Nuclear Magnetic
Resonance (NMR)
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Introduction
nuclear magnetic resonance (nmr) has been, and continues to be,
widely used in chemistry, physics, and biomedicine and, more
recently, in clinical diagnosis for imaging the internal structure of
the human body.and also any fluid-saturated porous media,
including reservoir rocks.
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Purpose of NMR logging
• NMR effectively responds to the volume, composition, viscosity..
for example
• NMR logs provide information about the quantities of fluids present, the
properties of these fluids, and the sizes of the pores containing these fluids
• The volume (porosity) and distribution (permeability) of the rock pore space
• Rock composition
• Type and quantity of fluid hydrocarbons
• Hydrocarbon producibility
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The precession of atomic magnet
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NMR relaxation times
NMR Relaxation: It is the approach of a magnetic system to an equilibrium or
steady-state condition, over a period of time. Nuclear magnetic relaxation is
useful for probing physical and chemical properties of liquids in porous media.
During relaxation, electromagnetic energy is retransmitted: this RF emission is
called the NMR signal.
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Types of relaxation
Longitudinal (spin-lattice ) relaxation T1: along the axis of the external
magnetic field. describes the return to equilibrium in the direction of the
magnetic field.
Can be measured by two ways:
1. The spin-lattice relaxation (T1) can be measured from the buildup of
magnetization along the static applied magnetic field.
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Spin-lattice relaxation in the rotating frame, T1ρ
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Spin-lattice relaxation in the rotating frame (t1ρ) is the mechanism by which the
excited magnetization vector (conventionally shown in the x-y-plane) decays
while under the influence of spin-lock radio-frequency irradiation that is
effectively a weak magnetic field in the x-y-plane that rotates at a similar
frequency to the magnetization vector. The result is much the same as one
would get by measuring the T1 at very low magnetic fields with a proton
resonance of tens of khz.
8 Transverse relaxation T2
Transverse (spin-spin ) relaxation T2: perpendicular to the
external magnetic field. describes the decay of the excited
magnetization perpendicular to the applied magnetic field.
Transverse or spin-spin relaxation (T2) is the mechanism by
which the excited magnetization vector (conventionally shown in
the x-y-plane) decays
9 Surface Interactions
The notion of grain relaxation and the role of small and large pores in the
decay time of the relaxation curve
10 Ranges of relaxation times
Most relaxation times observed in routine NMR are between 0.1 and 10
seconds. Longer relaxation times, tens or hundreds of seconds, are observed in
the absence of oxygen for deuterated solvents. Shorter relaxation times, milli- or
microseconds, are observed when there is medium-to-fast chemical exchange.
Time constant T1 which is generally much longer than T2 except in bulk
liquids.
NMR properties of fluids
Since the protons examined in petro physical applications with laboratory and
borehole instruments are associated with fluids saturating porous rocks ,it is
appropriate to look at some of the properties of fluids to note their relation to NMR-
measured properties.
For fluids there are four quantities of interest for NMR measurements:
1- the hydrogen index,
2- water,
3- crude oil
4- gas
Hydrogen Index
Since the magnitude of the NMR signal will depend on the proton
density associated with the fluids. Using NMR logging tools to
determine the porosity of a hydrocarbon reservoir is based on
calibrations of the tools with respect to known volumes of water.
Such calibrations require that the NMR signal per unit volume of
each saturating fluid be known Thus it is convenient to introduce
the term hydrogen index (HI) to quantify the atomic hydrogen
densities of oil or gas relative to that of an equal volume of water.
HI=
Hydrogen Index
the HI is reduced as the concentration of NaCl
increases in the brine Also, Oil field brines exhibit
a wide variation in salinity. At low salinity, the HI
of brine is approximately 1, but at high salinity,
the HI can be reduced by as much as 10%.
HI vs salinity
Water
At room temperatures and at the low magnetic
fields used in NMR well logging, the T1 and T2
values of bulk water are in the range of 1 to 3
seconds. but could be somewhat reduced to
around a second, depending on the presence of
dissolved oxygen (paramagnetic, Ferromagnetic
and/or paramagnetic ions (such as iron or
manganese) can greatly reduce the T1 and T2
values of brine.
