NMR

( Nuclear Magnetic Resonance )

LOGGING
 MRI Log Versus Medical
Magnet Inside Well Patient Inside Magnet
NMR - Only Measures Fluids
Fluid rich tissues are visible Only Hydrogen in pore space is seen
Medical NMR Oilfield NMR

Bone is “Dark”, NOT seen by NMR Rock material is „Dark”,

NOT Seen by NMR
 MRI Image in Oil Industry

Dark is ?

ROCK

Light is ?

Bound water

Free water

Hydrocarbon
 NMR Porosity Advantages
• No Lithology Scale
• No limestone, sandstone, dolomite scales

• No clay correction… Clay effect is MEASURED

• Better / easier fluids identification

• Better Permeability evaluation

 A ) Chapter 1 : Why NMR ?
I ) Introduction:
• With the invention of NMR logging tools
that use permanent magnets and pulsed radio
frequencies, the application of sophisticated
laboratory techniques to determine formation
properties in situ is now possible.
• This capability opens a new era in
formation evaluation and core analysis.
II)Important Characteristics for MRI :
• There are two important MRI characteristics:
1) First, the signals used to create each image
come from a well-defined location, typically a thin
slice or cross section of the target. Because of the
physical principles underlying NMR technology, each
image is sharp, containing only information from the
imaged cross section, with material in front or behind
being essentially invisible.
2)Second, only fluids are visible, while solids produce
a signal that typically decays too fast to be recorded.
• These NMR principles can be used to analyze the
fluids held in the pore spaces of reservoir rocks.
III)Components of MRI Logging Tool:
1)At the center of an MRIL tool, a permanent magnet
produces a magnetic field that magnetizes formation
materials.
2) An antenna surrounding this magnet transmits into
the formation precisely timed bursts of radio-
frequency energy in the form of an oscillating
magnetic field.
3)Between these pulses, the antenna is used to listen
for the decaying “echo” signal from those hydrogen
protons that are in resonance with the field from the
permanent magnet.
4) Because a linear relationship exists between the
proton resonance frequency and the strength of the
permanent magnetic field, the frequency of the
transmitted and received energy can be tuned to
investigate cylindrical regions at different diameters
around an MRIL tool.
 Fig. NM1 illustrates the “cylinders of investigation”
for the MRIL-Prime tool,2 which was introduced in
1998.
 The diameter and thickness of each thin cylindrical
region are selected by simply specifying the central
frequency and bandwidth to which the MRIL
transmitter and receiver are tuned. The diameter of the
cylinder is temperature-dependent, but typically is
approximately 14 to 16 in.
Fig. NM1:
. The MRIL Prime tool can be operated at nine
separate frequencies. The use of multiple frequencies
allows independent information to be obtained from
multiple concentric cylinders, thereby improving the
signal-to-noise ratio, enabling faster logging speeds,
and permitting different pulse-timing sequences for
complex data acquisition.
 IV) Comparison to Other Tools:
•Because only fluids are visible to MRI, the porosity
measured by an MRIL tool contains no contribution from
the matrix materials and does not need to be calibrated to
formation lithology. This response characteristic makes an
MRIL tool fundamentally different from conventional
logging tools.
• The conventional neutron, bulk-density, and
acoustic-travel-time porosity-logging tools are influenced
by all components of a reservoir rock. reservoir rocks
typically have more rock framework than fluid-filled
space, these conventional tools tend to be much more
sensitive to the matrix materials than to the pore fluids.
•The conventional resistivity-logging tools, while
being extremely sensitive to the fluid-filled space and
traditionally being used to estimate the amount of
water present in reservoir rocks, cannot be regarded as
true fluid-logging devices. These tools are strongly
influenced by the presence of conductive minerals
and, for the responses of these tools to be properly
interpreted, a detailed knowledge of the properties of
both the formation and the water in the pore space is
required.
Fig. NM3 : MRIL tool responses are unique among logging tools. MRIL porosity is
independent of matrix minerals, and the total response is very sensitive to fluid properties.
Because of differences in relaxation times and/or diffusivity among fluids, MRIL data can be
used to differentiate clay-bound water, capillary-bound water, movable water, gas, light oil, and
viscous oils. Other information, such as pore size, permeability, hydrocarbon properties, vugs,
fractures, and grain size, often can be extracted. In addition, because the volumes to which
MRIL tools are sensitive are very well defined, borehole fluids and rugosity minimally affect
MRIL measurements.
• MRIL tools can provide three types of
information, each of which make these tools
unique among logging devices:
1. information about the quantities of the fluids
in the rock
2.information about the properties of these fluids
3.information about the sizes of the pores that
contain these fluids
 V) NMR-Logging Raw Data:
1 ) Before a formation is logged with an NMR tool, the
protons in the formation fluids are randomly oriented.
2 ) When the tool passes through the formation, the tool
generates magnetic fields that activate those protons. First,
the tool’s permanent magnetic field aligns, or polarizes,
the spin axes of the protons in a particular direction. Then
the tool’s oscillating field is applied to tip these protons
away from their new equilibrium position.
3 ) When the oscillating field is subsequently removed,
the protons begin tipping back, or relaxing, toward the
original direction in which the static magnetic field
aligned them.
 NMR physics :
 Atomic nuclei spin, and this angular moment
produces a magnetic moment (i.e., a weak magnetic
field). The NMR technique measures the decay time
of the magnetic signal emitted by spinning protons
(hydrogen nuclei are the protons of interest in NMR
logging) as they return to their original state following
stimulation by an applied magnetic field and pulsed
radio frequency (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.
Magnetic Dipole

