Gam Mary

Kurdistan Region – Iraq
Ministry of Higher Education and

Scientific Research
Soran University
Faculty of Science
Department of Petroleum Geosciences
Gamma Ray Log
Mohammed Fathi
Zana Abdulla
Rayan Mohammed
Definition
 Gamma Ray (GR) logs measure the natural radioactivity (natural gamma radiation ) in formation , used for
identifying lithologies and for correlating zones.
 This gamma radiation originates from naturally occurring Potassium (K40), and Thorium (Th), Uranium (U)
series.
 The gamma-ray log is commonly given the symbol GR.

 The unit of GR is API (American Petroleum Institute).
 the GR log normally reflects the shale content of the formations. This is because the radioactive elements tend
to concentrate in clays and shales.
• As shale content increases, the gamma-ray log response increases, GR log reflects shale or clay content.
 Shale free sandstone and carbonates have low concentrations of radioactive materials and give low gamma ray
readings.
The Simple Gamma ray log gives the radioactivity of three elements combined. Natural
Gamma Ray Log (GR) is only records total Gamma Ray.
the spectral Gamma ray log shows the amount of each individual element contributing
to this radioactivity.
The spectral gamma ray log is displayed as three curves of Thorium (ppm), Uranium
(ppm), and Potassium (%).
Relative abundance of the earth's crust:

K = 2.95%,
Th=12 ppm,
U= 3 ppm,
Potassium is the most abundant of the three in the rock, but its contribution in relative to
its weight is small.
Gamma radiation
from common minerals and lithologies
(after Pirson, 1963).
principal uses
Principal uses of the gamma ray log.
Discipline Used for Knowing
Quantitative Petrophysics Shale volume (Vsh) gamma ray (max)
gamma ray (min)
Qualitative Geology Shale (shaliness) gamma ray (max)
gamma ray (min)
Lithology Typical Radioactivity
Values
Mineral identification Mineral radioactivity
Sedimentology Facies Clay/grain size
relationship
Sequence Stratigraphy Parasequence & condensed Clay/grain size & organic
matter/ radioactivity
sequence identification relationships
Stratigraphy correlation
Unconformity
identification
Log Presentation
• The total gamma ray log is usually recorded in track 1 with the caliper log, bit size, and SP
log.
• Although the API scale goes from 0 to 200 API, it is more common to see 0 to 100 API and
0 to 150 API used in log presentations, as data greater than 150 API is not common, and can
always be handled by the use of wrap-around.
Log Presentation
• The format for reporting the spectral gamma-ray data is more complex than for the total
gamma-ray log because it contains much more detailed information. Usually spectral
gamma-ray is recorded in track 2 and 3
• It should be noted that potassium is reported as a percentage, while U238 and Th232 are
reported in parts per million (ppm).
Log Presentation
• Tracks 2 and 3 are used to record the calculated abundances associated with the radiation from
the individual contributions from each of K40, U238, and Th232.
• The scale of U, Th in ppm from 0 - 20, while K40 scaled in %,range 0 - 5.
• The SGR, standard gamma ray (is the same simple gamma ray log, reconstructed from the
elemental values (U, Th and K40).
• Their contribution in gamma ray emission:

• Ippm U equivalent to 8.09 API
• Ippm Th equivalent to 3.93 API
• and 1% K=16.32 API.
• The Contribution Gamma Ray (CGR) represents the contribution of only the Th and K in API
units without U. The difference between SGR and CGR is the contribution of U, in API units.
1- Standard Gamma-Ray log (SGR) spectral gamma ray log
2- The Computed Gamma-Ray log (CGR)
Effect on gamma-ray
Effect of Caving or drilling mud thickness on gamma ray
Effect of Barite in drilling mud thickness on gamma-ray
Borehole Quality
The gamma ray log usually runs centered in the borehole.

