Notes

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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Neutron Porosity
Schlumberger 1999
Notes
The classification into simple, dirty or complex is arbitrary. In reality the formations lithology is always complex.
Odd minerals can also be present, such as micas in sandstones or anhydrites in carbonates which complicate the
problem further.
Zoning is the process by which the classification is made, the objective is to simplify the problem and make it easy
to interpret.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Lithology and Porosity
The next major step in the procedure is lithology
identification. Lithology data gives information
on porosity and other parameters.
Lithology of a formation can be:
Simple
Dirty
Complex
Notes
A more complex method, geochemical logging, identifies 10 elements;
K, U, Th, Al, Si, Ca, S, Fe, Gd, Ti
From these the exact mineralogy can be computed.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Lithology and Porosity Tools
All tools react to lithology - usually in conjunction
with the porosity.
Major lithology tools are:
Neutron - reacts to fluid and matrix.
Density - reacts to matrix and fluid.
Sonic - reacts to a mixture of matrix and fluid,
complicated by seeing only primary
porosity.
Spectroscopy - identifies shale types and special
minerals.
CMR - magnetic resonance reacts to the porosity
with a small element if lithology.
Notes
Neutrons start as fast Neutrons and rapidly loose energy passing through the epithermal state to reach the
thermal range. The process of slowing down is primarily caused by collision hydrogen atoms. The more hydrogen
the fewer neutrons reach the detectors.
The final stage is capture by an atom when a capture gamma ray is emitted. The oldest tools measured these
gamma rays as there were no small reliable neutron detectors.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Neutrons
Notes
This generation used epithermal detectors a good region as it is largely unaffected by the borehole. However the
chemical neutron sources used did not generate enough neutrons for a statistically good measurement especially at
higher porosities.
The current standard tool uses a chemical source and measures thermal neutrons.
The latest tool has again gone back to epithermal neutrons but uses an electronic source to obtain the quantity of
neutrons needed to make an accurate measurement.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Neutron Tools
The best region to measure neutrons is the
epithermal as there are fewer borehole effects.
However there are also fewer neutrons.
The standard tool is a thermal neutron device
using a chemical source.
The Accelerator Porosity Sonde (APS), uses an
electronic source to generate a large neutron flux
and measures in the epithermal region.
It produces a borehole corrected log.
Notes
At the end of the thermal phase the neutrons are captured by various elements - H, Cl are the principal ones
involved. A captive gamma ray is emitted.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Thermal Neutron Theory
Neutrons are slowed down from their initial
"fast" state by collisions with the formation
nuclei. At each collision there is some energy lost
by the neutron.
The principal element involved in the slowing
down is Hydrogen, because it is close in size to the
neutron which loses most energy in these
collisions.
This is why the tool measures the Hydrogen
Index.
Notes
The tools read a hydrogen Index. Fresh water has a value of one while salt is less. (chlorine replaces some of the
hydrogen). Gas has a very low value hence the change seen by the neutron tool in a gas zone. Porosity reads too
low.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Hydrogen Index
Hydrogen Index is the quantity of hydrogen per
unit volume.
Fresh water is defined as having a Hydrogen
Index of 1.
Hence oil has a Hydrogen Index which is slightly
less than that of water.
The Hydrogen Index of gas is a much smaller
than that of water.
In a formation, it is generally the fluids that
contain hydrogen.
Notes
The ratio to porosity transform has undergone a number of changes over the years with the earlier versions
superceded by more precise relationships. The latest transform is the result of theoretical, experimental and
practical work, including extensive Monte Carlo modelling.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Ratio to Porosity Transform
The count rates are first corrected for the dead
time of the detectors (when the detector is not
available to receive counts).
The count rates are calibrated with the master
calibration.
A ratio of these is then taken.
The ratio is translated into porosity using a
transform. (This is a combination of theoretical
and experimental work).
The current field output for the thermal neutron
porosity is called TNPH.
Notes
The thermal neutron tools have to be corrected for several effects of the borehole environment. The effects of the
borehole are numerous but well known and characterised. The basic reading can be corrected using charts or field
and/or office computers.
The major effects are the mud which is seen as 100% by the tool. This is corrected by the hole size, stand off and
mud weight corrections. The chlorine in the mud is corrected by the borehole salinity correction. The effect of
temperature and pressure are also important, especially the former.
