SPE 56647

An Investigation of Density Derived from Pulsed Neutron Capture Measurements

C. H. Neuman, Chevron Petroleum Technology Co. (retired), M. J. Sullivan, and D. L. Belanger, Cabinda Gulf Oil
Company.

Copyright 1999, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 1999 SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition held in Houston, Texas, 36 October 1999.
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Abstract
Each service company that offers pulsed neutron logs includes
measurements based on the gamma rays from inelastic
scattering. The gamma rays that originate from the highenergy neutrons that undergo inelastic scattering necessarily
originate near the source. The number of these gamma rays
that reach detectors relatively far from the source reflects the
gamma ray scattering by and thus the density of the material
between the scattered neutrons and the detector. Because there
are many factors other than density that influence the number
of gamma rays detected, service companies offer
measurements based on inelastic scattering as empirical traces
that are used in combination with measurements based on
neutron scattering. Such combinations are useful primarily to
recognize gas and distinguish gas from low porosity. One
company offers a trace that represents density from the gamma
rays due to inelastic scattering, but the process of deriving the
density involves the very empirical step of subtracting
different portions of the gamma rays attributed to factors other
than inelastic scattering until a satisfactory approximation to
density is achieved.
This paper presents a method for predicting the gamma
rays from thermal neutrons to be subtracted from the total
gamma rays measured during the neutron pulse and a
comparison of the density-like trace so derived with open-hole
density logs recorded in Cabinda, Angola, Africa.
The method presented for predicting gamma rays due to
capture is based on representing the decay of gamma rays after
the neutron burst by two exponential decays. The fraction of
gamma rays due to thermal neutrons is different at different

times during the pulse, but the overall effect is predicted from
the amplitudes and decay times that fit the data used to
represent sigma. While this removes variations in the fraction
of capture gamma rays subtracted to create a density-like trace,
the relationship between the amplitude of the trace and density
is still determined empirically.
The comparison with open-hole logs makes use of the fact
that many of the logs run were run to distinguish brine from oil
through casing. This enables comparison of the densities
derived from cased-hole logs to those recorded from open-hole
logs under conditions where the open-hole logs still represent
the reservoir. Some of the log data studied were from intervals
where gas saturations changed between the open- and casedhole logs, and these afford a chance to compare changes in
density with changes in neutron porosities.
Example
comparison are presented and limitations discussed.
Introduction
Through-casing measurement of density using logs designed
for open-hole density measurements has been investigated for
many years1-3 and is still a goal of some research effort.
Special tools designed to measure density through casing have
been proposed4-5. Methods have been previously proposed to
calculate density from data recorded by Pulsed Neutron
Capture (PNC) logs6-7. This paper discusses an improved
method to calculate a density-related trace from PNC data.
While densities calculated from a tool designed primarily to
make different measurements will probably never be as
accurate as those from a specialized tool, the fact that they
come from data taken for other purposes makes them
economically attractive.
We will first review the methods used currently to
approximate density and density-related traces from PNC logs.
We will then propose what we consider to be an improved
method for the calculation of density from the count rates
recorded and supplied by service companies. Unfortunately,
calculations on count rates are necessary to the application as
we propose it. We will show examples from intervals in which
density traces calculated from PNC logs can be judged by
comparison with open-hole logs. We maintain that these
examples show that the density measurement through casing
can be as accurate as neutron measurements through casing
under some circumstances. In the same examples, we will

