lithological

sandstone grades
to clay sediment

GAS

OIL
sandstone
WATER pinch out
Open hole Cased hole Perforation &
logging logging Production
logging
7000

7001

7002

7003
7004
7005
7006
7007
7008
7009
7010
7011
7012

7013

7014
7015
7016
 7000
Tool string is moving at a certain logging
7001
speed, and data are recorded at certain
intervals called sampling rate. 7002

7003
7004
7005
7006
7007
7008
7009
7010
7011
7012

7013

7014
7015
7016
7000

7001

7002

7003
7004
7005
7006
7007
7008
7009
7010
7011
7012

7013

7014
7015
7016
7000

7001

7002

7003
7004
7005
7006
7007
7008
7009
7010
7011
7012

7013

7014
7015
7016
7000

7001

7002

7003
7004
7005
7006
7007
7008
7009
7010
7011
7012

7013

7014
7015
7016
 7000

7001

7002

7003
7004
7005
And we get a group of wiggly lines 7006
called a “log” 7007
7008
7009
7010
7011
7012

7013

7014
7015
7016
 Wireline Engineer Acquisition Equipment

Client (“Witness”)
Unit Engine

Winchman
Wireline cable to
Cable drum downhole tools
 1600

Shading is often added to make the

log curves easier to read.

Some times a large group of log

curves are grouped and color coded 1700

into an “Image”. 0
Gamma Ray (GR)
(GAPI) 150
1:220 Ft Pad

-180 180 1
Rt from HALS

1000
AHTPR

More on this later 0

SP (SP)
(MV) 200 1
RX18
1000
5.00
7.75
12.01
18.62
28.85
44.72
FXND Rt from AITH 69.81
50 (PU) 0 107.43
1 (OHMM) 1000
166.51
258.08
400.00
Mud Resistivity from HALS

1 1000

90 0 90
Mud Resistivity from AITH

1 (OHMM) 1000
 Spike response function

90% of response

FWHM
(Full Width at Half Maximum)

Good vertical resolution Poor vertical resolution

FWHM used for statistical

measurements, 90% point used for
instantaneous measurements
 Fine sampling
Coarse rate
sampling rate
How thick the formation can be differentiated from 
logging curves
High resolution – image logging tools
Normal resolution – GR, Resist. Tools
Low resolution – SP tool
Shoulder bed effects

Vertical Resolution IS NOT Sampling Resolution/rate
How far the logging sensor can detect
Deep resistivity/induction logging tool – Virgin zone
Neutron and Density logging tool – Transition zone
We only consider them on Flushed zone for this training
All other tools – Flushed zone
 GAMMA RAY LOG

Gamma Rays are high-energy electromagnetic waves which are

emitted by atomic nuclei as a form of radiation
Gamma ray log is measurement of natural radioactivity in formation
verses depth.
It measures the radiation emitting from naturally occurring U, Th, and
K.
It is also known as shale log.
GR log reflects shale or clay content.
Clean formations have low radioactivity level.
Correlation between wells,
Determination of bed boundaries,
Evaluation of shale content within a formation,
Mineral analysis,
Depth control for log tie-ins, side-wall coring, or perforating.
Particularly useful for defining shale beds when the sp is featureless
GR log can be run in both open and cased hole
Spontaneous Potential Log (SP)

The spontaneous potential (SP) curve records

the naturally occurring electrical potential
(voltage) produced by the interaction of
formation connate water, conductive drilling
fluid, and shale
The SP curve reflects a difference in the
electrical potential between a movable electrode
in the borehole and a fixed reference electrode
at the surface
Though the SP is used primarily as a lithology
indicator and as a correlation tool, it has other
uses as well:
permeability indicator,
shale volume indicator
porosity indicator, and
measurement of Rw (hence formation water
salinity).
Neutron Logging

The Neutron Log is primarily used to evaluate

formation porosity, but the fact that it is really
just a hydrogen detector should always be kept
in mind
It is used to detect gas in certain situations,
exploiting the lower hydrogen density, or
hydrogen index
The Neutron Log can be summarized as the
continuous measurement of the induced
radiation produced by the bombardment of that
formation with a neutron source contained in the
logging tool which sources emit fast neutrons
that are eventually slowed by collisions with
hydrogen atoms until they are captured (think of
a billiard ball metaphor where the similar size of
the particles is a factor). The capture results in
the emission of a secondary gamma ray; some
tools, especially older ones, detect the capture
gamma ray (neutron-gamma log). Other tools
detect intermediate (epithermal) neutrons or
slow (thermal) neutrons (both referred to as
neutron-neutron logs). Modern neutron tools
most commonly count thermal neutrons with an
He-3 type detector.
The Density Log

The formation density log is a porosity log that measures

electron density of a formation

Dense formations absorb many gamma rays, while low-

density formations absorb fewer. Thus, high-count rates at
the detectors indicate low-density formations, whereas
low count rates at the detectors indicate high-density
formations.

