Well Log Interpretation Neutron Log

Earth & Environmental Science

University of Texas at Arlington

The logging tool emits neutrons, usually from Americium and Beryllium. When the neutron is absorbed by a Hydrogen atom, it emits high energy gamma rays which are measured by the tool. These measured gamma rays are related to H concentration in the formation.

Neutron Log

Neutron Log
Almost all of the H in rock occurs as water or petroleum. Most of the water is in the pore space but some occurs in the mineral structure of clay and mica. The logging software assumes all the hydrogen is in the pore spaces and computes a porosity, Fn, on that basis.

Neutron Log
Tool response depends on: Detector type and tool design (each logging company has different designs and data standards) Lithology Borehole effects

Neutron Log
Older logs pushed the detector against the borehole and are called Sidewall neutron porosity log (SNP) Modern tools are Compensated Neutron Logs (CNL) which automatically account for borehole effects.

Neutron Log
To convert the measurement of H concentration to porosity, the logging software must assume a specific rock matrix composition. Most logs assume limestone and show the porosity for that (left), but other lithologies can be used.

Neutron Log
Because the log reports F for limestone, that porosity is only valid for limestone. F must be corrected if other lithologies are present.

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Corrections from limestone porosity to the actual lithologies require charts (left) that are produced by the company that makes the tool. The graph at the top is Halliburtons, and the bottom one is Slumbergers.

Neutron Log

Other factors that affect the log response: Gas Effect: Natural gas has a lower % of H than either oil or water causing the apparent porosity to read low. Shale Effect: Shale adds H atoms causing the apparent porosity to read high.

Neutron Log Assignment

1. Use the spreadsheet you made for the density log (below) and add the readings under raw data for limestone porosity (NPHI) from the log in the last slide. Then, use the Haliburton Chart in Fig. 4.6 (slide 8) to find the FN for dolomite and sandstone in the last two columns.
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Neutron Log Assignment

2. Note the log on the last slide also calculates a Density porosity (DPHI) assuming a limestone matrix. Read the log at the various depths in the table (right) to correct the DPHI values for Lime you have on the spreadsheet.
9305 9310
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9351 9380 9384

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9310
9332 9337 9351 9380 9384