pass to pass and tool to
tool.
The RST tools include considerable shielding to focus detectors
away from the source and in the RST-B (Fig. 1) preferentially
toward the borehole for the near detector and formation for the
1 11/16~in. 2 1/2 -in.
RST-A sonde RST-B sonde
. . / GSa detector
/ (far)
......
11---- Shielding
Gsa detector
(near)
.. Shielding
... Neutron
generator
Fig. 1: Schematic sonde layout. The RST-A tool is cylindrically
symmetrical, the RST-B tool is focused so that the far detector faces
the formation and the near detector faces the borehole.
SPE 30598 R.E. Plasek, R.A. Adolph, C. Stoller, D.J. Willis, E.E. Bardon, and M.G. Portal 3

far detector with the aid of a bow-spring. The combination of

..,---------------------
shielding and slightly closer spacings results in improved
vertical resolution over older tools.
New neutron generator technology gives much greater reli-
ability, increased output, and extremely sharp, repeatable bursts.
The original TDT' Thermal Decay Tool (P version) Dual-Burst
timing has evolved in RST tools to further enhance borehole-
to-formation contrast using a narrower short burst and wider
long burst.
Proprietary gamma ray detector technology utilizes gadolinium
oxyorthosilicate (GSO) crystals and precise regulation to pro-
vide very high count rates, controlled counting losses,9 and gain-
stabilized near-to-far porosity ratios. Counts are binned in 126
time gates to provide a high-resolution recording of bursts, de-
-1--,...--.-..---.--.--..,.-~~I___r_r__r·...-..,.....-r-j
cays, and background. A typical full-spectmm Dual-Burst PNC
decay curve is shown in Fig. 2. To measure background an 18-ms
o 400 800 1200 1600
Time [~s]
interval is inserted periodically between Dual-Burst sequences.
Gamma ray spectra (256 channels) are acquired during the back- Fig. 2: Typical Dual-Burst spectrum measured with RST tool.
ground interval and optionally during each decay.
Table 1 summarizes improvements in RST timing, gamma TABLE 1: COMPARISON OF RST AND TDT-P HARDWARE
ray detection, electronics, neutron generation, and key wellsite
capabilities as compared to its predecessor. RST TDT·P
Timing
Database and Algorithm 126 gates 16 gates
This section addresses the algorithm that computes apparent tool
Optimized Dual-Burst First generation Dual-Burst
quantities such as decay times and near-to-far count rate ratios ,-. ,.-
and subsequently, based on an extensive measured and modeled Detectors and Electronics
database, transfOlIDs them into calibrated (corrected) quantities Dual GSa detectors Dual Nal detectors
such as fOlIDation capture cross section, formation porosity, and Gain regulation "Plateau" operation
salinity of borehole fluid mixture. The database is discussed
Source/Detector shielding
first, as it forms the foundation for the algorithm.
Focused detectors
Database. As detailed in Table 2, a very extensive database Very high count rates
was acquired over a period of several years at the Schlumberger
Neutron Generation
Environmental Effects Calibration Facility (EECF), Houston, Increased neutron output
Texas. Tools characterized included the RST-A, RST-B, and
Precise square bursts
TDT-P. The tools were run in over thirty different neutron tank
formations, while varying the salinity of both the formation Capabilities and Features
and borehole fluids as well as inserting different casing/cement Logging speed up to 3000 fph Typically 900-1800 fph
completions into the boreholes. Better vertical resolution
Well over 1000 different formation/borehole conditions were Saturation (C/O)
measured per tool. For example, the limestone database con- Holdup (C/O)
sists of measurements in the following pelIDutations of forma- Lithology
tion and borehole conditions: four borehole sizes, three comple-
Water Flow Water Flow
tions (casing size and weight plus cement annulus), three po-
rosities, four formation flushes of varying salinity, six different Combinable Combinable
borehole fluids (five varying salinities plus air), and three tools.
This results in 2592 measurements for the limestone matrix alone. All measurements were made with each tool eccentered (i.e.,
To optimize resources and schedule, the sandstone and dolo- flush against the casing/borehole wall). All casings are steel
mite databases are less extensive in that two of the formation and are centered in the borehole. All cement sheaths are class
flushes and two of the borehole fluids were omitted. For the H cement, mixed with fresh water. The three porosities, zero,
sandstone database all the otherwise "missing" points found in medium, and high, correspond nominally to 0,18, and 41 p.u. for
the limestone database were obtained through modeling. As of limestone and dolomite, and 0, 16, and 33 p.u. for sandstone.
today's writing, the database contains 3870 points!

73'1
4 IMPROVED PULSED NEUTRON CAPTURE LOGqlNG WITH SL.IM CARBON"OXYGEN TOOLS: METHODOLOGY SPE 30598

TABLE 2: LIST OF CURRSNTDATABASE POINTS

Holesize Casing Lithol ogy 1 Porosity2 Formation Flush 3 Borehole Fluid 4

Size Weight
(in.) . (in.) (Ibm/tt) (kppm NaCI) . (kppm NaCI)

6 Open Hole L S D Z· M H 0 70 140 210 0.2550100200 Air

6 4.5 10.5 L S D Z· M H 0 70 140 210 0 2550100200 Air
6 5.0 18 L S D Z· M H 0 70 140 210 0 2550100200 Air
,
8 Open Hole L S D Z M H 0 70 140 210 0 2550100200 Air
8 5.5 15.5 L S D Z ·M H 0 70 140 210 0 2550100200 Air
8 7.0 32 LS D Z M H 0 70 140 210 . 0 2550100200 Air

10 5.5 15.5 L S D Z· M H 0 70 140 210 0 25 50 tOO 200 Air

10 7iO 32 L S D Z· M H 0 70 140 210 02550 100200 Air
10 7.625 26.4 L S D Z· M H 0 70 140 210 02550 100 200 Air

12 7.625 26.4 LS Z· M H 0 70140 210 0 2550100200 Air

12 9.625 32.3 L S Z· MH 0 70 140 210 o 2550100200 Air
12 . 9.625 53.5 .' LS Z· M H 070 140210 025 50 100200 Air.

