BASIC WELL LOGGING ANALYSIS

THE GAMMA RAY (GR) LOG

Hsieh, Bieng-Zih

Fall 2009
1
THE GAMMA RAY (GR) LOG
Gamma ray logs measure natural radioactivity in
formations and because of this measurement, they
can be used for identifying lithologies and for
correlating zones.

2
THE GAMMA RAY (GR) LOG
As shale content increases, the gamma ray log
response increases because of the concentration of
radioactive material in shale.

Shale-free sandstones and carbonates have low
concentrations of radioactive material, and give low
gamma ray readings.

3
GR LOG
THE GAMMA RAY (GR) LOG (CONT.)
However, clean sandstone (i.e. low shale content )
may also produce a high gamma ray response if
the sandstone contains potassium feldspars (
), micas (), glauconite (), or uranium-
rich () waters.

In zones where the geologist is aware of the
presence of potassium feldspars, micas, or
glauconite, a Spectralog can be run in addition to
the gamma ray log.
5
THE GAMMA RAY (GR) LOG (CONT.)
The Spectralog breaks the natural radioactive of a
formation into the different types of radioactive
material: (1) thorium (), (2) potassium (), and
(3) uranium ().

If a zone has a high potassium content coupled with
a high gamma ray log response, the zone may not
be shale. Instead, it could be a feldspathic (
), glauconitic (), or micaceous (
) sandstone.
6
THE GAMMA RAY (GR) LOG (CONT.)
Besides their use with identifying lithologies and
correlating zones, gamma ray logs provide
information for calculating the volume of shale in
a sandstone or carbonate.

7
GR LOG CURVE
8
The gamma ray log is
recorded in track 1,
usually with a caliper.

Tracks 2 and 3
often contain either a
porosity log or a
resistivity log.

SHALE VOLUME (V
SH
) CALCULATION
Because shale is more radioactive than sand or
carbonate, gamma ray logs can be used to
calculate volume of shale in porous reservoirs.

The volume of shale can then be applied for
analysis of shaly sands.
9
CALCULATION OF THE GAMMA RAY INDEX (I
GR
)
Calculation of the gamma ray index is the first step
needed to determine the volume of shale from a
gamma ray log (the following formula from
Schlumberger, 1974).

I
GR
=

Where: I
GR
= gamma ray index
GR
log
= gamma ray leading of formation
GR
min
= minimum gamma ray (clean sand)
GR
max
= maximum gamma ray (shale)

10
min max
min log
GR GR
GR GR

FIND GR
MAX
, GR
MIN
FOR SAND FORMATION
(SAND-B)
11
SAND-B
GRmin
GRmax
CHART FOR CORRECTION THE GAMMA RAY
INDEX
(I
GR
) TO THE VOLUME OF SHALE (V
SH
).
12
Curve 3
unconsolidated,
Tertiary rocks

Curve 2
consolidated,
older rocks

Curve 1
V
sh
=I
GR

PRACTICE V
SH
CALCULATION FROM GR LOG
13
Step 1
Setup shale base line
Step 2
Analyze SAND intervals
(formations)

PRACTICE V
SH
CALCULATION FROM GR LOG
14
Step 3
Calculate I
GR
between
13680 -13720 ft



PRACTICE V
SH
CALCULATION FROM GR LOG
15
Step 4
Calculate V
sh
between
13680 -13720 ft
Note: this formation is a
kind of consolidated
rocks (you should use
curve 2)



REVIEW GR LOG
Gamma ray logs are lithology logs that measure the
natural radioactivity of a formation.

Because radioactivity material is concentrated in
shale, shale has high gamma ray readings. Shale-
free sandstones and carbonates, therefore, have
low gamma ray readings.

Gamma ray logs are used to: (1) identify lithologies;
(2) correlate between formations; and (3) calculate
volume of shale.
16
END OF THIS CHAPTER
17