PCTROPHYSICS, VOL 42, NO 5 (SEPTEMDER-OCTOBER 2001).
P 4 3 8 4 4 3 , 2 FIGURES, 2 TABLES
The Physical Dependence and the Correlation
Characteristics of Density and Neutron Logs
Zhi-Qiang Maol
I ABSTRACT
The density and neutron logs are two important physi-
cal measurements in formation evaluation. It was found
through theoretical derivation that the density log and the
neutron response physically relate to each other in sedi-
mentary formations because of the existence of the ele-
ment hydrogen. It is the physical dependence of the two
logs that constitutes the usefulness of these two logs in
determining the porosity, identifying lithology of the for-
mation and detecting natural gas formation as widely used
today.
Based on the dependence, a correlation coefficient
between density porosity and neutron porosity has been
defined. The polarity (i.e, the sign) of the coefficient is
I I
INTRODUCTION
Density and neutron logs play a very important role in
formation evaluation. The combined applications, such as
density-neutron crossplot and the density-neutron overlay,
are widely used in determining lithology and porosity and
detecting natural gas zones. However, no precise explana-
tion of why these combination cross plots work has previ-
ously been given.
In this paper, the physical dependencies of density and
neutron logs is examined by theoretical means and verified
with field logs. The applications combing the two logs are
founded on the physical dependencies. Further, the correla-
tion characteristics resulting from the dependencies can be
extended to the identification of natural gas formations.
This new method has advantages over the conventional
overlay technique (Gaymard et al., 1968; Tan, 1991) for
handling the effects of shale and invasion on density and
Manuscript received by thc Editor January 1999.
‘University of Petrolcum Beijing, China
02001 Society of Professional Well Log Analysts. All rights reserved.
438 PETROPHYSICS
I
different for gas-bearing zones and oil-bearing zones. The
correlation coefficient can be extended to an approach for
identifying natural gas formations since it is more sensi-
tive to gas.
The example of one well from Tarim basin in north-
west China demonstrates that an excellent correlation
between density and neutron logs does exist in log meas-
urements. Thus, the physical dependence of those two
logs is shown not only by theoretical derivation but also
by field logs. The correlation polarity approach indicates a
gadoil contact more accurately than the conventional
overlay technique. This is verified with the RFT pressure
data from the well.
neutron logs. First, some basic concepts are briefly
reviewed.
As is well known (Shlumberger, 1976), based on the
Compton effect, the density log responds to the electron
density of the formation. For a substance consisting of a sin-
gle element or a compound, the electron density, pe, can be
defined for a substance consisting of a single element
P h
pu = 2-z (1)
A
or for a molecular substance
k
pe = 2P”&Z, (2)
M 1=I
whereph is the true bulk density, 2 is the atomic number, A is
the atomic weight, M i s the bulk molecular weight, n is the
September-October 2001
 The Physical Dependence and the Correlation Characteristics of Density and Neutron Logs

TABLE1 TABLE2

Z
Element A Z 2- Actual 2 C n 8 z
A
Compound Formula Density
H 1.008 1 1.9841
C 12.011 6 0.9991 Quartz Si02 2.654 0.9985
0 16.000 8 1.oooo Calcite CaC03 2.710 0.9991
Na 22.99 11 0.9569 Dolomite CaC03MgC03 2.870 0.9977
Mg 24.32 12 0.9868 Anhydrite CaS04 2.960 0.9990
A1 26.98 13 0.9637 Sylvite KCL 1.984 0.9657
Si 28.09 14 0.9968 Halite NaCL 2.165 0.9581
S 32.07 16 0.9978 Gypsum CaS042H20 2.320 1.0222
c1 35.46 17 0.9588 Klaolinite’ A14Si4010(OH)8 2.420 1.0102
K 39.10 19 0.9719 Mg-smectite’ MgA114si22060(OH)1~ 2.469 0.998 1
Ca 40.08 20 0.9980 Illite .~)020(OH)4 2.530
KI-I.sA~~(S~,-~.SA~I.I 0.9965
Fe 55.85 26 0.9980 Fresh Water H20 1.ooo 1.1101
Salt Water 200,000ppm 1.146 1.0797
“Oil” n(CH2) 0.850 1.1407
Methane CH4 1.247
number of the ith atom, and k is the total number of atoms “Gas” cl 1H4.2 1.238
per molecule.
‘Serra, 1984
For most of the elements and compounds found in sedi- ’Hepler et al., 1992
mentary formations, the factors apart from pb in equation
(1) and equation (2) very nearly evaluate to one (as shown
in Table 1 and Table 2).
In contrast, the neutron log measures the slowing-down In fact, the element hydrogen does exist in sedimentary for-
of thermal neutrons, mostly by the hydrogen in the forma- mations and the atomic weight of hydrogen (1.008) is very
tion. Thus, the neutron reading depends mainly on the close to unity, i.e. Ah = 2 h = 1 . So, we get
hydrogen index, HI, of the formation, which is proportional
to the quantity of hydrogen per unit volume