1) L .. Limestone S..Sandstone D..Dolomite

;!)Z .. zero (0 p.u.) M.. medi!Jm (15 to 20 p.u.) H .. high (33 p.u. for sand, 38 to 43 p.u. in lime and dolom~e)
3) For sand the 70 and21 0 kppm points are modeled, for dolomite 70 and 21'0 kppm are omitted.
4) For sand the 25 and 100 kppm points are modeled, for dolomite 25 and 100 kppm are omitted. ,
.) 'These 0 p.u. points are modeled for sand. .

The capture cross sections (1:) of the database formations are Sigma-matrix values are 'determined by gross macroscopic
calculated classicaIly as cross-section measurements provided by commercial reactor
facilities and by processing complete elemental analyses through
L = ( 1 - 1> )1:1IIa + 1> SftLfI' (1) SNUPAR cross-section tables.

where 1> is the fOl1nation porosity, L ma is the mat~ix capture cross

section ("sigma-matrix"), 8ft is the formation fluid. saturation,
and Lflis the formation f1uidcap.ture cross sectione'sigma-
;TABLE 3: LI$/DLIS MNEMONICS
fluid"). Therefore, the ultimate accuracy in the true database
sigma value is determined by the accuracy in determining the Mnemonic Units Definition

f04r quantities: sigma-matrix, forll1;C\tiorl porosity, formation SIGM' cu Formation sigma (SFFA alpha-filtered with SFFC)
TPHI' pu Porosity , " '.
fluid saturation, and sigma-fluid. BSAl' kpprp NaCI Salinity of borehole fluid (adaptively filtered)
The NaCl water salinity is determined by a calibrated titration SlaF' cu Sigma of borehoie fluid (l3SAL In capture units)
DSIG cu SFNC-SFFC
procedure and then converted into sigma-fluid using SNUPARIO SFFC cu Sigma formation far corrected
SFNC cu Sigma formalion near correctEid
cross-section tables. Local tap water was used and numerous CIRN Capture-to-Inelastic Ratio near
samples were chemicaIly analyzed to verify the absence of any CIRF - Capture-to-Inelastic Ratio far
-
appreciable amounts ofhigh cross-section trace ~lements. Titra-
IRAT Far-to-near short-burst (Inelastic) ratio
TRAT' - Near-toifar iate-decay (capture) porosity ratio
tions are calibrated using standard solutions prepared in-house Sl3NA' cu Sigma borehoie near l'lpparent
SaFA' cu Sigma borehoie far I1pparent
and also purchased from commercial supp1i~~s. The resulting SFNA' cu Sigma formation near apparent
SFFA' cu Sigma formation far apparent
titrat~on accuracy is better than 1 kppm NaCI; ; Nl3AC cps Near background adaptlvely filtered
The porosity of the EECF tank formations is determined by FBAC cps Far background adaptivelyfiltered
SIGM R2P cu "TDTP-equlvl1lent" formation sigma (LIS: SR2P)
caiefuIly measuring both the weights and the volumes of all rocks, TPHI':-R2P pu "TDTP-equlvalent" porosity (LIS: TR2P)
SIBH_R2P cu "TDTP-equivalent" sigma borehole (LIS: BR2P)
fluids, and tanks used. The "volume" method is the primary CSID_MODEL1 In Predicted casing IDI
measurement and is accurate for the aggregate formation to TCSG_MODEL1In Predicted casing thickness 1
TCEM_MODEL1 in Predicted cement thickness 1
approximately 0.1 p.u. The "weight" method is 4sed to validate TCEM..,MODEl2ln Predicted cement thickness 2
the volume-derived poroSity value. FjnaIly, CNL* Compen- • indicales lhat an uncertainly (standard deviation) channel is also output (SBNA_SIG, SFNA_SIG etc,)
sated Neutron Log surveys are performed to verify the porosity 1Oblalned by allOWing CID, TcS9 ' Tc• m to vary to make near and far answers self-conslstent.
values as weIl as vertical and azimuthal uniformity. 2 Obtained by allowing only Tc'e~to vary to make near and far answers self-eonSlstent.

732
SPE 30598 R.E. Plasek, R.A. Adolph, C. Stoller, D.J. Willis, E.E. Bardon, and M.G. Portal 5

INPUT

Correction to Spectra

STEP 1: Counting Loss Corrections

Background Adaptive Filtering
Background Subtraction

Compute Apparent Quantities

Near Apparent Borehole Sigma SBNA

$
STEP 2: Far Apparent Formation Sigma SFFA
co
II:
Near/Far Capture Count Rate Ratio TRAT ....c
~
etc.
o
()
ENVIRONMENTAL (~EXTERNAL'\
PARAMETERS I KNOWLEDGE I
: (optional) :
Borehole Size
Casing SlzelWeight ...1 Porosity I
Lithology /' /' \~~h~~S::!I~t~1

Transform from Apparent to

STEP 3: Corrected Quantities
with
WMLR Algorithm

o 50 100 150
OUTPUTS Time (lJs]
Borehole Salinity BSAL SIBF Fig. 4: RST short burst time-decay spectrum for the near detector.
Porosity TPHI
Corrected Near and Far Sigma SFFC SFNC

Sigma Formation SIGM

Fig. 3: Simplified diagram of RST sigma processing.

Algorithm. Referring to Fig. 3, the algorithm can be visualized

as a three-step sequence: I) spectral corrections to obtain the
0>
"true" time-decay spectra; 2) calculation of apparent (observed) 't;
quantities; and 3) transformation of apparent quantities into ...
a:
c:
corrected quantities. In the following algorithm discussion the :3
o
(,)
LISIDLIS mnemonics will be used for the various apparent and
corrected quantities per Table 3.