NEUMAN, SULLIVAN, BELANGER

show applications of the density porosity from PNC logs to

reflect the difference between oil-filled versus gas-filled pore
space. We will discuss wellbore conditions for which we have
found the method marginal, and those for which we have
found the method inapplicable. Finally, we will show an
example use of the technique that makes use of the limited
depth of investigation..
Density Measurements from Pulsed Neutron Capture
Logs
Use of PNC logs to measure porosity through casing is
important both for wells in which open-hole logging did not
provide adequate porosity information and wells in which
there is a need to distinguish gas from oil. Currently, the
primary porosity measurement offered by service companies is
a neutron porosity based on the ratio of count rates that reflect
neutron population at the two detectors used by modern logs.
This measurement is useful, but it is influenced by all of the
factors that cause neutron logs to be only one of the open-hole
logs needed for adequate porosity evaluation in most wells.
The density-like measurement obtainable from PNC logs is
based on the fact that modern logs record gamma rays both
during the neutron pulse and after it is interrupted. The
gamma rays recorded after the pulse is interrupted are used to
determine both capture cross section and a measurement
related to neutron porosity. These gamma rays come from
neutrons that have migrated to the vicinity of the detectors; so
a measurement of the abundance of these gamma rays reflects
the ability of neutrons to migrate, and hence neutron porosity.
The gamma rays recorded during the pulse, usually referred to
as inelastic gamma rays, are created by interactions of high
energy neutrons with some nuclei. Because high energies are
required and because neutrons far from the source have low
energies, these gamma rays originate near the source. Thus, a
measurement of the intensity of these gamma rays reflects the
attenuation of gamma rays between the source and the
detectors. Gamma ray attenuation is the basis for density
logging.
Service companies currently provide log traces on PNC
logs that reflect the gamma rays from inelastic scattering and
thus reflect density. These are usually presented as qualitative
indicators of gas rather than density because of several factors
that limit the accuracy that can be achieved from the
measurement. The count rates recorded in time increments,
gates, that reflect gamma count rates during the neutron
burst also include counts from the gamma rays that come from
the decay of thermal neutrons. The later reflect the neutron
abundance that is related to the things that are measured after
the neutron source is shut off, and hence they interfere with the
density measurement. One service company achieves a
density measurement by subtracting count rates that reflect the
decay of thermal neutrons6, but the fraction of the count rates
reflecting thermal capture must be determined empirically by
trying different fractions until the calculated results are

SPE 56647

satisfactory. Modeling approaches7 may improve the certainty

from that approach.
The principal contribution from this paper is to
demonstrate the advantages from an improved method to
separate the gamma rays unrelated to density. The density
measurement proposed, like those used currently, is limited by
the fact that some of the gamma rays detected reflect borehole
rather than formation properties.
Calibration of the
measurement must be made empirically for each borehole
condition.
Like existing measurements, the measurement
proposed depends on having relatively constant wellbore
conditions.
Method for Calculating Density
Figure 1 illustrates both the difficulty in calculating the gamma
rays due to inelastic scattering and the method proposed. The
figure displays count rates versus time for data recorded by
one commercial PNC log. The top curves and data represent
near-detector data, the bottom, far-detector data decreased by a
factor of ten for plotting. The applications discussed in this
paper are from the log type shown, but the method has been
applied to one other commercial tool. We have been unable to
apply the method to two commercial tools because the gate
data were too sparse for one tool and the pulse duration
changed from tool to tool for the other.
The symbols in Fig. 1 represent the counts per
microsecond for the 61 gates recorded (after background
subtraction).
The count rates increase at about 20
microseconds and decrease at about 100. (There is some
arbitrariness in how one defines time zero.) The high count
rates represent the time when the neutron source is on. When
the neutron source is shut off, the count rates decrease by
about a factor of two for the example shown. The count rates
recorded after the neutron source is shut off are the data used
to determine values for sigma and neutron porosity. The lines
shown through those data were calculated using a method
previously published8. These lines represent the amplitude and
decay rates of two exponential decays that sum to match the
data recorded. The slower-decaying of the two rates usually
represents the formation, and the faster, the borehole.
The basic assumption behind the method for separating the
inelastic from the capture data is that the rate of creation of
inelastic gamma rays is constant during the pulse, but the rate
of creation of capture gamma rays is proportional to the
population of thermal neutrons. The population of thermal
neutrons is determined by the rate of creation and the rate of
decay of thermal neutrons, and the rate of decay of thermal
neutrons during the pulse is determined by the same decay
rates as the data after the pulse. This assumption is consistent
with the observation from Fig. 1 that the count rates builds up
gradually at the beginning of the pulse but finally reach a
nearly constant value when the rate of decay of old thermal
neutrons matches the rate of creation of new ones.
The
derivation of the algorithm used to calculate the count rate