(3)
where n/,is the number of hydrogen atoms in the compound,
Mis the molecular weight, and c is a constant.
By convention, the hydrogen index of fresh water at
room conditions is taken as unity, so the constant c equals 9. where the last line employs
equation (4), we find
E. k

,=I
n, A; / M = 1 . Combining
Equation (3) can be thus rewritten as

(4)

Equation (6) shows clearly that the electron density index

THE PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE OF THE TWO LOGS
As mentioned, for most elements shown in Table 1
except hydrogen, the atomic weight of an element is about
two times larger than the atomic number; i.e., A is about 22.
If no hydrogen existed in the formation, equation (2)would
take the form
is not independent of the hydrogen index for sedimentaryfor-
mations. Therefore, the density log and the neutron response
physically relate to each other in sedimentary formations.
Because the physical dependenceof the two logs is tied to the
element hydrogen, equation (3) can be used in determining
the fluid content or porosity and identifying the formation
fluid type, especially in detecting natural gas in formations.

September-October 2001 PETROPHYSICS 439

 Mao

THE CORRELATION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE

NUCLEAR APPARENT POROSITIES AND THEIR &N = iz@Nl,
I h

POTENTIAL APPLICATION IN NATURAL GAS
DETECTION
The above analysis demonstrates that the physical
dependence of density and neutron logs facilitates their
combined application. The analysis of the correlation char-
acteristics of the log responses also shows that a correlation
approach could be used to identify gas formations, perhaps
more easily than with the conventional overlay technique.
In a shaly hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone, the response
equations of the density and neutron logs are respectively
given by
p h I I ‘ , +@(l-Sh)p~t+ ~ P , / (7)
( ~ - @ - ~ I ) ~ I+@S/jph I I
1=I
and, / .
k
=
l A
I=)
where k is the number of sampling points that represent a
segment of log curves used to correlate. The continuous cal-
culation of the correlation coefficient, R , is similar to what
we do in correlating any two correlation curves of dipmeter
measurements (no “search length” is involved, correlating
the points or segment of log curves with same depth). The
sign of R is termed the correlation polarity.
To understand the correlation characteristic of density
and neutron logs calculated by equation (1 1 ) and to extend it
to gas identification, the following formations with various
lithological and fluid features are qualitatively discussed.

Clean sand, aqueous

Both density and neutron logs read directly the porosity
+@(1- Sj1 HI,, + 1 HI,/l of the clean aqueous sandstone i n this case. The overlay of
the two logs would result i n a perfect superposition. The
wherep is the density, HI is the hydrogen index, @ is the total correlation calculation should be characterized by a positive
porosity, S is the saturation, and V is the relative volume. coefficient, R , whose value is close one.
The subscripts mn, slz, n ~ ,h, and b represent the rock
matrix, shale, formation water. hydrocarbon and log Clean sand, oil pay
response, respectively. Only the first two terms in equations (9) and (10) are
The apparent density porosity ODand the apparent neu- retained in the responses of density and neutron logs to this
tron porosity Q ~ c a nbe derived from equations (7) and (8), formation, respectively
respectively
01) = @ +@S/I& = @,
a,, = P J J-~p~h - PI, -p/I
- @(l+S,pill‘, - p
P”1U - P I ,

Pmr - P =
It

1 (9)
Q N = @-@s/lL
= @.
For crude oil with normal gravity, those two logs respond
principally to the porosity of the formation in respect that
@ + @S/,bh + K/I
\/I
+ K/I &I

pnru - p n both d h and are approximately zero. The main features of

the overlay and the correlation calculation are very similar
to the clean aqueous formation discussed above.

