Petrophysics presentation on:

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)

Core Analysis
Members:
Naomi Jobson
Xavier luna
Gregory Mwenketishi
Jubril Adekanmbi
Seth Karikari
George Ijeoma Israel
MSc Petroleum Engineering
2011/2012 Session

Lecturer: Dr. Pedro, Diaz

Content
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Overview
What is NMR
Historical development
The importance of NMR
Basic principles
Methodology and
Instrumentation
NMR Logging Interpretation
Pore Size Distribution
Permeability
Low Resistivity Reservoir
Evaluation
NMR Hydrocarbon Typing
Conclusion
Recommendations
References

What is NMR?
1. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
2. It is a technique used in
formation evaluation (core
analysis, that is to determine
porosity, permeability and pore
size distribution.
3. It examines the behaviour of
nuclear spins by manipulating
them in magnetic fields.

Figure 1a: Overview of Geospec equipment .

Figure 1b: Geospec2 NMR Instrument

Historical Development
1. It was discovered in 1946 and
recognized in 1950s
2. Led to the development of NuclearMagnetic-Logging (NML) tools in the
early 1960s.
3. The initiation of an NMR borehole
logging research project at Los Alamos
Natl. Laboratory in 1978 led to the
modern phase of NMR logging.
4. From 1983 to 1990s Numar Corp and
Schlumberger commercially developed
NMR logging.
5. In 2001, Halliburton introduced an
NMR fluid analyser that is part of its
wireline fluid sampling tool.

The Importance of NMR

NMR provides information about the different fluids present
in the formation (water and different oil types have
distinctive NMR signals).
Non destructive , both in organic and inorganic materials,
that is human/reservoir system.
Can measure all petrophysical data system.
Very economical to buildup and to use.

T1 = the measured longitudinal relaxation

time of the pore fluid
T2 = transverse relaxation time of the pore
fluid as measured by a
CPMG (CPMG: names) sequence.

Instrumentation and Methodology.

Magnet for generating magnetic fields.
Hydrogen ions from the hydrogen contenting compounds
in the core. e.g. H2O H+ + OH Magnetic moment .
Electrical supply in the magnetic core.

Magnetic fields

Figure 2 . Bar magnet

 atomic nuclei are charged particles .

Hydrogen contain atomic nuclei.
atomic nuclei possess a quantum mechanical
property called spin angular momentum .
This property makes the nucleus spins around
an imaginative axis .
the spinning motion causes a magnetic moment
that is co-linear with the direction of the spin
axis .
in the absence of an externally applied
magnetic field, the individual magnetic moment
align randomly and stable .
In the present of an external magnet field, the
magnetic moment align parallel and antiparallel
to the magnetic field Bo.

Methodology and Instrumentation contd

1H nuclei (protons) contain a high magnetic moment,
that makes it the ideal nucleus for NMR logging and
NMR imaging in radiology.
The energy different between the parallel and
antiparallel magnetic moment forms a net bulk
magnetization that align parallel to Bo.
NMR technique can only detect the net bulk
magnetization arising here.
For a signal to be detected by the NMR Logging, a
state of resonance needs to be attained.
Resonance means alternating absorption and
dissipation of energy .
Energy absorption arises from radiofrequency (RF)
perturbation .
Energy dissipation is mediated by relaxation
processes.
RF can be considered as another magnetic field of
strength B1 perpendicular to B0 as shown in Figure 4

Figure 3a : Magnetic spin

Figure 3b: Showing Spin-Echo (or Hahn-Echo)

NMR Logging Interpretation

1. T2 distributions provide some very useful
information about reservoir-rock and -fluid
properties and it constitutes the basic
outputs displayed on an NMR log.
2. T2 distributions computed from NMR echo
data are used to compute NMR total,
bound-fluid, and free-fluid porosities, and
also are used for permeability and
reservoir-quality estimation.
3. In water-saturated rocks, T2 distributions
are qualitatively linked to pore-size
distributions.
4. The short T2 values in a T2 distribution are
associated with signals from water in small
pores, meanwhile the longer T2 values
matches to signals from water in larger
pores.

