Formation Evaluation (PE 210)

Density Log

Dr Bijaya K Behera
Professor
School of Petroleum Technology

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Density Log

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 Density
The density log is a continuous record of a
formation’s bulk density (Fig. 1). This is the
overall density of a rock including solid
matrix and the fluid enclosed in the pores.
Geologically, bulk density is a function of
the density of the minerals forming a rock
(i.e. matrix) and the volume of free fluids
which it encloses (i.e. porosity).
For example, a sandstone with no porosity
will have a bulk density of 2.65g/cm3, the
density of pure quartz.
At 10% porosity the bulk density is only
2.49g/cm3, being the sum of 90% quartz
grains (density 2.65g/cm3) and 10% water
(density 1.0g/cm3).

Fig. 1. The density log: some typical responses. The density log shows bulk density.
*Density and porosity with fresh formation-water density 1.0g/cm3 (cf. Fig. 1
of lecture on Neutron Log, which is on compatible scale of neutron porosity. 3
 Density: Principal usage
Quantitatively, the density log is used to calculate porosity and indirectly,
hydrocarbon density.

It is also used to calculate acoustic impedance.

Qualitatively, it is a useful lithology indicator, can be used to identify certain

minerals, can help to assess source rock organic matter content (even
quantitatively) and may help to identify overpressure and fracture porosity
(Table 1).

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 Density: Principal usage
Table 1. The principal uses of the density log.

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Density: Principles of measurement

The logging technique of the density tool is to subject the formation to a

bombardment of medium-high energy (0.2-2.0 MeV) collimated (focused) gamma rays
and to measure their attenuation between the tool source and detectors.

Such is the physical relationship that the attenuation (Compton scattering) is a

function of the number of electrons that the formation contains – its electron density
(electrons/cm3) – which in turn is very closely related to its common density (g/cm3)
(Table 2.).

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Density: Principles of measurement
Table 2. Density, electron density and tool given density for some common compounds.

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Density: Principles of measurement
In dense formations, Compton scattering attenuation is extreme and few detectable
gamma rays reach the tool’s detectors, while in a lesser density the number is much
higher.

The change in counts with change in density is exponential over the average logging
density range from about 2.0-3.0 g/cm3 (Fig. 2).

Detector counts in modern tools are converted directly to bulk density for the log
printout (Fig. 3).

However, although electron density, as detected by the tool, and real density are
almost identical, there are differences when water (hydrogen) is involved.

For this reason, the actual values presented on the density log are transformed to give
actual values of calcite (2.71 g/cm3) and pure water (1.00g/cm3) (Table 2). (There are
still slight differences between log density and real density, especially when chlorine is
involved).

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Density: Principles of measurement

Fig. 2. Correlation between the density-tool radiation count (counts per second) and
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bulk density. A high density gives a low count.
Density: Principles of measurement

Fig. 3. Typical heading of a density log. The density log is over tracks 2 and 3: the scale is in g/cm 3.
Any mud weight correction is shown in log form (dashed ) and is automatically applied. It is
based, in this example, on a barite mud containing 272 ppm barium and with a density of
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1.84g/cm3.
Density: Tool

Fig. 6. A density tool. 11

 Density
Log presentation, scales and units
The density log is normally plotted on a linear scale of bulk density (Fig. 3).

The log is run across tracks 2 and 3, most often with a scale between 1.65 and 2.65
g/cm3 or 1.80 and 2.80 g/cm3 or 1.95 and 2.95 g/cm3.

The main log is accompanied by a curve indicating the borehole and mud-cake
corrections that have been automatically applied.

A record of cable tension may also be included, as the density tool tends to stick in
poor holes.

The tool is run typically as a density-neutron combination along with a gamma ray
tool and a caliper, e.g. FDC-CNL-GR.

The caliper is an essential accompaniment to the density log for reasons of quality
control.
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Density: Log presentation, scales and units

Fig. 3. Typical heading of a density log. The density log is over tracks 2 and 3: the scale is in g/cm 3.
Any mud weight correction is shown in log form (dashed ) and is automatically applied. It is
based, in this example, on a barite mud containing 272 ppm barium and with a density of
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1.84g/cm3.
Density: Porosity calculation

Fig. 7. Tool measured bulk density and a visualization of the derivation of the porosity
component. The figures are for a sandstone with 10% porosity.

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Density: Porosity calculation

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Density Log Interpretation
Hydrocarbon Indicator

Gas, because of large density difference

with water, it has the effect of diminishing
the bulk density as described above.

Fig. 10. The effect of gas on the density log. In this

example the gas zone reads about 35% porosity:
it should read 27% porosity.
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 Density Log Interpretation
Lithology Indicator Unconformity Identification

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 Density Log Interpretation
Overpressure Indicator

Overpressure seen by a bulk density drop

and break in the normal compaction
curve. The gamma ray shows the interval
is shale.
Fig. 17. Diminution of mudstone porosity with depth.

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• Acoustic impedance indicates how much sound pressure is generated by
the vibration of molecules of a particular acoustic medium at a given
frequency.
• Mathematically, it is the sound pressure p divided by the particle velocity v
and the surface area S, through which an acoustic wave of frequency f
propagates.
• Z=p/v=I/v2
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