SPE 56647

AN INVESTIGATION OF DENSITY DERIVED FORM PULSED-NEUTRON CAPTURE MEASUREMENTS

from thermal neutrons that must be subtracted from the total

count rate is shown in the Appendix.
After the corrections described above, the count rates
represent counts due to Compton scattering. Most density logs
relate Compton count rates to density through a spine and
ribs plot. This consists of count rates on a logarithmic scale
plotted against density on a linear scale in such a way that
independent measurements from near and far detectors are
reconciled to a single density value through experimental
relationships that reflect mud cakes. Such a technique does
not work for the calculation from PNC logs because conditions
vary much more than they do for open-hole density logs. The
count rate from each detector of a density log is characterized
by the equation
Log(Count Rate) = A * b + B ,.

(1)

where A and B are constants that are determined for openhole

logs from test pit measurements by the service company
responsible for the log. Since the constants in Eq. 1 will vary
greatly with borehole and casing conditions, it is useful to
combine near and far detector data to a single function
b = C1 * log(Near Count Rate/Far Count Rate) + C2

,..(2)

where C1 and C2 are constants that must be determined

empirically. In practice, the determination of the constants is
made by plotting the logarithm of the ratio of counts on a scale
chosen so that it matches expected or measured density over
some depth interval.
The equations that calculate a density-like trace have been
applied to data from two service companies. Figure 2 shows
that the gamma intensity recorded during the pulse by the
second service company also contains a significant
contribution from thermal neutrons. While the method has
been applied to data from that company, examples are not
presented here because the tools from that company have been
run in Cabinda under the least favorable conditions for
measurement of density.
Count rates displayed represent
counts per microsecond gate width per second (Fig. 1) and
minute (Fig.2).
Comparison Opposite Unchanged Formation
Figure 3 shows density from an open-hole log compared with
that calculated from a single pass of PNC log data. In the
interval shown (from well NM-A10), there was no change in
fluid saturations between the open-hole and cased-hole logs.
Traces to the right of depth compare the Compensated Ratio of
Inelastics (CRIN) calculated as described above with density
measured in open hole. Bit size was 8.5 in (22.5 cm) and
casing size was 7 in (17.8 cm). While the correlation
coefficient calculated through the 1000 ft. (305 m) interval
was only 0.77, most of the difference between the open-hole
and cased-hole density came from a few depth intervals. The

traces to the right of depth compare density with the Ratio of

Inelastics (RIN) trace provided by the service company. The
correlation coefficient between this trace and open-hole
density was 0.69. However, in some depth intervals, especially
near the top of the interval shown, there are significant
differences. The caliper trace shown on the right shows that
the hole was washed out no more than about one inch.
Applications to Distinguish Gas From Oil
Example 2
Figure 4 shows logs from a well (72-41) that has produced
about 40 million barrels oil from the perforations shown. The
well was drilled and completed in 1973. Resistivity and
density logs were run at that time, but no neutron logs were
recorded. Core measurements from other wells showed that
the formation was a fractured dolomite-limestone mixture.
Thus, the uncertainty in porosity calculated from a density
measurement is about as large as the porosity itself. A
production log run in 1997 showed that most of the 1100 bbl
per day of oil then produced from the well came from the top
of the perforated interval. There were indications that at least
some of the almost equal volume of brine produced was
coming from the bottom. However, there was no way to
determine which part of the reservoir was contributing the
large volumes of gas produced.
The two tracks to the right of depth in Fig. 4 show traces
currently used to distinguish gas from oil. The rightmost pair
of traces in the first track are the near and far count rates that
often separate opposite gas. The left trace is sigma borehole.
It is apparent that the change from brine to oil in the borehole
made enough difference in the separation between the near and
far count rates to obscure the presence of gas in the formation.
The rightmost pair of traces in the second track show the ratio
trace and the ratio of inelastics trace presented by service
companies to distinguish gas from oil. There is no way to
display these traces that would cause them to overlay in the
depth interval above the perforations where there is certainly
no gas and separate only where there is gas in the interval
below. The leftmost trace in the second track represents
inelastic to capture ratio sometimes used to indicate gas. This
trace too is much more sensitive to changes in borehole
conditions than to gas versus oil in the formation.
The rightmost track in Fig. 4 shows the density recorded in
open hole (solid) versus the CRIN trace calculated from PNC
data (dashed). It is clear that density has changed in the
intervals 7135-7155 and 7175-7190 and has remained constant
at other depths. Recognition of gas is further aided by
including the ratio trace as calculated by the service company
scaled to overlay the neutron trace as nearly as possible. The
leftmost track of Fig. 5 shows density-like and neutron-like
traces from the PNC log presented in a manner similar to that
used for open-hole logs. It is easy to recognize both the shaly
intervals and those that contain gas. The middle track of Fig.
5 compares CRIN with the RIN trace supplied by the service
company. It is apparent that for this well, the difference