Determination of Porosity and Pore

Size Distribution from NMR Core
1. Core information received about the basic pore size distribution
from the NMR core analysis, enable a number of useful
petrophysical parameters to be easily calculated.
2. The integral of all the T2s (area under the curve) gives the total
porosity when compared to the signal from a known reference.
3. After centrifuging the core and repeating the NMR measurements,
the integral of the second data is the irreducible fluid (BVI), while
the difference between the two is the Free Fluid Index (FFI).

Figure 4: Determination of BVI and FFI from

log plot

NMR Core Permeability Analysis

Based on theoretical models

The Free-Fluid or Coates model

Formations containing water and/or hydrocarbons

a

FFI

KmD C.

BVI
10

XXms

The Mean T2 model (developed by Shlumberger)

Formations containing water only.

k ( m D ) C . T 2 L M

1 0 0

Requires matching T2 to a dynamic pore size estimator.

Mercury Injection Capillary Pressure (Result=synthetic Pc curve)

Evaluating from NMR

Calibration of model

Figure 5b: Coates Model

and SDR Model
Figure 5a: Layout of
NMR Logging tool.

Low Resistivity Reservoir Evaluation

1. A Gulf of Mexico well is
used as an example to
illustrate the evaluation
of a low resistivity
reservoir using MRIL.
2. The reservoir core was
made up of a massivemedium-to fine grained
sandstone.
3. The upper portion of
the reservoir (zone A)
had higher resistivity
than the lower portion
(zone B), between 10.5 ohm-m.
4. The decrease in
resistivity in the lower
portion of the reservoir
was the main concern.

Figure 6a: Result from TDA and

MRIAN

Figure 6b: Conventional logs of a Gulf

of Mexico well

Core Hydrocarbon Typing Simulation

1. It is difficult to distinguish the native oilbased mud filtrate because of the mixture of
these two kinds of oil and their NMR
signals.
2. When water, light oil, and gas occupy the
same pore system in the formation rocks
(fig. ), both light oil and gas could be
detected through their Longitudinal contrast
(T1).
3. Simulation result shows that rocks are
probably not completely oil-wet; some are
of intermediate and/or mixed wettability.
4. If a formation contains mixed wettability,
differentiating between oil and water
presents difficulty (from simulation).

Figure 7a: water and light oil simulation

effects on T2 distribution.

Figure 7b: water, light oil and gas

Figure 7c: Effect of viscosity

and wettability of the oil
signal in a T2 distribution

Conclusions
NMR logging was first introduced during the 1960s when NML tools were
used to make crude free-precession measurements in the Earths
magnetic field.
The proper use of NMR technology requires good communication
between oil and service companies to ensure that logging objectives and
data-quality expectations are met.
There are unique and powerful standalone NMR formation evaluation
methods available for evaluating fluid types, saturations, and porosities
in complex reservoirs. Additionally, NMR logs provide estimates of
bound- and free-water volumes, oil viscosities, and formation
permeabilities subject to the caveats.
In complex reservoirs, NMR and other log data should be integrated with
all other available reservoir information (e.g., especially data from fluidsampling and pressure tools and core data) to provide the most accurate
picture of the reservoir.

References

Annie Cottis, Peter Lock & Tony Barrow, (2011), NMR Basics to Expert
User, Weatherfordlabs.com. Presentation made at Geological Society
London, Piccadilly.
Bendel, P., (1990), Journal of Magnetic Resonance. Spin-echo attenuation
by diffusion in non-uniform field gradients. Vol. 86, pp. 509-515.
George, R. C., et al (1999), NMR Logging Principles and Applications.
United States of America: Halliburton Energy Services.

Thank you for listening