Step 1. Measured counting losses and background are used to

correct the near- and far-detector time-decay spectra. To improve
statistical precision the background is typically averaged (filtered)
over several levels, typically 5 ft. Adaptive filtering selectively 200 600 1000 1400
shrinks the filter length to properly handle "hot spots" resulting Time [~sl
from radioactive scale, radioactive markers, activated casing,
Fig. 5: RST long burst time-decay spectrum for the far detector.
and the like.

Step 2. The corrected time-decay spectra are processed to
generate eight apparent tool quantities such as observed decay
times and count rate ratios. As the term "apparent" implies,
these quantities are not environmentally corrected and are not
adjusted for environmental parameters such as borehole size,
casing size, casing weight, etc. Three of these apparent quantities:
apparent near borehole sigma (SBNA), near-to-far capture ratio
(TRAT), and apparent far formation sigma (SFFA) form the basis
for the corrected tool outputs borehole fluid salinity (BSAL),
porosity (TPHI), and formation sigma (SIGM).
Figs. 4 and 5 show the respective "early gate" and "late gate"
pOl1ions of the near and far detector Dual-Burst time-decay spec-
tra from which SBNA and SFFA are derived. Note how the op-
timized Dual-Burst timing enhances the contrast between bore-
hole and formation decays: the near-detector early gate decays
following the short burst show noticeably different slopes di-
rectly corresponding to different borehole fluid salinities. In con-
trast, the far-detector late gate decays following the long burst
are nearly parallel to one another (i.e., have nearly identical
slopes) and thus respond almost entirely to the fOlmation. The