Clean sand, natural gas

Under these conditions, equations (9) and (10) can be
written as
The correlation coefficient, R , of Q D and O Ncan be then
defined as following
L @N = @ - @s/z </I.

Obviously, density porosity increases while neutron

decreases since neither dIl nor (1, can be neglected in gas for-
mation. The differences between the apparent porosities
and the actual porosity depend on the gas saturation, poros-
ity and gas density. Moreover, the excavation effect (Seges-
where
man and Liu, 1971) of gas will further lower the neutron
reading, because of the relatively large neutron-slowing-
down length in gas. Under reservoir conditions, the situa-

440 PETROPHYSICS September-October 2001

 The Physical Dependence and the Correlation Characteristics of Density and Neutron Logs

tion will become complicated in that the quantity might be
small because of deep invasion, low porosity or low gas
saturation. The correlation polarity method still works as
long as the response to residual gas exists whether it is great
or small. In contrast the overlay technique only works when
the response of gas is significant enough to cause a distinct
difference between density porosity and neutron porosity.
In other words, the correlation polarity is more sensitive
than the overlay technique to a small gas response. This rea-
soning also applies to the shaly formation discussed below.
resistivity log responses, the interval from A to E can be
interpreted as hydrocarbon-bearing formation, and the
oiVwater contact is considered at the level E. The gadoil
interface is not clear.
The correlation coefficient, R, calculated by equation
(1 1) in which K = 7 is plotted in track 5 in Figure 1 (to
emphasize the results of reservoir, R is artificially set to zero
in shale intervals). 2 is the ratio of density porosity over

Shaly sand, natural gas

The analysis for responses of the tools is more compli-
cated in shaly gas formation since the value ofpsl, may vary
greatly. ps/, may be greater than pnla or not, depending
upon the clay/shale structures in the rocks.
Frequently in laminated shale intervals, P s h > pma,and
d,~,will be negative. In this case the density log will read a
porosity lower than the actual porosity and neutron log
higher. Furthermore, both overlay and correlation tech-
niques work well because of the low Sl1 in this situation.
Therefore
@Ll =$+$shdh +Khdsh z $ - ~ h d s h

@N=$-$shcsh +Khcsh = $ + K h c s h .
For dispersed or structural claylshale, Psh is often less
thanp,,. The values of @D and @Ndependupon whether the
effect of gas is greater than that of shale or not. If the effect
of shale predominates (i.e., KhdsIl > $Shdl, and V,/,&,, >
$ s / l c h ) and consequentlys
h is low, the two logs will respond
as if to a shale interval. The correlation method is still valid
but the overlay technique fails when the response to gas is
larger than that to shale. However, the superiority is not as
significant as when the overlay of the two logs exhibits a
distinct offset. This situation is frequently found in shaly
gas reservoirs because the response to gas might be counter-
acted by the response to shale and further reduced by a
lower gas saturation (caused by deep invasion, higher shale
content or low porosity).

FIELD LOG EXAMPLE

Figure 1 shows composite logs, overlay, and correlation
calculations of density and neutron logs of a well drilled
through structure T in Tarim basin in northwest China. The
reservoir formations are marine sandstones. The lower part
of the reservoir is formed by an offshore bar characterized
by good petrophysical properties. The upper shaly and FIG. 1 The composite logs and the location of gasloil contact
gravel sandstone corresponds to branch channel deposits. by the correlation polarity approach in Well No.1 of the T Reser-
According to the salinity of the formation water and the voir, Tarim Basin, China.