Viscosity Correlations for Crude Oils
T2 of crude oil is a distribution of values rather than a single value and depends
on viscosity . As viscosity increases, the hydrogen protons become less mobile
and thus relax more quickly. The T 2 of crude oil varies with viscosity, as shown
in fig 4 these T 2 distributions for three oil samples. Crude oils have equal T1 and
T2 at low viscosity and can be correlated with the ratio of viscosity /temperature
Gas
The primary component of natural gas is methane Pure ethane and propane
gas have relaxation times that are longer than that of methane ,especially
when correlated with molar density . Carbon dioxide and nitrogen do not
have protons but their presence in mixtures with methane results in a
reduction of the relaxation time of methane compared to the correlation for
for pure methane based on mass density
NMR physics
The NMR tool has a skid or pad design. Hydrogen nuclei are protons of interest in
NMR logging. Proton polarization (alignment) is achieved using a magnetic field
applied by the tool.
In the protons there’s atomic nuclei spin and angular moment which produces a
magnetic moment (i.e. Weak magnetic field). The NMR technique measures the
magnetic signal emitted by spinning protons as they return to their original state
following stimulation by an applied magnetic field and pulsed RF energy.
These signals, which are observed (measured) as parallel or perpendicular to the
direction of the applied magnetic field, are expressed as time constants that are
related to the decay of magnetization of the total system.` 17
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Mo: maximum magnetization moment T: Time protons exposed to Bo
field. Mz: magnitude of magnetization
The strength of magnetic field Mz is proportional to the number of
protons, the magnitude of Bo (static magnetic field) exposed and inverse
to absolute temperature.
The signal recorded parallel to the direction of the applied magnetic field
(z plane) is called T1 signal and measured in the x–y plane is called T2 —the
transverse or spin-spin relaxation.
LOG PRESENTATION
The primary objectives in NMR logging are measuring T1 signal amplitude (as a function
of polarization), T2 signal amplitude and decay, and their distributions. The total signal
amplitude is proportional to the total hydrogen content and is calibrated to give formation
porosity. Both relaxation times can be interpreted for pore-size information and pore-fluid
properties, especially viscosity.
.NMR-log data are presented in a variety of formats designed to emphasize specific
aspects of the data and thus enable rapid visual interpretation of movable and immovable
fluids, porosity, and permeability.
The rate of decay of NMR signal amplitude is used to estimate permeability.
The molecules of fluid are in Brownian motion. The collisions are less frequent in larger
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pores resulting in slower decay of NMR signal amplitude.
NMR logging tools.
The Pulse NMR tool—
The first generation of NMR logging (1960–1994) — measured the free-induction
decay in the Earth’s magnetic field… with the introduction of pulse-echo tools using
permanent magnets rather than electromagnets reduced the surface-power
requirement. Using a Radio-frequency pulse from a coil ensures that only nuclei in
the sensitive region are in resonance. Controlling the pulse duration means shorter
dead times that, in turn, allow a better estimate of initial decay amplitude (porosity)
measurement for short T2 components (bound-fluid evaluation). T2 became the
primary acquisition mode because it permitted faster logging—a major factor in
high-cost wells.
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a. The first generation device that used the earth’s magnetic field for polarization.
b. The configuration of an NMR logging tool proposed by Jasper Jackson. Shown are
the two opposing dipoles and the toroidal zone of nearly constant radial magnetic
field. The coil used to rotate the polarized protons and then monitor the subsequent
T2 decay is shown to be coaxial with the polarizing magnets.
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LWD NMR LOGGING TOOL
NMR-LWD offers a non-radioactive alternative for porosity
measurement, an NMR alternative to wireline in high-risk and
high-cost wells, and enables high-resolution fluid analysis in thin
beds and laminated reservoirs. Logging tools operating in the
drilling environment are built into drill collars and are,
therefore, mandrel devices, they are capable of making
measurements when the drill string is stationary, sliding or
rotating, centered or eccentered.
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Cross section of an LWD NMR device. This centered tool utilizes a pair of annular
magnets to establish a gradient field with a nominal measurement diameter of 14 in.
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There are two different wire line designs in current commercial
service: (1) the Numar (now a part of Halliburton) magnetic
resonance imaging tool (MRIL), a centralized mandrel device and
(2) the Schlumberger CMR tool and the Baker Atlas MREX
eccentered devices, both of which require contact with the
borehole wall. The general designs of both the MRIL (mandrel-
type) and CMR (pad-type) have evolved over the past decade with
the addition of capabilities and faster logging speeds, made
possible by improved electronics and improved data acquisition
and processing. Commercial logging began with these tools in 1991
and 1995, respectively.
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1 2
1. The basic design of the NUMAR tool utilizing a single
elongated dipole with strong spatial gradient.
2. The design of the CMR with two side-by-side elongated dipoles
producing a relatively flat magnetic field inside the formation.
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