Therefore, scattered gamma rays reaching the detector is

an indication of formation Density.
Scale and units:
The most frequently used scales are a range of 2.0 to
3.0 gm/cc or 1.95 to 2.95 gm/cc across two tracks.

A density derived porosity curve is sometimes present

in tracks #2 and #3 along with the bulk density (rb)
and correction (Dr) curves. Track #1 contains a
gamma ray log and caliper.
Resistivity Log

Basics about the Resistivity:

Resistivity measures the electric properties of the formation,

Resistivity is measured as, R in W per m,
Resistivity is the inverse of conductivity,
The ability to conduct electric current depends upon:
The Volume of water,
The Temperature of the formation,
The Salinity of the formation

The Resistivity Log:

Resistivity logs measure the ability of rocks to
conduct electrical current and are scaled in units of
ohm-
meters.
The Usage:
Resistivity logs are electric logs which are used
to:

Determine Hydrocarbon versus Water-bearing zones,

Indicate Permeable zones,
Determine Resisitivity Porosity.
Acoustic Log

Acoustic tools measure the speed of sound waves in

subsurface formations. While the acoustic log can be
used to determine porosity in consolidated formations, it
is also valuable in other applications, such as:

Indicating lithology (using the ratio of compressional

velocity over shear velocity),
Determining integrated travel time (an important tool for
seismic/wellbore correlation),
Correlation with other wells
Detecting fractures and evaluating secondary porosity, Shahbaz Younis 
Evaluating cement bonds between casing, and formation, (Pakistan)
Detecting over-pressure,
Determining mechanical properties (in combination with
the density log), and
Determining acoustic impedance (in combination with
the density log).
•Structural and Stratigraphic 
Information

•Wellbore Imaging

•Secondary Porosity (Vugs, 
Fractures, Cementation

•Characterization of 
sedimentary bodies

•Core Correlation

•Input to Reservoir 
Characterizations
• Lithology (reservoir rock?)
• Resistivity (HC,water,both?)
• Porosity (how much HC?)
• What type of HC

• Formation mech. properties

• Permeability / cap pressure
• Shape of the structure
• Geological information
• Geothermal
• Unconventional applications
 Gamma Ray (GR)) Computed RT Density (RHOZ)

(GAPI) 150 2 (OHMM) 2000 1.95 (G/C3) 2.95

GR
Integrated 
GR Caliper (HCAL) Resistivity Neutron Porosity

HGNS (IN) 16 2 (OHMM) 2000 6 pu 16

Gamma Ray 24 in. SP (SP) Flushed Zone Resist. Crossplot Porosity

N
(MV) 200 2 (OHMM) 2000 0 (MV) 200
Neutron Sonde
fN Tension (TENS) Pef (PEFZ)

LB 5000  0 5000 
24 in.
1500
Density, 
Three Detector D Pe
Lithology TLD
Density / 
Micro  Rxo, hmc
Cylindrically 
focussed log.

Array Induction 
Rt
Tool 1600

AIT
 Mud
Rm

Uninvaded
zone
Flushed Rt
zone Transition
Rmc Zone Rw
Rxo

Mudcake Rmf Sw

Sxo
h
Borehole effects
Mud Filtrate Resistivity – Rmf@Temperature
Mud Filtrate Salinity
Mud Filtrate Density ‐ f
Formation Water Resistivity – Rw@Temperature
Formation Water Salinity
Formation Water Density ‐ w
Mud composition – Barite? etc.
Definition
A rock can be made up of small grains or large grains but have the same 
porosity
Porosity depends on grain packing, not the grain size
Total Pore Space
Bulk Volume

Interconnected Pore Space

Bulk Volume
 Sw = Swirr + Sw"free"

water So = Soresidual+ So"free"

oil

Matrix
 Hydrocarbon
Water

Matrix

*Sw=amount of water per unit volume

*(1-Sw)=amonut of hydrocarbon per unit volume

The rate of flow of a liquid through a formation depends on:
The pressure drop
The viscosity of the fluid
The permeability
The pressure drop is a reservoir property
The viscosity is a fluid property
The permeability is a measure of the ease at which a fluid can flow through  a formation
Relationships exist between permeability and porosity for a given formations, although they are not 
universal
A rock must have porosity to have any permeability
The unit of measurement is the Darcy
Reservoir permeability is usually quoted in millidarcies (md)