Proton Hydrogen
Useful Definitions
• T1 Longitudinal Relaxation Time

• T2 Transverse Relaxation Time

• TW Wait Time

• TE Echo Spacing
 TECHNIQUE
Step 1: Polarization:
 NMR devices—both laboratory spectrometers and logging
tools—use strong magnets to create a static magnetic field, B0,
that aligns
(polarizes) the
protons in the
pore fluid from the
irresting (random)
state to the
direction of
the imposed
magnetic field .
 Polarization is not instantaneous—it grows with a time constant,
which is called the longitudinal relaxation time, denoted as T1.
Once full polarization (magnetic equilibrium) has been
achieved, the applied static magnetic field, B0, is turned off.
 The protons begin to lose energy as the imposed magnetization,
M0, decays and the protons fall out of alignment, back to their
original orientation and low-energy state. The protons’ angular
momentum causes them to behave like tiny gyroscopes, and
the loss of energy occurs during a wobbling or axial rotation
(called precession) in the direction of the applied magnetic field.
M0, also known as the bulk magnetization, provides the signals
measured by NMR devices. The frequency at which the energy
is emitted or is initially absorbed, f, called the Larmor or
resonance frequency, is proportional to the strength of the
external magnetic field, B0, . The Larmor frequency is used to
tune a NMR probe, permitting it to image very thin slices of a
sample at different distances from the tool.
 N

S
N
N

S
S
N

t =0
 T1 Buildup
N
N N
S N
S
N S
Bo
S
N

S
M
S t = 0.75sec
Bo=External Field M=Bulk Net Magnetization
T1 Magnetization Buildup
T1 = 2s

T1 Buildup 1 - e -t / T1
100%
95
% Polarization

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
t (seconds)
 T1 Buildup
N
N N
S N
S
S
Bo
N

S
M
S t = 3.0sec
Bo=External Field M=Bulk Net Magnetization
T1 Magnetization Buildup, T1 = 2s

T1 Buildup 1 - e -t / T1
100%
95
% Polarization

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
t (seconds)
 T1 Buildup at 95% Polarization
N
N
N S
S N
N
N N S N
Bo S N
S N
S N S
N S N
S
S
M
S S
S
t = 6.0sec
Bo=External Field M=Bulk Net Magnetization
T1 Magnetization Buildup, T1 = 2s

T1 Buildup 1 - e -t / T1
100%
95
% Polarization

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
t (seconds)
T1 Magnetization Buildup Water, Light Oil & Gas

