Use of natural low-level radioactivity of raw materials to evaluate gravel pack and cement placement in wells

1. A method of quantitatively determining the amount of background gamma ray radioactivity detected in a gamma ray sensitive logging tool in a wellbore due to the presence of naturally occurring radioactive materials in a gravel pack, the method comprising:

placing a sized sample of a gravel pack in a container;

positioning a sensor in the container at a position where the sensor is exposed to gamma radiation from the sample to form an output indicative of gamma ray radioactivity of the sample;

converting the sensor output according to a predetermined functional relationship into an output value indicative of the gamma radiation background induced by the gravel pack as a function of gravel pack volume and wellbore diameter; and

using Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport modeling to compare count rate results for different gravel pack geometries to obtain conversion factors for each of the gravel pack geometries.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining a pre gravel pack data set by:

lowering into the borehole traversing the subterranean formation a gamma ray detector;

detecting gamma rays, wherein the pre gravel pack data set is obtained prior to placing the particles into the gravel pack zone of the borehole; and

comparing the post gravel pack data set and the pre gravel pack data set to determine the location of the gravel pack particles.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising normalizing the pre gravel pack and post gravel pack data sets for differences in borehole conditions prior to comparing the pre gravel pack and post gravel pack data sets.

4. A method for logging a well, comprising:

utilizing a gravel pack slurry comprising a liquid and gravel pack particles to hydraulically place the particles into a gravel pack zone of a borehole penetrating a subterranean formation; obtaining a post gravel pack data set by:

lowering into the borehole traversing the subterranean formation a gamma ray detector; and

detecting gamma rays resulting from a native radioactivity of the gravel pack particles;

using the post gravel pack data set to determine a location of the gravel pack particles; and

correlating the location of the gravel-pack particles to a depth measurement of the borehole to determine the location, height, and/or percent fill of gravel-pack particles placed in the gravel pack zone of the borehole, wherein the gravel pack particles are formed from a raw material having the native radioactivity, wherein a first portion of the gravel pack particles contains a thermal neutron absorbing material and a second portion of the gravel pack particles does not contain a thermal neutron absorbing material.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the gravel pack particles do not contain boron, cadmium, gadolinium, samarium, or iridium.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the raw material is clay.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the clay is selected from the group consisting of kaolin, bauxite, and any mixture thereof.

8. A method for logging a well, comprising:

utilizing a cement slurry comprising a liquid and solid particles to cement one or more well tubulars in place in a borehole penetrating a subterranean formation; obtaining a post cement data set by:

lowering into the borehole traversing the subterranean formation a gamma ray detector; and

detecting gamma rays resulting from a native radioactivity of the solid particles;

using the post cement data set to determine a location of the solid particles; and

correlating the location of the solid particles to a depth measurement of the borehole to determine the location, axial distribution, radial distribution, and/or height of the cement slurry placed in the cemented zone of the borehole,

wherein the solid particles are formed from a raw material having the native radioactivity,

wherein a first portion of the solid particles contains a thermal neutron absorbing material and a second portion of the solid particles does not contain a thermal neutron absorbing material.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the raw material is clay.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the clay is selected from the group consisting of kaolin, bauxite, and any mixture thereof.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the solid particles do not contain boron, cadmium, gadolinium, samarium, or iridium.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

obtaining a pre cement data set by:

lowering into the borehole traversing the subterranean formation a gamma ray detector;

detecting gamma rays, wherein the pre cement data set is obtained prior to cementing the one or more well tubulars in place in the borehole; and

comparing the post cement data set and the pre cement data set to determine the location of the solid particles.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising normalizing the pre cement and post cement data sets for differences in borehole conditions prior to comparing the pre cement and post cement data sets.