Traditionally the hole size correction is applied at the time of logging. Modern surface acquisition systems allow
the other corrections to be applied as well. The mudcake correction is very small and rarely applied due also to the
problem measuring mudcake thickness. The formation salinity correction is not applied as it is taken into account
in the crossplot.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Borehole Effects
The logs have to be corrected for the borehole
environment:
Borehole size.
Mud cake.
Borehole salinity.
Mud weight.
Temperature.
Pressure.
Formation salinity.
Stand-off.
Notes
This correction has always been made in real time as the neutron tool is usually run in combination with a density
tool and the latter has a caliper measurement.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Hole Size Correction
Necessary because the tools algorithm from ratio
to porosity is built to "fit" a 77/8" hole.
Larger holes cause the tool to see more mud
(100% porosity) around the borehole, hence the
tool reads too high in larger hole sizes.
The chart is entered with the porosity;
Go down to hole size.
Follow trend lines to 7 7/8".
Read of .
A correction is made automatically in open hole
using caliper measurements from the combined
density tool.
It can be made using the bit size if a caliper is not
available.
The correction can be large.
Notes
Stand off is a major correction especially in larger hole sizes. Even in small (8 1/2 ) holes the value is around 0.5,
rarely zero. Unfortunately this cannot easily be measured. A fixed number is usually input to the correction.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Stand off Correction
The same explanation applies for this correction.
Any space between the tool and the borehole wall
is seen as 100% porosity.
The value of the correction depends on the hole
size:
Larger holes = more correction
Stand-off is rarely measured. One method is to
use the SA curve recorded with a PCD.
The chart is entered with the porosity at the top;
Go to the nearest hole size.
Go down to the stand-off value, e.g. 0.5".
Follow the lines to zero.
Read the (always negative).
Notes
The chart has a selection of hole sizes. Select the one closest to the actual hole size. Draw a line from the porosity
to be corrected (34pu in the example) down to the relevant hole size chart.
Enter the stand off on the y-axis to intersect the porosity line.
Follow the lines down to the zero. Read the difference in porosity between this value and the original value, this is
the correction to be applied.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Standoff Correction Chart
Notes
This correction is rarely if ever applied as it is small and the value of the mud cake thickness is difficult to obtain
as it is of the order of magnitude (0.25) as the caliper accuracy.
Some methods to compute the thickness are :
Take the difference between the bit size and the caliper (and divide by 2).
Take the difference between the density caliper which cuts through the mud cake and the MSFL caliper which
rides on top of the mud cake (and divide by 2).
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Mud Cake Correction
The mud cake absorbs neutrons before they can
enter or leave the formation.
mud cake = stand-off with porosity <100%.
The larger the mud cake, the larger the
correction.
It is a small correction but one that is rarely ever
applied because the mud cake cannot be easily
measured.
Notes
This is one of the few cases where barite mud has less effect on the logging measurement than standard mud.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Mud Weight Correction
The extra material in heavier muds means there
is less hydrogen, hence more neutrons reach the
formation.
It also changes if the mud is full of barite.
In this case the amount of material needed to
achieve the same mud weight is less, hence the
correction is less.
Select normal or barite mud.
Enter with porosity.
Go down to mud weight.
Follow lines to 8 lb/gal.
Read .
The correction is quite small.
Notes
The effect has a notable porosity dependence. At higher apparent porosities, the effect of the Chlorine is more
important, simply because there is more of it.
The borehole salinity can be found from the mud engineer or by converting the measured Rm into salinity.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Borehole Salinity Correction
This arises due to Chlorine.
The more Chlorine present, the more neutrons
absorbed in the borehole. ==> decrease count
rate.
The largest effect is seen in salt-saturated muds.
Go down to the borehole salinity.
Follow trend lines to zero.
Read .
Notes
This can be a very large correction. There are a series of correction charts to make this correction. However again
it is rarely applied as it is so complex. The major unknown is the matrix capture cross-section, which is known if
the matrix is clean but can be very different if there are some minerals present.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Formation and Salinity
Correction
There are two factors affecting the neutron
measurement in the formation:
The chlorine in the water seen by the tool,
typically the filtrate.
The rock matrix capture cross-section.
The simplest method is to assume that the matrix
is clean and that the matrix '' known.
This leaves salinity (mud filtrate) as the only
"variable".
The complete solution is to measure the total
formation '' and use this to compute the
correction.
The correction can be large but is not applied in
the field because the lithology is unknown, hence
the '' unknown.
It is taken into account in the interpretation
phase.