Water: T1 = 0.33s
1

0.8
Light Oil: T1 = 2s
% Polarization

Gas: T1 = 3s

0.6

0.4
1 - e -t / T1

0.2

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
t (seconds)
 2-step 2: Recording T1 :
 An antenna detects and records the decaying
magnetic field generated by the precessing nuclei. At
any given time, t , the strength of this magnetic field,
Mz, is proportional to the number of protons, the
magnitude of B0, and the inverse of the absolute
temperature .
 The decay time of the signal recorded parallel to the
direction of the applied magnetic field (z plane) is
called T1, or longitudinal (spin-lattice) relaxation. T1
describes how quickly the protons align within the
static magnetic field. The T1 curve is an exponential
curve that characterizes the rate of change of the
proton magnetization .
 T1 is the time at which the magnetization reaches
63% of its final value, and three times T1 is the time
at which 95% polarization is achieved. Full
polarization of typical reservoir-pore fluids may take
several seconds. Large values of T1 (measured in
milliseconds) correspond to weak coupling between
the fluid and its surrounding environment and a slow
approach to magnetic equilibrium, whereas, small T1
values represent strong coupling and a rapid
approach to equilibrium. Different fluids, such as
water, oil, and gas, have very different T1 values. T1
is directly related to pore size and viscosity.
 3-Step 3:Tipping &FID (Free Induction decay):
 Pulse NMR devices use precisely timed bursts (pulse
sequences) of RF energy that generate an oscillating
magnetic field (B1) that tilts or "tips" the aligned protons
perpendicular (x-y plane) to the direction of the applied
magnetic field
The application
of B1 results in
a change in
energy state
that causes the
protons to
precess in phase
to one another.
These changes
are known as
NMR.
 When the B1 field is turned off, the precessions of the
protons are no longer in phase with one another, and the
net magnetization decreases. In this situation, a receiver
coil (antenna) that measures magnetization in the
transverse direction will detect an exponential decaying
signal called free-induction decay (FID).
 NMR-logging tools use the same antenna to transmit the RF
pulse (kilowatt scale) and receive the decay signal (nanovolt
scale).
The decay time for the FID signal measured in the x-y plane is
called T2 —the transverse or spin-spin relaxation. In contrast to
T1, T2 of hydrocarbons is much shorter in an inhomogeneous
magnetic field. The process of spins losing their coherence due
to magnetic field inhomogeneity is not a true "relaxation"
process and is dependent on the location of the molecule in the
magnet field distribution. Therefore, the FID decay constant is
often referred as T2* rather than T2.
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 independent of lithology
effects. Both relaxation times can be interpreted for pore-size
information and pore-fluid properties, especially viscosity.
 In the laboratory, T1 is generally measured by either
of two pulse sequences: inversion recovery or
saturation recovery. Inversion recovery consists of a
180° spin inversion followed by a variable recovery
time and then a 90° read pulse. The magnetization
vector is entirely in the longitudinal range and, thus,
has a higher dynamic range than the other method.
Saturation recovery uses a 90° pulse, followed by a
90° read pulse. Saturation recovery is generally
considered the more robust and efficient method.
Although the actual T1 sampling sequence is very
short—involving several short echoes trains, each of
which requires only a few milliseconds—the total
amount of time required to obtain the number of
samples sufficient to define the T1 spectrum is