September-October 2001 PETROPHYSICS 441

 Mao
neutron porosity. The is determined from density and
gamma ray logs.
A good correlation (i.e., 0.5 c I R I < 1.0) of density
porosity and neutron porosity i n all intervals demonstrates
that the density log and the neutron log responses are
codependent. Field logs verify the theoretical derivation
presented in this paper.
The conventional overlay of density porosity and neu-
tron porosity showed that a possible gadoil interface should
be at level D or even lower because of the great differences
between them (can be seen from both track 4 and 5) above
the level. The correlation coefficient seems to indicate a
gadoil contact in level B mainly because R tends to be posi-
tive (indicating oil or water as the possible pore fluids)
below that depth. The negative R within the oil formations
is mainly caused by laminated shale that impliesp,,, may be
greater than P,,,~(intervals from F to D).
Figure 2 shows the RFT data acquired from the borehole.
The gadoil and oil/water contacts are identified at levels C
and E, respectively. The gadoil contact from the correlation
calculation is more in agreement with the RFT contact than
the contact from the conventional overlay technique. This
example shows that the correlation polarity of density and
neutron porosities is a useful approach for identifying natu-
ral gas formations.
< relative volume, fraction
A +
0 porosity, fraction
FIG.2 The fluid pressure profile from the RFT measurements
of the well.
442 PETROPHYSICS
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the fundamental physics of density and neutron
logs, and the nuclear properties of the elements and com-
pounds existing in sedimentary rocks, it is shown that the
electron density index is related to the hydrogen index in
sedimentary rocks. Consequently, the density log is corre-
lated with the neutron log.
The physical codependence of the two logs is also verified
by field log responses, which are marked by excellent corre-
lation coefficients for the logs throughout the reservoir. The
physical dependence of density and neutron logs is the inher-
ent basis of the combined applications of these logs.
The correlation polarity of an oil zone is completely dif-
ferent from that of a gas zone. In addition, the polarity
approach is still useful when the response of gas on the logs
may be small. All of these characteristics features could be
used to develop an effective technique for gas detection.
The tentative application of the method as shown in the
paper is reasonable and promising.
NOMENCLATURE
electron density index
bulk density, g/cm3
hydrogen index, fraction
atomic weight
atomic number
molecular weight
apparent density porosity, fraction
apparent neutron porosity, fraction
saturation, fraction
density, g/cm3
Subscripts:
nu7 rock matrix
Sh shale
W formation water
h hydrocarbon
D density log
N neutron log
REFERENCES
Gayniard, R., and Poupon, A,, 1968, Response of neutron and for-
mation density logs in hydrocarbon bearing formations: The
Log A i d y s t , vol. 9, no. 5, p. 3-13.
Hepler, L. G. et al, 1992, AOSTRA Technical Handbook of Oil
Sands. Bitumens and Heavy Oils, Chinese Version (translated
by Liang et al.), Press of University of Petroleum, Dongying.
September-October 2001
 The Physical Dependence and the Correlation Characteristics of Density and Neutron Logs

Schlumberger Ltd., 1976, Log Interpretation, Volume I: Princi-
ples.
Segesman, F., and Liu, O., 1971, The excavation effect, paper N, in
12th Annual Logging Symposium Transactions: Society of
Professional Well Log Analysts.
Serra, O., 1984, Fundamentals of well-log interpretation, 1: The
Acquisition of Logging Data, Elsevier.
Tan, T. D., 1991, Log interpretation of deep gas zone by nuclear
logging porosity difference method" (in Chinese): Petroleum
Exploration and Development, vo1.18, no. 6.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Zhi-Qiang Mao is an associate professor of applied geophys-
ics with the University of Petroleum Beijing, China. He received
his doctors degree in applied geophysics from the postgraduate
school of the Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and
Development of Beijing. He has worked for China National Petro-
leum Cooperation (CNPC) in Tarim Petroleum E & D Headquar-
ters as a log analyst from 1993 to 1997. As a visiting scholar, he
had studied and worked shortly in MIT, USA, Institut Francais du
Petrole (IFP), and Gaz de France (GDF), France. He is in charge of
two key research projects of CNPC. His research interests include
log interpretation, petrophysics, and formation evaluation.

September-October 2001 PETROPHYSICS 443