NEUMAN, SULLIVAN, BELANGER

between these traces is enough to make a difference in which

intervals would be interpreted to have gas. The rightmost trace
in Fig. 5 shows the repeat passes of the CRIN trace calculated
from data acquired at logging speeds of 12 feet per minute in a
5 liner cemented in a 6 hole. This repeatability is, of coarse,
much better than that for larger hole and casing sizes.
Example 3
Figure 6 shows traces from well 84-10 for which the
processing described here would have made a difference had it
been available when the well was recompleted. The trace to
the left of depth shows density and neutron logs recorded in
open hole in 1970. The ratio trace that measures neutron
porosity through casing is shown on the track to the right of
depth scaled to overlay the open-hole neutron porosity as
nearly as possible. Based on the similarity between the openhole and cased hole neutron porosity traces, the well was
recompleted with the expectation of producing oil with high
gas-oil ratio. The well produced only gas. The CRIN trace is
shown in the middle track along with open-hole density. This
comparison makes it much clearer which interval has high gas
saturation. The right-most trace shows the density and neutron
traces from the PNC log presented similar to open-hole
density-neutron logs. From this display, it is clear which
interval should not have been perforated.
Statistical Uncertainty
Density calculated from PNC logs loses accuracy as hole
size, casing size, hole rugosity, and standoff increase.
Figure 7 represents an effort to quantify these effects for
one particular set of circumstances. The example
chosen represents the less-than-optimal conditions that
often limit accuracy of through-casing logs. This
example was chosen to be near the dividing line that
separates useful from meaningless through-casing
porosity measurements. The figure represents openhole traces logged in 1978 compared to traces derived
from a 1998 PNC log. Bit size was 12 in (31.11 cm)
and casing size was 9 5/8 in (24.45 cm). The hole was
deviated 39 degrees, and, as shown by the caliper in the
leftmost track, had both cyclic irregularity and washouts.
The track to the right of depth shows repeat passes of
the density-like trace derived from a PNC log. The
narrow peaks in the PNC density traces correlate with
casing collars, as demonstrated by the casing collar log
shown in the next track to the right. The rightmost two
tracks show density and neutron traces from the PNC
overlaying the density and neutron logs recorded in
1978. Both traces from the PNC log have been scaled to
overlay as nearly as possible the open-hole porosity
traces scaled from 0.45 to 0.15 limestone porosity units.
The density-like CRIN trace has been deleted 1 ft
(0.46 m) above and below the casing collars.
The RMS deviation between repeat passes of the CRIN traces
was equivalent to 0.11 g/cm3, equivalent to about 6 limestone
porosity units (pu). The RMS deviation between the 1978
density and the simulated trace (excluding depths influenced