significantly greater.
 Depending on the activation used, the computation of a T1
spectrum requires at least 25% more, and sometimes
double, the time needed for the computation of a T2
spectrum. In NMR logging, T1 measurement initially required
either a stationary mode or very slow logging speeds. With
the latest multifrequency tools, a technique used for
speeding up T1 measurements is to make simultaneous
measurements of the individual steps observed during a T1
recovery experiment in adjacent volumes; at least two such
volumes are required. This technique enables T1 acquisition
in less time, thereby permitting faster logging speeds.
 T2 measurement uses the spin-echo technique,in which the
protons are first tipped into the transverse (x-y) plane by a
90° RF pulse and then inverted (flipped) by a subsequent
180° RF pulse at a fixed-time interval to rephase the
dephasing protons. Rephasing the protons creates a
detectable signal called a spin echo .
4-Generating CPMG sequence:
In practice, a sequence of pulses is used to generate a
series of spin echoes (echo train) in which echo amplitude
decreases exponentially with the time constant, T2. A
variety of multiple-echo pulse sequences have been
developed for different purposes. In well logging and
petrophysical studies, the most widely used is the Carr-
Meiboom-Purcell-Gill (CMPG) sequence. A polarization
period is followed by a 90° tip pulse, which in turn is
followed by a series of alternating RF pulses and
measurements of echo amplitudes detected by the logging-
tool antenna. Successive 180° pulses are applied at a
fixed-time interval (echo spacing, TE), and the echoes are
recorded between the pulses . By recording an echo train,
T2 can be calculated from the decay in the height
(amplitude) of successive echoes.
 A single T2-pulse sequence may involve several hundred or
thousand echoes. Only the amplitude (peak) of each spin
echo is measured and stored. A series of echo trains is
recorded and the signals stacked to improve S/N, especially
at shorter relaxation times.
 When recording multiple CMPG sequences, the time period
between spin-echo recovery and the next 90° CMPG
excitation—during which the protons are repolarized by the
static magnetic field—is called the wait time, TW . Each
CMPG sequence may use a different wait time, echo
spacing, and number of echoes. An additional advantage of
the CMPG sequence is that a small echo spacing, TE, in
the CMPG sequence can minimize the diffusion effect on
T2. CMPG measurement sets are always collected in
phase-alternate pairs (PAP) to preserve the signal and to
eliminate low-frequency electronic offsets. In general, pulse
NMR offers better methods to measure relaxation times and
quantify liquid displacement in rock.
 In-gradient diffusion:
 FID is caused by inhomogeneities in the magnetic field that
are primarily caused by the existence of magnetic-field
gradients. Gradients in the magnetic field occur, in part,
because of the distance from the magnet to the sensitive
(measurement) volume. For a given geometry, the gradient is
inversely related to magnetic-field strength. Compared to
laboratory and clinical NMR devices, NMR-logging tools
produce a relatively weak and inhomogeneous static
magnetic field. In the case of reservoir rocks, differences
between the magnetic properties of the rock matrix and pore
fluids may also contribute to a magnetic-field gradient. T2, but
not T1, is affected by this phenomenon, which is called
diffusion. In the presence of high magnetic-field gradients,
diffusion effects make T2 interpretation difficult. However,
because the gradients produced by NMR-logging tools are
relatively constant, they can be accounted for in T2
interpretation
NMR Echo Train – T2 dephasing