733
 6 IMPROVED PULSED NEUTRON CAPTURE LOGGING WITH SLIM CARBON-OXYGEN TOOLS: METHODOLOGY
apparent decay times (r) are calculated using a robust moments
method.
Equivalence between macroscopic cross section I: and decay
time r is made using the familiar conversion
4545 , (2)
vr r transformations and environmental corrections mentioned
where normally I: is in capture units (I capture unit =
0.001 cm- I ), r is in microseconds, and v is the accepted thermal
neutron velocity at room temperature (2200 mls in appropriate
units).
The apparent capture ratio (TRAT) is obtained in the late gate
region by dividing the corrected counting rate of the near detec-
tor by that of the far. Other apparent quantities are used for
qualitative purposes such as gas detection and are discussed
elsewhere (see later section on Auxiliary Measurements).
Step 3. This step provides the transforms and environmental
corrections to convert SBNA, TRAT, and SFFA into the salinity
of the borehole fluid (BSAL), formation porosity (TPHI), and
formation capture cross section (SFFC).
Stated mathematically, the corrected quantities BSAL, TPHI,
and SFFC are multidimensional functions of the apparent quan-
tities (SBNA, TRAT, SFFA), previously determined corrected
quantities, the lithology, and the borehole completion:
BSAL ( SBNA, TRAT2, SFFA, CID, T esgo Teem' Lith), (3)
L _
TPHI (TRAT, TRAT2, BSAL, SFFA, CID, Te",lI' Teem' Lith), (4)
I ++
SFFC ( SFFA, TPHl, BSAL, CID, Tesgo Teem' Lith), (5)
where CID is the casing inside diameter, Tcsg is the thickness of
the casing, T"em is the thickness of the cement, and Lith is the
formation lithology.
The traditional approach to handling such transfOims and en-
vironmental corrections has been to measure and/or model a large
database spanning all the various environmental parameters of
interest and then to "parameterize" the transformations and en-
vironmental corrections. This means developing specific equa-
tions with static coefficients that are direct functions of the
apparent quantities and all the environmental parameters. These
static coefficients are then "hard-wired" into logging software
and the parameterized equations are applied at· every depth
logged.
Unfortunately, these equations can become very complex, cum-
bersome, difficult to visualize because of their multidimensional
nature, and often difficult to control when outside the range of
the database (I.e., when extrapolating). Moreover, one often
finds that many of these transformations andlor environmental
effects cannot readily be cast into direct analytical equations
over the entire range of oilfield conditions encountered. Rec-
734
SPE 30598
ognizing these difficulties, the RST algorithm abandons the
static coefficient method in favor of a forward model that per-
forms a "dynamic database parameterization" at each depth in
the well. As before, the methodology is firmly rooted in an
extensive database spanning all parameters of interest. This
method is multidimensional, handles simultaneously both the
above, and overcomes many of the difficulties inherent in the
static coefficient approach. A nonlinear dual-component ap-
proach was also investigated but lacked sufficient robustness
across the range of expected logging conditions. Similar nega-
tive conclusions were also reported by Murdoch et aU
As an example take the determination of SFFC. There are
over 1000 database points determining its response. Generaliz-
ing, for any arbitrary point in a given lithology we can make a
local expansion (parameterization) of SFFC as a first-order func-
tion of each independent variable as
where bo is an intel'cept and the remaining b's are the del'ivatives
of SFFC with respect to each of the parameters at this arbitrary
point. BSAL and TPHI are computed first and input to the SFFC
computation as depicted in Eqns. 3, 4, 5. Expansions of BSAL
and TPHI are similar:
BSAL= bg+bfSBNA + b:TRAT' +b;SF FA +b:ClD + b ffT".-~b gT,,"' ..... (7)
As seen, expansions along most dimensions are linear with no
term higher than order two.
Given the large size of the database we have an overdetermined
set of many hundred equations with only a half-dozen or so un-
knowns (the b's). The b's are obtained through a classical
weighted multiple linear regression (WMLR) technique I I where,
using the SFFC example above, we define the dependent (re-
sponse) variable as SFFC and the independent (regressor) vari-
ables as SFFA, TPHI, BSAL, cm, Tesg ' and Teem for a given li-
thology. The key to the WMLR method is assignment of an ap-
propriate weight to each of the database points to weight heavily
those points close to the measured data-point and weight lightly
those distant. This effectively uses the "nearest neighbors" to
determine the local parameterization. Stated another way, at ev-
ery depth level the sequence of regressions (Eqns. 6, 7, 8) is
performed using all lithology-matching database points, but each
point is weighted according to its proximity to the current depth
level measurement. The weights and hence the b's are com-
puted at every depth level, used to compute BSAL, TPHI, and
SFFC (Eqns. 6, 7, 8), and then discarded. The final sigma
(SIGM) is alpha-processed l2 from SFFA and SFFC to improve
precision, and the term "SIGM" will be used hereafter to de-
note the corrected sigma.
For quality control, a second estimate of formation ~, SFNC,
is made by replacing SFFA with SFNA, its near-detector ana-
SPE 30598 R.E. Plasek, R.A. Adolph, C.
log. The difference between SFNC and SFFC (called DSIG for
"delta-sigma") can be used as a quality indicator. A good match
between SFNC and SFFC (DSIG = 0) provides confidence that
the environmental parameters (CID, T csg , T cem , Lith) represent
well the actual hole conditions encountered during logging.
The departure of SFNC from SFFC suggests that actual envi-
ronmental conditions may not match the environmental param-
eters input to the algorithm. Such effects may be caused by
washouts, eccentered casings, cement anomalies, dual casings
or tubing, or other uncharacterized conditions. With the DSIG
measurement the RST tool points out, for the first time, areas
where there may be near-wellbore anomalies that may affect
the measurement.
The salinity ofthe borehole fluid mixture (BSAL) is adaptively
filtered. rThis provides substantial filtering (typically 25 ft) in
areas where the borehole environment is not changing, while
shrinking to as narrow as 1.5 ft to preserve the sharpness of sta-
tistically significant transitions such as those encountered at bore-
hole oil/water interfaces, packers, and the like.
The RST algorithm also supports logging in air-filled bore-
holes.
There are several advantages to the dynamic parameteriza-
tion method over the prior static coefficient method but per-
haps the most significant, in addition to accuracy, is robustness
(well-behaved nature). This comes about primarily since only
low-order correction/transformation functions are needed, typi-
cally linear or, at most, quadratic. This feature provides physi-
cally reasonable behavior when extrapolating outside the data-
base range. Another advantage is that additional database points
can be added without the need to reparameterize. Also, the cal-
culation of statistical uncertainties (standard deviations) be-
comes very straightforward. For example, given an expansion
of a dependent quantity Y in terms of independent quantities X
Y == bo + b l X J + + bn XII'
The variance of Y (square of standard deviation) follows as simply
O'~ == bi O'~J + + b,; O'~II'
where d XI is the variance of the independent quantities.
The RST algorithm outputs uncertainties for all primary out-
puts (see Table 3) and many apparent quantities as well. As
indicated in Fig. 3, the algorithm additionally allows the op-
tional input of external knowledge (porosity, borehole salinity,
or even both) when available. When this option is chosen the
corresponding WMLR's are bypassed, thereby improving both
accuracy and precision of SIGM. This is particularly valuable
in monitoring applications. Finally, the dynamic parameteriza-
tion method is not iterative and does not require any conver-
