POROSITY DETERMINATION
FROM LOGS
Most slides in this section are modified primarily from NExT PERF Short Course Notes, 1999.
However, many of the NExT slides appears to have been obtained from other primary
sources that are not cited. Some slides have a notes section.
OPENHOLE LOG EVALUATION
Well Log
SP
Resistivity
POROSITY DETERMINATION BY LOGGING
Increasing
radioactivity
Increasing Increasing
resistivity
porosity
Shale
Oil sand
Shale
Gamma
ray
Resisitivity Porosity
POROSITY LOG TYPES
3 Main Log Types
Bulk density
Sonic (acoustic)
Compensated neutron
These logs do not measures porosity directly. To
accurately calculate porosity, the analyst must
know:
Formation lithology
Fluid in pores of sampled reservoir volume
DENSITY LOGS
Uses radioactive source to generate
gamma rays
Gamma ray collides with electrons in
formation, losing energy
Detector measures intensity of backscattered gamma rays, which is related
to electron density of the formation
Electron density is a measure of bulk
density
DENSITY LOGS
Bulk density, b, is dependent upon:
Lithology
Porosity
Density and saturation of fluids in pores
Saturation is fraction of pore volume
occupied by a particular fluid (intensive)
DENSITY LOG
0
GR
API
CALIX
IN
16
CALIY
IN
16
200
RHOB
G/C3
-0.25
3
DRHO
G/C3
0.25
4100
Gamma ray
Density
correction
4200
Caliper
Density
Mud cake
(mc + hmc)
Formation (b)
Long spacing
detector
Short spacing
detector
Source
BULK DENSITY
b ma 1 f
Matrix
Measures electron density of a formation
Strong function of formation bulk density
Matrix bulk density varies with lithology
Sandstone 2.65 g/cc
Limestone 2.71 g/cc
Dolomite 2.87 g/cc
Fluids in
flushed zone
POROSITY FROM DENSITY LOG
Porosity equation
ma b
ma f
Fluid density equation
f mf Sxo h 1 Sxo
We usually assume the fluid density (f) is between 1.0 and 1.1. If gas is present, the
actual f will be < 1.0 and the calculated porosity will be too high.
mf
is the mud filtrate density, g/cc
is the hydrocarbon density, g/cc
Sxo
is the saturation of the flush/zone, decimal
DENSITY LOGS
Working equation (hydrocarbon zone)
b S xo mf 1 S xo hc
Vsh sh 1 Vsh ma
b
Recorded parameter (bulk volume)
Sxo mf =
Mud filtrate component
(1 - Sxo) hc =
Hydrocarbon component
Vsh sh
Shale component
1 - - Vsh =
Matrix component
DENSITY LOGS
If minimal shale, Vsh 0
If hc mf f, then
b = f - (1 - ) ma
ma b
d
ma f
d = Porosity from density log, fraction
ma = Density of formation matrix, g/cm3
b = Bulk density from log measurement, g/cm3
f = Density of fluid in rock pores, g/cm3
hc = Density of hydrocarbons in rock pores, g/cm3
mf = Density of mud filtrate, g/cm3
sh = Density of shale, g/cm3
Vsh = Volume of shale, fraction
Sxo = Mud filtrate saturation in zone invaded by mud filtrate, fraction
BULK DENSITY LOG
001) BONANZA 1
GRC
0
150
SPC
-160 MV
40
ACAL
6
16
10700
0.2
0.2
0.2
ILDC
SNC
MLLCF
200
200
RHOC
1.95
2.95
CNLLC
0.45
-0.15
DT
150 us/f 50
200
RHOC
1.95
10800
10900
Bulk Density
Log
2.95
NEUTRON LOG
Logging tool emits high energy
neutrons into formation
Neutrons collide with nuclei of
formations atoms
Neutrons lose energy (velocity) with
each collision
NEUTRON LOG
The most energy is lost when colliding
with a hydrogen atom nucleus
Neutrons are slowed sufficiently to be
captured by nuclei
Capturing nuclei become excited and
emit gamma rays
NEUTRON LOG
Depending on type of logging tool either gamma
rays or non-captured neutrons are recorded
Log records porosity based on neutrons
captured by formation
If hydrogen is in pore space, porosity is related
to the ratio of neutrons emitted to those counted
as captured
Neutron log reports porosity, calibrated
assuming calcite matrix and fresh water in pores,
if these assumptions are invalid we must correct
the neutron porosity value
NEUTRON LOG
Theoretical equation
N S xo Nmf 1 S xo Nhc
Vsh sh 1 Vsh Nma
N
= Recorded parameter
Nma = Porosity of matrix fraction
Sxo Nmf
= Mud filtrate portion
Nhc = Porosity of formation saturated with
(1 - Sxo) Nhc = Hydrocarbon portion
Vsh Nsh
= Shale portion
(1 - - Vsh) Nhc = Matrix portion where = True
porosity of rock
N = Porosity from neutron log measurement, fraction
hydrocarbon fluid, fraction
Nmf = Porosity saturated with mud filtrate, fraction
Vsh = Volume of shale, fraction
Sxo = Mud filtrate saturation in zone invaded
by mud filtrate, fraction