35

30
Amplitude (pu)

25

20

15

10

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300

t (ms)
 2DFC-T 1T2 produces
2D inversion Inversion
a 2D map

The one dimensional T1 and T2

distributions come from the map
1 * T1 = 63% of magnetization build-up
(One dimensional projections)
3 * T1 = 95% of magnetization build-up
5 * T1 = 100% of magnetization build-up

Simultaneous Inversion
T1 Measurement T1

T1
T2 a

Magnetization Step … T2
Step 6
T2 Measurement
Step 4 Step 5
Step 2 Step 3
 T1 and T2 Ideal Fluid Distributions
Light Oil, Gas & Water
T1 (ms)

0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000

1 1 1
= +
T1 App
T1 Surface
T1 Bulk

Clay Bound Capillary Bound Moveable Light Oil Gas

Water Water Water

Light Oil, Gas & Water

T2 (ms)
1 1 1 1
0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 = + +
T2App T2 Surface
T2 Bulk
T2Diffusion
D  G  TE 
2
1
Where: =
T2 Diffusion 12

Clay Bound Capillary Bound Gas Moveable Light Oil

Water Water Water
 T1 - T2

T1 & T2 Ideal Fluid Distributions

Light Oil, Gas & Water

T2 (ms)

0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000

1 1 1 1
= + +
T2 App T2 Surface
T2 Bulk
TDiffusion

Light Oil, Gas & Water

T1 (ms)

0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000

1 1 1
= +
T1 App
T1 Surface
T1 Bulk
Pore Size Relationship
100 Water Filled Pores

80
Incremental Porosity %

Large Pore Size = Slow Decay Rate

60

40

20

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Time (ms)
Small Pore Size = Rapid Decay Rate
 NUMAR Corp., 1995
Conventional Porosity Model (Neutron -
Density - Sonic)

CLAY
Lithology FLUIDS
MATRIX
MRIL Porosity Model

Conductive Fluids

clay- capillary
dry mobile
matrix bound bound hydrocarbon
clay water
water water

MBVI MFFI

MPHI @ feff

ftotal
 2DFC-T12DFC
T2 In(Two Dimensional Fluid Characterization - T1T2)ducti

2D Map
T1T2 Ratio = 100 50 20 10 5 2 1
10000
This process assumes Gas
formation is water wet
and
andthe
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properties with no T1 (msec.)
surface relaxation effect
100
Water
Light Oil 10

Gas
1
1 10 100 1000 10000

T2 (msec.)

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 2DFC-T2D (Two Dimensional Fluid Characterization - T2D)

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Diffusion Constant (cm 2 /sec.)

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1.00E-03
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common.
Operational Limitations
• Mud Type
• Salinity
• RM = 0.02 ohmm @ BHT
• Correction
• Hole Size
• DOI
• Speed
• LQC
What we Measure, Calculate &
Interpret
• We Measure
• T1 Relaxation
• T2 Relaxation
• Calculate
• Porosity
• Permeability
• Interpret
• HC Typing
• Characterization
• Quantification
• Rock Characterization
• Flow Units…etc
 Typical MRIL Field
NMR
Bin Porosity Log Micro Φ -
CBW

Capillary
Bound Water
- BVI

Free Fluid

NMR
NMR NMR T2 Porosity
Permeability Distribution
TDA from Differential Spectrum
X100