gence criteria or multidimensional Chi-square convergence sur-
faces such as required by a dual-exponential model. This results
in a robust, hence more accurate answer.
Stoller, D.J. Willis, E.E. Bardon, and M.G. Portal 7
Accuracy
A series of benchmark measurements were made to assess the
accuracy of the algorithm in computing BSAL, TPHI, and SIGM.
These include reprocessing the entire database as well as running
in industry-standard calibration facilities: the EUROPA (sigma)
facility and the API (porosity) test pits.
Database Reprocessing. The 1000+ point RST-A and RST-B
databases were reprocessed with the dynamic parameterization
algorithm and the resulting values of BSAL, TPHI, and SIGM
compared with the assigned (true) database values. The results
for RST-A SIGM are shown graphically in Fig. 6. Although
not obvious, this figure contains almost 900 liquid-borehole
points spanning all database lithologies, borehole sizes,
porosities, formation fluid salinities, and borehole completions.
The only points omitted are those either in or close to
"crossover," the pathological situation where the formation
sigma exceeds the borehole sigma. For this non-crossover data
set the average absolute errors (absolute difference between
tool reading and assigned database value) are 0.22 c.u. for
SIGM, 0.9 p.u. for TPHI, and 5.5 kppm for BSAL. For
the RST-B the corresponding absolute errors are 0.20 c.u. for
SIGM, 1.7 p.u. for TPHI, and 6.9 kppm for BSAL. The better
RST-B accuracy for SIGM and better RST-A accuracy forTPHI
50,--------------,-----~-----~
50--j···················································..........................•...........................•..................../ I
(9)
20
(10)
10
O~~~r-,-~~~j-r--,-~-j-~::..:,-..~~~~~~~rl
o 10 20 30 40 50 50
Assigned Sigma [c.u.)
Fig. 6: Sigma measured with the RST·A sonde versus the assigned
sigma of the database formations. The inset shows the distribution
of the differences between measured and assigned sigma.
are consistent with the detector placements and directional
shielding (Fig. 1).
Note that an improvement has been made in the "borehole"
measurement. The SBNA quantity includes capture cross-sec-
tion contributions not only from the borehole fluid mixture but
also from the casing, cement, and tool and thus is not easily
735
 8 IMPROVED PULSEDNEUTRON CAPTURE LOGG.lNG WITH SLIM CARBON-OXYGEN TOOLS: METHODOLOGY
translatable into sigma-fluid or its corresponding salinity. The
RST measurement, in addition to putting out this historic sigma-
borehole curve (SBNA), additionally factors out the casing,
cement, and tool contributions, thereby outputting only the part
resulting from the borehole. fluid mixture: BSAL (salinity of
borehole fluid mixture in kppm) and smF (sigma of borehole
fluid mixture; Le., BSAL converted into capture units).
Sigma Calibrations. Although larger service companies have
extensive test pits and wells on which they base the calibration
of their own tools, their commercial positions preclude them
from constituting independent industry standards such as those
provided by the API for porosity and natural gamma ray
calibration. The industry desire for independent standards' for
sigma calibration culminated in 1989 with the launch of the
EUROPA pl'0ject. Partial funding was obtained from the United
Kingdom Atdmic Energy Authority with major support from a
consortium ·of 15 oil companies and government agencies:
includingAEA Petroleum Services, Amerada Hess Ltd., Amoco
(UK) Exploration Ltd., ARCO(UK), British Petroleum pIc.,
CEC, Chevroj1 Petroleum (UK) Ltd., CONOCO (UK) Ltd.,
Exxon Production Research Co., Gas Council (Exploration) Ltd.,
Mobil North Sea Ltd., Offshore Supplies Office, Scottish
Development Agency, Shell UK Exploration and Production,
STATOIL (UK) Ltd., and Total Oil Marine plc. The outcome of
this initiative was the design and construction of the EUROPA
facility inAberdeen, Scotland.
Although the calibration formations are described in detail else-
where,l} major features include a total of 17 quarried-rock for-
mations with lithologies primarily either lime, sand, or dolo-
mite and with porosities ranging between 0 and 28 p.u. Each
formation is 1.8 m high and over 1.2 m in diameter, composed
of six slabs stacked one above the other. The characteristics of
each slab are determined by making measurements on 12 core
samples taken from the central core and the periphery. Core data
have been analyzed and verified by several different geological
laboratories, resUlting in a thorough lithological and mineral-
ogical profile. Each formation is saturated with fresh, 100 kppm
or 200 kppm brine, and borehole sizes are either 8 1/2 in. or
12 1/4 in. A removable 7-in. 29"lbm/ft casing/cement comple-
tion of approximately 8 1/2 in. diameter is available for cased-
hole calibration.
The RST-A tool was run in open hole in all EUROPA forma-
tions as well as incased hole in all 8 1/2-in. formations. The
comparison between the RST-A measured sigma and the calcu-
lated (assigned) sigmas for 8 l/2-in. borehole EUROPA forma-
tions, both open and cased, is presented in Fig. 7. These bench-
mark calibrations in the only industry-standard sigma facility in
conjunction with the database validation shown in Fig. 6 dem-
onstrate the ability of the RST-A sonde to read very nearly the
true ("intrinsic") sigma over a wide sigma range of different
lithologies, porosities, formation and borehole fluids, as well as
borehole sizes and completion types. A smaller set of 8 l/2-in.
borehole measurements were made with the RST-B tooL Re- .
suIts were comparable to those shown for the RST-A tool.
736
SPE 30598
35.,.'-_---_---'--_~"'--_--------..,.,
o LIME
30 X SAND
<> DOLO
25 ~ ..•... =====~ i......... j...................... J¥/
~20.+·.····.·· ························.····················f········.. ,../ .......................•.................
01
U)
-g... 15
::J
III
III
:::s 10
5'
15 20 25 30 35
Assigned Sigma [c.u.]
Fig. 7: Sigma measured atthe EUROPA facility versus assigned
sigma for3 different Iithologies,for cased hole and open hole.
Porosity Calibrations. Through-casing porosity measurements
made with a dual-detector PNC device are clearly more
challenging' than in the openhole environment with a multi-
detector neutron device. Nevertheless, in ch\l.racterized
environments and good borehole conditions, a PNC device can
provide quantitative porosity readings with re~sonableaccuracy.
This is important especially in the absence of open hole logs.
The porosity curve is also generally found useful for gas
detection and/or monitoring. .
The RST-A and RST-B services were run in the industry-stan-
dard API porosity test pits. This calibration standard, much like
EUROPA, consists of three multislab quarried-rock formations
stacked one atop the other. The formations are limestone lithol-
ogy, 7 7/8-in. open hole, and have nominal porosities of 1.9,19,
~nd 26 p.u. Of particular significance is the excellent block align-
ment in the API test pits resulting in a very smooth borehole.
The RST-A porosity response (TPHI) in the API test pits is
shown in Fig. 8 and is in good agreement with the assigned
values. The RST-B response is equivalent. Also included in
Fig. 8 are both openhole and cased-hole RST-A porosity read-
ings in the EUROPA formations. Unlike the more robust sigma
measurement, the porosity readings are clearly more affected
by irregular near-wellboreconditions. EUROPA was found to
be an excellent facility with the only negative feature being a
variable misalignment of the individual blocks comprising a
single formation. This can produce a nonuniform "stair-step"
standoff between the tool and blocks. These irregular standoffs
have been verified by EUROPA using video and caliper meth-
ods as well as independently by the APT' Accelerator Porosity
Tool, which also makes a nuclear measurement of standoff.
Given that each slab thick,ness is less than the spacing between
the source and the far detector, the result can easily be the source
SPE 30598 R.E. Plasek, R.A. Adolph, C. Stoller, D.J. Willis, E.E. Bardon, and M.G. Portal 9

