A

Bulk Density Measurement

Bulk Density Measurement

Schlumberger 1999

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Bulk Density Measurement

Gamma Ray Physics -density -1

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, e.
The electron density can be related to the bulk
density of the minerals by a simple equation.
e = ( 2Z/A )
Where Z is the number
of electrons per atom
and A is the atomic
weight.

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Bulk Density Measurement

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 e =
Element
H
C
O
Na
Mg
Al
Si
S
Cl
K
Ca

Z/A
0.9921
0.4996
0.5
0.4785
0.4934
0.4819
0.4984
0.4989
0.4794
0.4860
0.499
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Bulk Density Measurement

Calibration
The tool measured density, b, has been
experimentally related to the electron density;
b = 1.0704 e - 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.
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
density tool value

1.984
1.862
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Bulk Density Measurement

Spine and Ribs

The spine represents the line of increasing
formation density on the plot of the long spacing
count rate versus short spacing count rate.
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

2.1

Long Spacing Count Rate

2.2
2.3
C
2.4
Increasing
Mud cake
Thickness

B
Increasing
Mud cake
Thickness

2.5
2.6
2.7

Mud cake
without
barite

2.8
2.9
Short spacing Count Rate

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Bulk Density Measurement

Spine and Ribs

1.9
2.0

Mud cake
with barite

2.1

Long Spacing Count Rate

2.2
2.3
C
2.4
Increasing
Mud cake
Thickness

B
Increasing
Mud cake
Thickness

2.5
2.6
2.7

Mud cake
without
barite

2.8
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

Density Outputs
The outputs are:
RHOZ/RHOB (b), the corrected bulk density.
DRHO (), the correction that has been
applied to b (LDT only).
RHOZ/RHOB is the main output;
DRHO is a quality control curve (LDT only).

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Bulk Density Measurement

Borehole Effects
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.

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Bulk Density Measurement

Borehole Effects

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

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.

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Bulk Density Measurement

Density Parameters
Vertical resolution:
Standard
Enhanced

18"
6"

Depth of investigation

6"-9"

Readings in:
Limestone (0pu)
Sandstone (0pu)
Dolomite (0pu)
Anhydrite
Salt
Shale
Coal

2.71
2.65
2.85
2.98
2.03
2.2-2.7
1.5
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Bulk Density Measurement

Interpretation/Uses
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
with the sonic tool).
Acoustic properties (in combination with
the sonic tool).

the

Gas identification (in combination with

neutron tool).
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Bulk Density Measurement

Density Porosity

b f ma 1
ma b

ma f

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

Scaling/Porosity
The density tool is usually run with the neutron.
To aid quicklook interpretation they are run on
"compatible scales".
This means that the scales are set such that for a
given lithology the curves overlay.
The standard scale is the "limestone compatible" where
the neutron porosity scale is:

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
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

Pef Physics
The Photoelectric effect occurs when the incident
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.
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

Pef Theory
Pe can be easily computed for any lithology by
summing the elemental contributions.
Measurement is virtually porosity and fluid
independent.
Major use is Lithology identification.
Another way of using it is express it in volumetric
terms as:
U = Pee
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 = Uf + (1 - ) Uma
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Bulk Density Measurement

Pef Parameters
Vertical resolution:
Standard

4"

Readings in:
Limestone
Sandstone
Dolomite
Shale
Anhydrite
Salt

5.08
1.81
3.14
1.8-6
5.05
4.65

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