SPE 56647

by casing collars) was 0.13 g/cm3, equivalent to about 8 pu. In

contrast, the statistical deviation between repeat passes of
neutron-like trace was only the equivalent of 1 pu. However,
the statistical deviation between open-hole and cased-hole
neutron porosity was 6 pu. Thus, even for the irregular hole
examined, the density estimated from PNC data deviated from
open-hole data by only 30% more than did comparable
estimates of neutron porosity. This comparison was based, of
course, on excluding the intervals influenced by casing collars.
Conditions for which the method was not useful
An attempt to measure density through drill pipe resulted in a
trace that depended so strongly on variations in the amount of
steel in different parts of the drill pipe that it was very difficult
to deduce anything meaningful about formation properties.
Neutron porosity was much more useful.
Attempts to use the method for logs run through tubing
inside casing have produced CRIN traces that vary
reproducibly but depend in a complicated manner on position
of the tubing in the casing such that formation density is
represented only very crudely. Neutron porosity is influenced
much less by logging through excentered tubing.
Special Applications
The limited depth of investigation of the density-like
measurement can sometimes be employed beneficially.
Figure 8 shows a sketch of a typical wellbore layout for a
gravel-packed well. This well (NM-E9) was logged first
using a special tool designed to reflect gravel pack
quality. That log is shown as a solid line on the right side
of Fig. 8. A PNC log was later run for different purposes.
The CRIN trace calculated from that log is shown as a
dashed line. Both the gravel pack log and the CRIN
trace are scaled arbitrarily by assuming that the least
favorable values recorded represent the absence of
gravel and the most favorable 100% gravel. While the
gravel-pack log is less expensive, there is obviously
potential advantage in accomplishing the objectives of
both the gravel-pack log and the PNC log at the same
time.
For this example, the RIN trace furnished by the service
company would have worked as well as the CRIN curve
calculated from raw data. There is, however, an
advantage in knowing that the validity of the next
application does not depend on this circumstance.
Discussion
Unfortunately, the method described here depends on
correcting the total counts recorded during the neutron burst
using an algorithm that depends on the amplitudes as well as
the decay rates that describe the signal decay after the burst.
Thus, it is necessary to process raw data supplied by the
service company to calculate the CRIN that provides an
improved estimate of density. Service companies currently do
not report the amplitudes of the decays even when they fit
their data with a two-exponential decay similar to that used in

SPE 56647

AN INVESTIGATION OF DENSITY DERIVED FORM PULSED-NEUTRON CAPTURE MEASUREMENTS

the processing we use. However, in the process of calculating

sigma from raw data each service company has to calculate
parameters that represent the total signal decay. Thus, it
would probably not be difficult for service companies to offer
traces that are similar to the CRIN trace we describe.
The density measurement from PNC data would obviously
be more valuable if it were calibrated. The fact that washouts
as large as a few inches do not invalidate the technique makes
it tempting to rescale the calculated CRIN trace as density and
make corrections based on hole and casing size. However, the
sensitivity to casing conditions has been enough that we are
not confident in such a step. Possibly, service companies will
have enough test pit data to take such a step. In any case,
however, the density calculated from PNC data will always be
sensitive to borehole conditions. We have observed that
changes from gas to liquid within the borehole changes the
calculated density more than variations in the formation
density, as would be expected.
Conclusions
1. By correcting the count rates recorded during the neutron
burst, it is possible to calculate a density-like trace from
the data recorded with Pulsed Neutron Capture logs. The
advantage in the correction method proposed is that the
correction made is calculated from the data rather that
determined empirically. The scaling relationship between
the trace calculated and bulk density is, however, still
determined empirically.
2. Examples show that the density-like traces agree well with
density logged in open hole when casing diameter and the
annulus between casing and formation are small.
Accuracy diminishes as expected for larger holes.
Attempts to measure density through tubing plus casing or
through drill pipe have been less successful.

Nomenclature
b = density, g/cm3
= neutron decay time, s
N = Neutron population,, cm-3
g = gamma rate, s-1
R = Rate of creation of neutrons, cm-3s-1
t = time, s
TB = Time of neutron burst, s
Subscripts
L = Long
S = Short
References
1. Bishop,J.M.: Utilization of Density Logs to Delineate
Desaturated Zones and Estimate Porosity in Cased
Holes, paper SPE 3185 presented at the 41st Annual
California meeting of the SPE, Oct. 28-30, 1970.