aligned with one formation slab, the near detector aligned with 30

another, and the far detector aligned with a third -- all three
having different amounts of fluid-standoff. Although it was just 25
•

M
UH-API LIME
EUROPA SAND MV
/
demonstrated that sigma is relatively insensitive to this envi- EUROPA LIME
ronmental effect, unfortunately this is not the case with a late-
capture ratio and hence porosity. Fortunately, this type of ir- ';' 20 .
B
regular fluid-standoff is not typically encountered in most cased-
hole logging. The APT tool, which detected the standoff anoma-
lies in the EUROPA formations, detected virtually no standoff
.~
III
~ 15
/
/
a.
in the API test-pit formations. ~:l
III 10
III
Borehole Salinity Compensation. During the life of a PNC
monitoring program the salinity of the wellbore fluid may
change from year to year. Similarly, during a "log-inject-Iog"
:::E

5
/
(LIL) operation the formation is flushed with fluids of known
and differing salinities, typically one fresh and one saline. The
difference in sigma between these two cases is indicative of
o
./
o 5 10 15 20 25 30
Assigned Porosity [p.u.]
residual hydrocarbons. In these cases, especially the LIL one,
it is very important that the algorithm properly compensate for Fig. 8: Measured porosity versus assigned porosity for the EU ROPA
and University of Houston (UH) API formations. Standoff effects are
the different borehole fluids so that sigma changes seen result evident in the EUROPA porosities.
solely from changes in formation cross section.
Fig. 9 shows the capability of the RST algorithm to properly
250 ,---,--r-n--~--r'-----TF===;-r,
compensate for changes in the borehole fluid. These measure- A 41 p.u.
ments were made with the RST-A tool in three 10-in. borehole • 18p.u.
limestone formations having nominal porosities of 0, 18, and • Op.u.
200
41 p.u. Completion is 7-in. 32-lbm/ft casing. The formation
flushes are nominally 0, 70, 140, and 210 kppm, and the bore-
hole fluids are nominally 0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 kppm. This
yields nine different formation sigmas each having five differ- ~150
Z
ent borehole salinities ranging from fresh to saline. The vertical E
a.
lines show the nine formation sigmas, while the symbols repre- ~
..J 100
sent the SIGM readings for each of the five different borehole i'Jj
salinities. A different symbol is used for each of the three po- al

rosities. For BSAL in the 100- to 200-kppm range, note that

50
there is very little variation in SIGM with respect to changing
borehole salinity, and that this holds for all nine formation sig-
mas spanning approximately 40 c.u. For fresher borehole salini-
o+-.--r-r-;n-T. . . . . . . . ..,..,....,...,-++.,..,~
ties, the compensation is equally good for formation sigmas less o 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
than about 25 c.u. SIGM [c.u.]

The lower right corner of the figure is the region of "cross-
over" where the formation sigma approaches or exceeds that
of the borehole. For example, the point in the extreme lower
right corner of Fig. 9 has a formation sigma of almost 50 C.u. but
borehole fluid sigma of only 22 c.u. Even in this difficult region
SIGM still reads within 5% of true sigma (at worst). As a result
of its back-shielded design, the RST-B response is even less af-
fected, reading within 2% of true sigma at this extreme point.
Borehole salinity compensation in smaller boreholes and cas-
ings is even better because of the smaller amount of borehole
fluid present. Referring again to Fig. 9 the typical LIL areas of
operation are the lower-left region (fresh formation and fresh
borehole) and the upper-right region (saline formation and sa-
line borehole), with the crossover region deliberately avoided
by design. With its demonstrated compensation for borehole
Fig. 9: Plot of RST-A sigma (SIGM) and borehole salinity (BSAL).
The plot shows that the corrected formation sigma Is Independent
of the borehole salinity except in the (shaded) crossover region.
salinity effects, the RST is very well suited for LIL-type mea-
surements.
Precision
A very frequent application of PNC logging is the so-called
"time-lapse monitoring" (TLM) mode. During their lifetimes,
the same wells are logged repeatedly; for example, annually.
The differences in sigma, porosity, and other curves, from year
to year, are used to track reservoir depletion, expansion of gas
caps, and the like. Good precision (i.e., measurement
repeatability) is clearly the overriding requirement since
differences in measured quantities are being used. As will be

737
 10 IMPROVED PULSED NEUTRON CAPTURE LOGGING WITH SLIM CARBON-OXYGEN TOOLS: METHODOLOGY SPE 30598

demonstrated below, the RST-A tool has been benchmarked to Gamma-ray TOT-P Delta RBI Delta RBI SIGM (3 passes)

log typically two to three times faster than its predecessor (GAPI) 100 -15 (eu) 15 -15 (CU) 15 40 (eU) 10

(TDT-P sonde) for the same level of precision (repeatability)

and thus offers considerable advantage for TLM applications,
especially where the dynamic range of sigma may be small. In
x400
comparing the precision capabilities of different logging
instruments, it is useful to define a "sigma speed improvement
factor" f cs (Le., the factor by which "tool-x" can log faster than
"tool-y" for equivalent precision). It is given by

"
J"
=(0"~.vJ2. Cx
CS
S' (11)
0"1:, .v

where 0"n: and 0l:yare the standard deviations of sigma, and CSx
and CSyare the cable speeds of tool-x and tool-y, respectively.
Fig. 10 shows the sigma repeatability of the RST-A log over a
North American sand/shale sequence and compares it with ,500

the TDT-P log for similar logging conditions. For reference, a

gamma ray is shown in Track 1. Track 4 contains three RST-A
sigma passes. Track 3 shows the differences between each of
these three passes and their mean. Similarly, differences be-
tween six TDT-P repeat passes and their mean are shown in
Track 2. The RST sigma repeatability is quite good, with the
single-pass observed standard deviation averaging only 0.22 c.u.
over the interval shown. By comparison, the predicted average
standard deviation (SIGM_SIG) is 0.21 c.u. and is in excellent
agreement with the observed value. Comparing Tracks 2 and 3,
the observed standard deviation of the TDT-P sigma is approxi-
mately twice as large as the RST tool. Therefore, in this envi-
ronment, the RST tool can log at approximately four times the
speed of the TDT-P tool for equivalent precision (repeatabil-
ity).
The speed improvement factors are also computed for the
two log examples subsequently shown (see section titled Addi-
tional Log Examples). For the RST-A log these factors average
2.4 and 2.6, respectively. For the RST-B log (shown in the sec-
ond example) the factor averages 1.8. That the RST-B tool logs
a little slower than the RST-A tool for the same precision is con-
sistent with the RST-B shielding design since a side effect of
the back-shielding of the far detector from the (unwanted) bore-
hole signal is also a reduction in the (desired) formation count
rate otherwise seen from the "sides" as well as from "across
the borehole." Still, a substantial net improvement in precision
(repeatability) is demonstrated for the RST-B tool and its unique
focused shielding design permits it to make flowing-well C/O
measurements unique in the industry.
Traditional monitoring passes are typically recorded at 900 fph
and sampled at 6-in. intervals with 2.5-ft filtering. The example
given in Fig. 11 shows the capability of the RST-A tool to pro-
duce excellent precision (repeatability) at higher speeds and with
less filtering, thus minimizing logging time and improving ver-
tical resolution. Three RST-A passes are presented at logging
speeds of 900, 1800, and 3600 fph with 1.5-ft filtering. Even
Fig. 10: Comparison of RST-A and TDT-P tool repeatability
(precision).
though the fastest pass just slightly exceeds the present sam-
pling limit of 3000 fph, all three SIGM passes overlay very
well. TPHI is typically the most statistical curve, and it just
begins to show slight "noise" at the highest speed.
The ability to log typically two to three times faster than prior
tools for comparable precision (repeatability) provides new op-
portunities to tailor the logging operation more to specific con-
cerns of the client. For example, if a major concern is rig time
or lost production, these can be minimized by simply logging at
the higher logging speeds while still obtaining customary preci-
sion (repeatability). Alternatively, if detailing small differences
between TLM passes is the key issue then logging at the stan-
dard speeds will provide sigma with several times better preci-
sion. Alternatively, if thin-bed resolution is an issue, reducing
the depth-smoothing (filtering) might be in order. Obviously,
some combination of the above might also be considered.
Auxiliary Measurements
Along with the three primary measurements, sigma, porosity,
and borehole salinity, the RST service measures and provides
numerous auxiliary measurements to indicate various formation
and borehole properties, to compare with the TDT-P tool, to
aid interpretation, to verify log quality, and to verify proper
tool operation.
The WMLR technique is used to convert the RST sigma, po-
rosity, and borehole salinity answers into TDT-P equivalent an-