he caving hole, the GR log can be badly affected, there is
more drilling mud between the formation and the GR
detector to attenuate the gamma rays produced by the
formation.
Gamma Ray correction for bore hole size and Barite Mud Weight
Effect of KCL in drilling mud
thickness on gamma-ray
Application of Gamma Ray Log
Determination of Lithology:
 Shales, organic rich shales and volcanic

ash show the Highest gamma ray
values.
 halite, anhydrite, coal, clean sandstones,

dolomite and limestone have Low
gamma ray values.
Facies and Depositional
environment
Unconformity Detection:
 The mean Th/K ratio of large intervals of formations is usually approximately constant. This
is because it depends ultimately upon the depositional conditions.
 Any sudden changes in the mean Th/K ratio can act as an indicator of sudden change in
depositional environment, such as at an Unconformity.
Sedimentology and Depositional Environments:
The spectral gamma ray log provides a large amount of data that can help discriminate
between depositional environments
Recognition of Radioactive and Non-Radioactive Mineral Deposits:
 The gamma ray log can be used to recognize certain radioactive deposits,
the most common of which are potash deposits and uranium ores.
 Note that some evaporites have a large concentration of

potassium and can be very radioactive
Fracture detection
Geologic correlations
Source-rock evaluation
Radioactivity of Sandstone
Glauconite rich in sandstone
Radioactivity of Carbonate
Carbonates in their pure state are not

radioactive and this aids their identification.
Nonetheless, in certain facies, carbonates
contain organic matter and this is frequently
radioactive due to uranium. This is certainly
the case in the example given and it is
proposed (Hassan, 1973) that pure carbonate
radioactivity is due only to uranium. Shaly
carbonates will show the presence of
potassium and thorium.
Radioactivity of evaporate
The most common evaporites,

such as salt and anhydrite, give
extremely and abnormally low
values on the gamma ray log.
However, the high radioactivity in
some evaporites caused by
potassium content has already
been mentioned. The log example
shows a typical aspect of this
evaporite radioactivity. Frequently
there are extreme contrasts
between the potassium and non-
potassium-bearing zones.
Volumetrically, potassium rich
evaporites are rare.
Determination of Shale Content
• Where:
• IGR = Gamma Ray Index (dimensionless)

• GRIog = Gamma Ray Reading of Formation
• GRmin = Minimum Gamma Ray (clean sand or
carbonate)
• GRmax = Maximum Gamma Ray (shale)
Occurrence of Radioactive Elements:
Potassium (K) common in:
Clay minerals: in illite (5.2%) » Kaolinite (0.63%), Glauconite 4.5%, Smectite

0.225%,Chlorite 0.00%.
Evaporate example sylvite (KCl) 52.5%, Carnallite 14.1%, Polyhalite 12.9%

Feldspar, Shale 2% -3.5%
Thorium (Th):
Sourced from acidic & intermediate igneous rock.

Clay minerals, in Kaolinite, illite, Smectite In heavy
minerals (Zircon, Sphen, Thorite, Epidote)
• Uranium (U)
• Sourced from acidic igneous rocks

• Carried in solution, attached to clay particles (River sediments).

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Kurdistan Region – Iraq

Ministry of Higher Education and

Gamma Ray Log

 The gamma-ray log is commonly given the symbol GR.

Relative abundance of the earth's crust:

• Their contribution in gamma ray emission:

The gamma ray log usually runs centered in the borehole.

 Shales, organic rich shales and volcanic

 halite, anhydrite, coal, clean sandstones,

Recognition of Radioactive and Non-Radioactive Mineral Deposits:

 Note that some evaporites have a large concentration of

Carbonates in their pure state are not

The most common evaporites,

• IGR = Gamma Ray Index (dimensionless)

Potassium (K) common in:

Clay minerals: in illite (5.2%) » Kaolinite (0.63%), Glauconite 4.5%, Smectite

Evaporate example sylvite (KCl) 52.5%, Carnallite 14.1%, Polyhalite 12.9%

Sourced from acidic & intermediate igneous rock.

• Sourced from acidic igneous rocks

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