2.

3.

4.
5.

6.

7.

8.

Haley, R. A. and Kirchoff, D. L.: Evalulation of Highly

Deviated Wells with Gamma Ray/Electric Logs and Cased
Hole Density/Neutron Logs, paper SPE 5512 presented
at the 1975 Annual Technical Conference, Dallas, Sept.
28-Oct 1.
Wolcott, D. S. and Vittachi, A., Through Casing
Formation Density Measuremnts, paper SPE 28409
presented at the 1994 Annual Technical Conference, New
Orleans, Sept. 25-28.
Jacobsen, L. A. and Fu, C.-C.:Computer Simulation of
Cased-Hole Density Logging, SPEFE (Dec. 1990) 465.
Moake, G. L.:Design of a Cased-Hole-Density Logging
Tool Using Laboratory Measurements, paper SPE 49226
presented at the 1998 Annual Technical Conference, New
Orleans, Sept. 27-30.
Odem, R. C., Hogan II, G. P, Crosby, B. W. and Archer,
M. P.: Applications and Derivation of a New Cased-hole
Density Porosity in Shaly Sands, paper SPE38699
presented at the 1997 Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition of the SPE, San Antonio, Oct. 5-8.
Odem, R. C.,Bailey, S, Wilson, S., and Archer, M. P.:
Pulsed Neutron Density Measurements: Modeling the
Depth of Investigation and Cased-hole Wellbore
Uncertainties, presented to SPWLA May 30-June3,
1999.
Neuman, C. H.: Programs to Process and Display Raw
Data from Pulsed Neutron Capture Logs, 1993 SPWLA
34th Annual Logging Symposium, June 13-16

AppendixNet Inelastic Gamma Rays

Start with the assumption that the gamma rays from
thermal neutrons can be represented by two decays, the
faster decaying usually representing the borehole and
the slower, the formation. The number of neutrons
represented by the slow decay is denoted NL because
the gamma rays detected represent the long component
of a two-exponential decay. The slower of the two
decays of thermal neutrons is represented by an
exponential with decay time L. The short (fast decaying)
component is represented by NS and S.
The rates of creation of slowly decaying neutrons during
the neutron pulse is denoted RL, and that of rapidly decaying
neutrons is RS. Thus, the buildup of the population of slowly
decaying neutrons during the pulse is characterized by
dNL/dt = RL - NL/L . (A-1)
or
NL = RL L (1 - exp(-t/L) ,..(A-2)
where t represents time from the beginning of the neutron
pulse. A similar equation relates NS, the number of neutrons
with short time constant, to RS and S. The time t in Eq. A-2
represents the time from the beginning of the neutron pulse.

NEUMAN, SULLIVAN, BELANGER

SPE 56647

10000
Counts / microsecond

After the neutron pulse, the rate of gamma ray detection is

represented by
g= AL exp(-t/L) + AS exp(-t/S) ,..(A-3)
where the time t denotes time after the end of the pulse, and A
L, L, AS, and S are the parameters determined by a twoexponential fit to the data. At the end of the neutron burst,
time t in Eq. A-3 is TB, the burst length; so

1000

Near
detector
10

0.1
0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Time , microseconds

AS (1 - exp(-t/S))/(1 - exp(-TB/S))} dt ..(A-5)

= AL{ TB - L (1 - exp(-TB/L))}/{1 - exp(-TB/L)} +
AS{ TB - S (1 - exp(-TB/S))}/{1 - exp(-TB/S)}...(A-6)
Because the values for AL and AS are determined using an
algorithm that weights heavily the quality of the fit at long
times, the values are adjusted slightly so that the predicted line
goes through the first data point after the burst. If t1 is the time
of that gate and A1 is its amplitude, the adjusted value for AL,
ALA, is given by
ALA = AL * A1/( AL exp(-t/L) + AS exp(-t/S)) . ...(A-7)
A similar expression is used to adjust the value of AS.
SI Metric Conversion Factors
ft X 3.048*
E 01 = m
in. X 2.54*
E + 00 = cm
* Conversion factor is exact