738
SPE 30598 R.E. Plasek, R.A. Adolph, C. Stoller, D.J. Willis, E.E. Bardon, and M.G. Portal 11
--------
._------- --------_.....,..-------_.._.
RST BSAl. (3800 fph) RST TPHI (3600 fph) RST SIGM (3600 fph)
250········(PPl<j·······::sO 60·········(p·U)···········o 30·········,CU)"·········O
--------+---
RST BSAL (1800 fph) RST TPHI (1800 fph) RST SIGM (1800 fph)
--~--------
250 (PPlq -50 60'-- -'(PU)---O 30- --'(CU)---O
---_. - ._----
Gamma-ray RST BSAL (900 fph) RST TPHI (900 fph) RST SIGM (900 fpll)
O--(GAP~----;OO 250 (PPI<-) ---50 SO--'Pl)'--O 30 (CU) - - - 0

--._---+---------\---

.:

x100

x200

1
II.
v
!
I,
~.

I
J

x300

Fig. '11: Comparison of RST-A tool repeatability (precision) at various logging speeds.

739
 12 IMPROVED PULSED NEUTRON CAPTURE LOGGING WITH SLIM CARBON-OXYGEN TOOLS: METHODOLOGY
swers (BSAL_R2P, TPHCR2P, and SIGM_R2P). This is ac-
complished in the WMLR by declaring the RST quantities to
be the independent variables and the TDT-P quantities to be
the dependent variables. This transformation is based on over
1000 laboratory measurements of the TDT-P tool under identi-
cal conditions as the RST-A and RST-B, providing traceable
tie-points between the services. These "R2P" curves are often
found useful for time-lapse compatibility when transitioning
from the TDT-P to the RST service.
Count-rate ratios are formed using short-burst inelastic counts
and late-decay capture counts from both the near and far detec-
tors. Two ratios are formed from both detectors -- the near-to-
far capture ratio (TRAT) used primarily as a porosity input and
the far-to-near inelastic ratio (IRAT), which increases in the
presence of gas and otherwise decreases with porosHy.
The ratio of capture to inelastic is computed separately for each
detector(CIRN and CIRF). When properly scaled, overlays of
CIRN and CIRF are very useful for identifying gas. The use of
ratios instead of direct count rates provides pass-to-pass and tool-
to-tool repeatability of these indicators. For example, though
each is computed from only one detector, CIRN and CIRF are
completely independent of source strength.
With post-processing, additional log quality curves (Table 3)
can be provided to aid the log analyst in configuring borehole
geometry. These indicators can be used to qualitatively verify
casing size, casing weight, and cement thickness. Gross devia-
tions such as washouts or incorrect casing/hole size informa-
tioncan be detected using these indicators along with DSIG.
Proper tool operation is monitored constantly in over 40 data
channels while logging and recorded. These data ch,flnnels pro-
vide detailed information on regulation and operating param-
eters. Besides confirming log quality, these data are also used to
predict wear·out of critical tool components such as the neutron
generator so that preventive maintenance can be performed be-
fore a failure occurs.
Additional Log Examples
Example 1. Shown in Fig. 12 is a comparison of the RST-A
and TDT-P tools in a Middle East openhole completion with
carbonate lithology under both flowing and shut-in
conditions. Track 3 displays flowing and Shut-in passes of RST
sigma. Both curves agree extremely well. Track 4 shows TDT-P
sigma overlaid with "R2P" sigma (RST transformed to TDT-P)
under flowing conditions. Again, the curves agree very well,
demonstrating capability of a smooth transition from TDT-P to
RST data in time-lapse applications. Statistical comparisons show
that the RST tool can log 2.4 times faster than the TDT-P tool in
this well for the same precision (repeatability). . higher count rates and much faster logging speeds with better
Spanning Tracks 2 and 3 is DSIG, the difference between near-
and far-detector sigmas. DSIG is nearly zero throughout the log,
showing a slight positive value above x660, which suggests hole
size may be slightly larger than configured in this region. This
correlates with caliper data showing the hole to be slightly out
740
SPE 30598
of gauge above x680.
Track 2 displays RST porosity, both flowing and shut in. The
curves compare closely throughout the porosity range encoun-
tered in this example, showing almost no difference even though
flowing borehole salinity differs from shut-in salinity by up
to 100 kppm near the (shut·in) oil-water contact at x674.
Track 1 shows gamma ray plus RST borehole salinity, both
flowing and shut in. Segregation of fluids is readily apparent for
this openhole completion-- with oil above x674, produced for-
mation water from x674 to x830, transitioning to completion
fluids below x830. The borehole salinity adaptive filter properly
narrows its filter range at each fluid "boundary" and causes no
disturbances in sigma or porosity answers even at the sharp oil-
water contact. Note the'increased flowing salinity above x674,
indicating water holdup ofapproximately 20%. The holdupand
salinity profile are both confirmed from Gradiomanometermea-
surements during the same trip in the well.
Example 2. Fig. 13 shows a cased-hole sandstone example
from Alaska that was logged back-to-back with the RST-A, the
RST-B, and the TDT-P tools. The first three tracks contain the
standard RST presentations (Le., BSAL, TPHI, and SIGM) plus
a gamma ray for reference in Track 1. Track 4 is added to
compare "R2P" sigma with the TDT-P sigma.
There are three things to note from this example: 1) The ex-
cellent agreement between the two RST sigma curves. The two
sigmas are virtual overlays even though measured by two tools
having very different sonde diameters and very different de-
tector shielding designs. 2) The good agreement between the
two RST porosity curves. For thy most part, these curves agree
to within 1 or 2 p.u., demonstrating the ability of the RST-B tool
to make a quantitative porosity measurement even though one
of its detectors is back-Shielded from the formation. 3) The very
good agreement between the "R2P" sigma and the TDT-P sigma.
This demonstrates backwards compatibility with the TDT-P tool
ifrteeded during an existing monitoring program.
Conclusions
Extending the useful range ofPNCmeasurements requires high
accuracy over a wide range of formation and borehole conditions
as well as improved statistical precision. Accuracyis achieved
by applying a multidimensional regression technique to an
extensive laboratory characterization and is benchmarked using
industry-standard calibration facilities (EUROPA and API). In
order to utilize this accuracy, significantly improved precision
(repeatability) is required.· This is accomplished through
technological advances in detectors, neutron generators,
shielding, and signal processing, which result in significantly
repeatability than prior tools. Backward compatibility allows for
a smooth transition to the RST service in existing monitoring
programs. In one trip the RST service provides PNC
measurements (sigma, porosity, borehole salinity), carbon-
oxygen measurements (formation oil volume, borehole holdup),
SPE 30598 R.E. Plasek, R.A. Adolph, C. Stoller, D.J. Willis, E.E. Bardon, and M.G. Portal 13