POROSITY FROM NEUTRON LOG
001) BONANZA 1
GRC
0
150
SPC
-160 MV
40
ACAL
6
16
10700
0.2
0.2
0.2
ILDC
SNC
MLLCF
200
200
RHOC
1.95
2.95
CNLLC
0.45
-0.15
DT
150 us/f 50
200
CNLLC
0.45
10800
10900
Neutron
Log
-0.15
ACOUSTIC (SONIC) LOG
Tool usually consists of
one sound transmitter
(above) and two receivers
(below)
Upper
transmitter
R1
R2
R3
R4
Lower
transmitter
Sound is generated,
travels through formation
Elapsed time between
sound wave at receiver 1
vs receiver 2 is dependent
upon density of medium
through which the sound
traveled
Compressional
waves
E1
E3
E2
T0
50
sec
Rayleigh
waves
Mud waves
COMMON LITHOLOGY MATRIX
TRAVEL TIMES USED
Lithology
Sandstone
Limestone
Dolomite
Anydridte
Salt
Typical Matrix Travel
Time, tma, sec/ft
55.5
47.5
43.5
50.0
66.7
ACOUSTIC (SONIC) LOG
Working equation
t L S xo t mf 1 S xo t hc
Vsh t sh 1 Vsh t ma
tL
= Recorded parameter, travel time read from log
Sxo tmf = Mud filtrate portion
(1 - Sxo) thc = Hydrocarbon portion
Vsh tsh
= Shale portion
(1 - - Vsh) tma = Matrix portion
ACOUSTIC (SONIC) LOG
If Vsh = 0 and if hydrocarbon is liquid
(i.e. tmf tf), then
tL = tf + (1 - ) tma
or
t L t ma
s
t f t ma
s = Porosity calculated from sonic log reading, fraction
tL = Travel time reading from log, microseconds/ft
tma = Travel time in matrix, microseconds/ft
tf = Travel time in fluid, microseconds/ ft
ACOUSTIC (SONIC) LOG
0
GR
API
CALIX
IN
DT
200
16
140
USFT
40
30
SPHI
%
10
4100
Sonic travel time
Gamma
Ray
Sonic
porosity
4200
Caliper
SONIC LOG
The response can be written as follows:
tlog tma 1 t f
t log t ma
t f t ma
tlog = log reading, sec/ft
tma
the matrix travel time, sec/ft
tf = the fluid travel time, sec/ft
= porosity
SONIC LOG
001) BONANZA 1
GRC
0
150
SPC
-160 MV
40
ACAL
6
16
0.2
0.2
0.2
ILDC
SNC
MLLCF
200
200
RHOC
1.95
2.95
CNLLC
0.45
-0.15
DT
150 us/f 50
200
10700
150
10800
Sonic
Log
10900
DT
us/f
50
EXAMPLE
Calculating Rock Porosity
Using an Acoustic Log
Calculate the porosity for the following intervals. The measured travel times from the
log are summarized in the following table.
At depth of 10,820, accoustic log reads travel time of 65 s/ft.
Calculate porosity. Does this value agree with density and neutron
logs?
Assume a matrix travel time, tm = 51.6 sec/ft. In addition, assume the formation is
saturated with water having a tf = 189.0 sec/ft.
EXAMPLE SOLUTION SONIC LOG
001) BONANZA 1
GRC
0
150
SPC
-160 MV
40
ACAL
6
16
0.2
0.2
0.2
ILDC
SNC
MLLCF
200
200
RHOC
1.95
2.95
CNLLC
0.45
-0.15
DT
150 us/f 50
SPHI
45
ss
-15
200
10700
10800
SPHI
10900
FACTORS AFFECTING SONIC
LOG RESPONSE
Unconsolidated formations
Naturally fractured formations
Hydrocarbons (especially gas)
Rugose salt sections
RESPONSES OF POROSITY LOGS
The three porosity logs:
Respond differently to different matrix
compositions
Respond differently to presence of gas or
light oils
Combinations of logs can:
Imply composition of matrix
Indicate the type of hydrocarbon in pores
GAS EFFECT
Density - is too high
Neutron - is too low
Sonic - is not significantly
affected by gas
ESTIMATING POROSITY FROM
WELL LOGS
Openhole logging tools are the most common method
of determining porosity:
Less expensive than coring and may be less
risk of sticking the tool in the hole
Coring may not be practical in unconsolidated
formations or in formations with high secondary
porosity such as vugs or natural fractures.
If porosity measurements are very important, both
coring and logging programs may be conducted so
the log-based porosity calculations can be used to
calibrated to the core-based porosity measurements.
Influence Of Clay-Mineral Distribution
On Effective Porosity
Dispersed Clay
Pore-filling
Pore-lining
Pore-bridging
Clay
Minerals
Detrital Quartz
Grains
e
e
Clay Lamination
Structural Clay
(Rock Fragments,
Rip-Up Clasts,
Clay-Replaced Grains)
ee
GEOLOGICAL AND PETROPHYSICAL
DATA USED TO DEFINE FLOW UNITS
Core Lithofacies
Core Pore
Plugs Types
Petrophysical
Data
Gamma Ray Flow
Log
Units
vs k Capillary
Pressure
5
4
3
Schematic Reservoir Layering Profile
in a Carbonate Reservoir
Baffles/barriers
SA -97A
Flow unit
SA -251
3150
3200
SA -356 SA -71 SA -344
3150
3100
SA -371
3100
SA -348
3250
SA -346
SA -37
3150
3100
3200
3200
3150
3200
3300
3150
3250
3200
3150
3250
3250
3300
3250
3200
3250
3250
3200
3300
3350
3300
3250
3300
3250
3350
3350
From Bastian and others