Fig. 1 Count rates after the neutron burst reflect the decay
of thermal neutrons. During the burst, count rates reflect
the combination of thermal neutrons and inelastic
scattering
10000000

Counts during neutron burst

Counts after
neutron burst

1000000

Counts/microsecond

{AL (1 - exp(-t/L))/(1 - exp(-TB/L)) +

100000
Near
10000
Far
1000

100
10

TB

Far
detector

Thus, the number of gamma rays from thermal neutrons during

the burst gT is given by

Gamma rays after neutron burst

reflect thermal neutrons

100

NL/L = RL (1 - exp(-t/L)) = AL ,..(A-4)

gT =

Gamma rays during neutron burst reflect

both inelastic scattering and capture
of thermal neutrons

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Time , microseconds

Fig. 2 Count rates and fit lines from a second contractor

SPE 56647

AN INVESTIGATION OF DENSITY DERIVED FORM PULSED-NEUTRON CAPTURE MEASUREMENTS

Run 2

10200

Run 1

10400

7100

10600

10800

Ratio
1.95
0.69

RHOB
CRIN

2.95
0.81

1.95
9.5

RHOB
RIN

2.95
12.5 6

CALIPER

16

CRIN

Fig. 3 Density logged in open hole (solid) and RIN curves

as described in text (left of depth) versus those supplied by
the logging company (right of depth)

7
0.64

SIG BH

RIN

7200

2 8
RATIO
CRIN 0.90 0.64

CRIN

RIN
CRIN

0.70

CRIN

0.83

Fig. 5
Density-Neutron-like trace from PNC log (left).
Comparison of RN curve with CRIN curve (center), and
repeatability of CRIN (right)

RIC

RATIO

6600

NPHI

RHOB
Ratio

CRIN

NPHI

RIN

7100

20
0.90

RHOB Ratio

CRIN

6700

NEAR
FAR

6800

RHOB

CRIN

0.45 NPHI -0.15

1.95 RHOB 2.95

7200

200
100000
40000

SIG BH
NEAR
FAR

0
0
0

5
8
8

RIC
RIN
RATIO

-15
20
3

1.45
0.64

RHOB
CRIN

3.45
0.90

Fig. 4
The calibrated ratio of inelastics (CRIN) trace
shows the features of the open-hole density and identifies
gas much better than do the other traces presented on the
log.

0.45 NPHI -0.15

7
RATIO 2

1.95 RHOB
0.39 CRIN

2.95
0.59

0.36 CRIN
7
RATIO

0.61
2

Fig. 6
Cased-hole density-neutron overlay defines gas
better than neutron ratio. Left track (track 1) shows open
hole neutron-density logs from 1970. Track 2 shows open
hole neutron and neutron-like trace from 1998 PNC log.
Track 3 shows open hole density and density-like trace
from 1998 PNC log. Track 4 shows overlay of traces from
1998 PNC log

NEUMAN, SULLIVAN, BELANGER

CRIN Main

Caliper
8

IN

18

0.64

Bit Size
IN

0.72
CRIN Repeat

0.64

18

0.72

RHOB
G/C3
2.95
CRIN Shut-in
0.64
0.72
1.95

CCL

RATIO
7

1.5

CPS

NPHI
0.45

V/V

-0.15

CRIN

GVPK
SCREEN
PERFS

CAL

SPE 56647

DEPTH
FEET

0.83 P N C D E N S I T Y

4700

0.93

GVPK
100

7100

BIT
NPHI

4800

RATIO

RHOB

CRIN

4900

7150

Fig. 7
CRIN in 9-5/8 casing in a rugose 12-1/4" hole
provides some useful information but is much less accurate
than logs made in more ideal conditions.
7200

7250

Fig. 8
The PNC-density trace compares well a standard
gravel pack log.