Gamma-ray RST TPHI (flowing) RST SIGM (flowing)

(GAP I) 100 -----------
60 (PU) 0 -----------
30 (CU) 0

RST BSAl (flowing) RST TPHI (shut-In) RST SIGM (shut-In) TOT-P SIGM (flowing)
300 - - (PPK) - - - 0 60 (PU) o 30 (CU) o -----------
30 (CU)

RST BSAl (shut-in) RST DSIG (shut-in) R2P SIGM (flowing)

300 (PPK) 0 30 (CU) -30 30 (CU)

x600

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
/
I
I
I
)
r/
I
I
/
I
I
x700 I
I
I
I
I
,
I

x800

x900

Fig. 12: Openhole carbonate logged with RST-A and TDT-P tools.

741
14 IMPROVED PULSED NEUTRON CAPTURE LOGGING WITH SLIM CARBON-OXYGEN TOOLS: METHODOLOGY SPE 30598

Gamma-ray
(GAP I) 100

RST-8 8SAl RST-8 TPHI RST-8 SIGM TOT _p SIGM

300- - (PPKI- - - 0 60- - -IPu) - - - 0 40--- lCu) - - - 0 40- - - Icuj- - - 0

RST-A 8SAl RBT_A TPHI RST-A SIGM RST-8 R2P SIGM

300 (PPK) 0 60 (PU) 0 40 (CU) 0 40 (CU) .0

x700

x800

x900

xOOO

xl00

x200

Fig. 13: Cased-hole clastic logged with RST-A, RST-B and TDT-P tools.

742
SPE 30598 R.E. Plasek, R.A. Adolph, C. Stoller, D.J. Willis, E.E. Bordon, and M.G. Portal 15

elemental measurements (silicon, calcium, chlorine, iron, sulfur,
magnesium, etc.), flow measurements (oxygen activation), plus
combinability with production logging sensors.
Nomenclature
1: = macroscopic thermal neutron capture cross section
([J = porosity
Sfl = formation fluid saturation
r = thermal decay time
v = thermal neutron velocity at room temperature
(J = standard deviation
d = variance
CID = casing inside diameter
TCSg = casing thickness
T cem = cement thickness
Lith = lithology
f cs = sigma speed improvement factor
Subscripts
rna = matrix
fl = fluid
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank and acknowledge Norman
Winkelmann and John Spallone, who supervised and participated
in the collection and quality control of over 3000 sigma database
measurements. Their excellent technical support and attention
to detail are reflected in the quality of this database. We also
wish to acknowledge our North Sea Region (Roger King
(deceased), Jim White, Piers Temple, Martin Day, and Lauchlan
Bruce) as well as Dale Clinton for organizing and carrying out
the EUROPA calibration measurements. And finally, we thank
our international field organization for obtaining the log examples
presented and our clients for releasing the data for inclusion in
this paper.
5 Steinman, D.K., Adolph, R.A., Mahdavi, M., Marienbach, E.,
Preeg, W.E. and Wraight, P.D.: "Dual-Burst Thermal Decay Time
Logging Principles," paper SPE 15437 presented at the 1986 SPE
Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, LA,
October 5-8, 1986.
6 Smith, RD., Wyatt Jr., D.E and Arnold, D.M.: "Obtaining Intrinsic
Formation Capture Cross Sections with Pulsed Neutron Capture
Logging Tools," Transactions of the 29th Annual SPWLA
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7 Murdoch, B.T., Hunter, C.J., Randall, R.R. and Towsley, C.W.:
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8 Odom, R.C., Tittle, C.W., Wilson, R.D. and Soran, P.D.:
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9 Roscoe, B.A. and Adolph, R.A.: "A Method of Stabilizing the
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II Bevington, P.R.: Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the
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References
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3 Stoller, C., Scott, H.D., Plasek, R.E., Lucas, A.J. and Adolph,
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