Notes
This is the major correction in most reservoir cases. It is large even at modest temperatures. It is in the opposite
direction to the standoff, another large correction. However, the former is larger in the deeper part of the well
where the small hole size will minimise the stand off correction. The standoff correction will be largest in the
larger surface holes where the lower temperature will minimise the temperature correction.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Formation Temperature
Correction
The correction is large and depends on the
porosity.
This is a dual effect:
The expansion of the water reduces the quantity
of Hydrogen seen by the tool.
Change in the borehole fluid capture cross-
section.
Enter with porosity at the top.
Go down to hole temperature.
Follow trend lines to 75F.
Read .
Notes
Note the large oil-based mud correction because of the larger compressibility of the oil. However this is, in most
cases, a relatively small effect as the pressure at the bottom of the well is quite low. For example, a 10000 foot
well, with a mud weight of 1.2g/cc, will have a bottom hole pressure of around 5000psi.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Pressure Correction
The effect is caused by the compression of the
fluids downhole.
In standard water-based muds the effect is small.
Select oil-based or water-based mud.
Enter with porosity at the top.
Go down to hole pressure.
Follow trend lines to zero.
Read .
In oil-based muds the correction is large.
Notes
The idea behind the technique of alpha processing is that there is the possibility of using a higher resolution
measurement to enhance the standard log. In the case of the neutron porosity and density tools that higher
resolution is available on the tool itself with the nearer spacing detector.
The process follows three major steps. The first is to put the two measurements at the same depth so that they read
the same bit of formation.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Alpha Processing
Alpha Processing is a method that enhances the
resolution of the standard measurement.
It utilizes the higher resolution of the near
detector to increase the resolution of the more
accurate far detector.
Notes
The next step is to match the resolution. This is effectively stretching the measurement so that it matches the
standard one. This gives the same porosity (in this case) but shifted because of environmental effects.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Alpha Processing
The first step is to depth-match the two detectors'
responses.
The next step is to match the resolution of both
detectors.
Notes
The final step is to take the resolution matched near detector measurement from the original reading made by the
same detector. The residual information is the High resolution data that is required. This can then be added to the
standard reading to give the final high resolution measurement.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Alpha Processing
The difference between the two readings now
gives the "high frequency" information - which
highlights thin beds missed by the far detector.
Notes
The whole system works if the two detectors are reading the same formation. If the hole is in bad condition the
method will not work. Rapid changes in the parameter being measured will also cause problems for this technique.
The final output curve uses the same algorithm as TNPH and hence is a good neutron porosity.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Alpha processing
The "high frequency" information is added to the
far detector signal to give the final enhanced log.
Notes
The depth of investigation of this tool depends on the porosity of the system.
The tool will only read zero porosity truly in limestone as it is calibrated to this mineral. Other minerals will show
a deviation from this value due to the formation salinity effect and the calibration.
Shales have a high apparent porosity because of the water (i.i hydrogen) trapped by them. The actual value
depends on the clay type.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Thermal Neutron Parameters
Vertical resolution:
Standard (TNPH) 24"
Enhanced 12"
Depth of investigation 9"-12"
Readings in zero porosity:
Limestone (0%) 0
Sandstone (0%) -2.00
Dolomite (0%) 1.00
Anhydrite -2.00
Salt -3.00
Typical Readings
Shale 30-45
Coal 50+
Notes
The neutron tool is recorded on a scale of apparent neutron porosity. This is equal to the actual porosity only in a
clean limestone because the calibration is made in this mineral. It is normally combined with the density tool when
the combination will handle the different minerals.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Thermal Neutron
Interpretation/Uses
The tool measures hydrogen index.
Its prime use is to measure porosity.
Combined with the bulk density, it gives the best
possible answer for lithology and porosity
interpretation.
Notes
The tool is a standard size hence will not run through a normal tubing string.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Thermal Neutron in Cased Hole
The CNT can be run in cased hole for the
porosity.
In addition to the standard corrections some
others are needed to take into account the extra
elements of casing and cement.
The standard conditions are:
8.75" borehole diameter.
Casing thickness 0.304".
Cement thickness 1.62".
Fresh water in the borehole / formation.
No stand-off.
75F.
Atmospheric pressure.
Tool eccentred in the hole.
Notes
These charts are used in the same manner as the open hole set. In addition to these corrections the borehole
salinity, mud weight and hole size corrections have to be made.
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Neutron Porosity Measurement
Corrections in Cased Hole