X150

X650

X700
4 ) Specified pulse sequences are used to generate a series
of so-called spin echoes, which are measured by the NMR
logging tool and are displayed on logs as spin-echo trains.
These spin-echo trains constitute the raw NMR data.
To generate a spin-echo train such as the one of Fig. NM-
2 , an NMR tool measures the amplitude of the spin
echoes as a function of time. Because the spin echoes are
measured over a short time, an NMR tool travels no more
than a few inches in the well while recording the spin-
echo train.
5 ) The recorded spin-echo trains can be displayed on a log as
a function of depth.
Fig.NM2 : The decay of a spin-echo train, which is a function of the amount and
distribution of hydrogen present in fluids, is measured by recording the decrease
in amplitude of the spin echoes over time. Petrophysicists can use decay-rate
information to establish pore-fluid types and pore-size distributions. In this
example, the spin echoes are recorded at 1-ms inter-echo spacing. The discrete
points in this figure represent the raw data, and the solid curve is a fit to that data.
6 ) The initial amplitude of the spin-echo train is
proportional to the number of hydrogen nuclei associated
with the fluids in the pores within the sensitive volume.
Thus, this amplitude can be calibrated to give a porosity.
7) The observed echo train can be linked both to
data acquisition parameters and to properties of the pore fluids
located in the measurement volumes.
Data acquisition parameters include inter-echo spacing (TE)
and polarization time (TW). TE is the time between the
individual echoes in an echo train. TW is the time between the
cessation of measurement of one echo train and the beginning
of measurement of the next echo train. Both TE and TW can
be adjusted to change the information content of the acquired
data.
Properties of the pore fluids that affect the echo trains are the
hydrogen index (HI), longitudinal relaxation time (T1),
transverse relaxation time (T2), and diffusivity (D). HI is a
measure of the density of hydrogen atoms in the fluid. T1 is
an indication of how fast the tipped protons in the fluids relax
longitudinally (relative to the axis of the static magnetic
field),while T2 is an indication of how fast the tipped protons
in the fluids relax transversely (again relative to the axis of
the static magnetic field). D is a measure of the extent to
which molecules move at random in the fluid.
 VI) Fluid Measurements :
1) Water-filled Porosity:
• An MRIL tool can directly measure the density
of hydrogen nuclei in reservoir fluids. Because the
density of hydrogen nuclei present in water is
known, data from an MRIL tool can be directly
converted to an apparent water-filled porosity. This
conversion can be done without any knowledge of
the minerals that make up the solid fraction of the
rock, and without any concern about trace elements
in the fluids (such as boron) that can perturb
neutron porosity measurements.
2) Fluid Properties:
•MRIL tools can determine the presence and
quantities of different fluids (water, oil, and
gas), as well as some of the specific properties
of the fluids (for example, viscosity).
•MRIL tool can be run with specific pulse-
sequence settings, or “activations,” that enhance
their ability to detect particular fluid conditions.
 VI) Pore Size and Porosity :
•The NMR behavior of a fluid in the pore space of a
reservoir rock is different from the NMR behavior of the
fluid in bulk form. For example, as the size of pores
containing water decreases, the differences between the
apparent NMR properties of the water in the pores and
the water in bulk form increases.
•Micro-porosity associated with clays and with some
other minerals typically contains water that, from an
NMR perspective, appears almost like a solid. Water in
such micro-pores has a very rapid “relaxation time.”
Because of this rapid relaxation, this water is more
difficult to see than, for example, producible water
associated with larger pores.
•Earlier generations of NMR logging tools were unable to
see water in these micro-pores, and because this water
was associated most often with clays, the porosity
measured by these earlier tools was often characterized as
being an “effective porosity. "Modern MRIL logging tools
can see essentially all the fluids in the pore space, and the
porosity measurement made by these tools is thus
characterized as being a “total-porosity” measurement.
•Fig.NM3 compares MRIL responses with those of
conventional logging tools. The common volumetric
model used in the comparison consists of a matrix
component and a pore-fluid component. The matrix
component is composed of clay minerals and non-clay
minerals, and the pore-fluid component is composed of
water and hydrocarbons.
Conceptually, the pore fluids can be more finely
divided into clay-bound water, capillary-bound water,
movable water, gas, light oil, medium-viscosity oil,
and heavy oil.
•MRIL tool responses are unique among logging tools.
MRIL porosity is independent of matrix minerals, and
the total response is very sensitive to fluid properties.
Although conventional porosity tools, such as neutron,
density, and sonic, exhibit a bulk response to all
components of the volumetric model, they are more
sensitive to matrix materials than to pore fluids, While
as indicated in Fig. NM3 , MRIL porosity is
essentially matrix-independent—that is, MRIL tools
are sensitive only to pore fluids.
Fig. NM3 : MRIL tool responses are unique among logging tools. MRIL porosity is
independent of matrix minerals, and the total response is very sensitive to fluid properties.
Because of differences in relaxation times and/or diffusivity among fluids, MRIL data can be
used to differentiate clay-bound water, capillary-bound water, movable water, gas, light oil, and
viscous oils. Other information, such as pore size, permeability, hydrocarbon properties, vugs,
fractures, and grain size, often can be extracted. In addition, because the volumes to which
MRIL tools are sensitive are very well defined, borehole fluids and rugosity minimally affect
MRIL measurements.
Furthermore, the responses of these tools are highly
affected by the borehole and mudcake, and the
sensitive volumes of these tools are not as well defined
as that of the MRIL tool. Similarly , Resistivity tools
are very sensitive to the borehole and mudcake, and
their sensitive volumes are poorly defined. For NMR ,
the sensitive volumes of MRIL tools are very well
defined; thus, if the borehole and mudcake are not in
the sensitive volumes, then they will not affect MRIL
measurements .i.e., borehole fluids and rugosity
minimally affect MRIL measurements.
• Additionally, with conventional logs,
distinguishing light oil, medium-viscosity oil, and
heavy oil is impossible.
Because of differences in various NMR properties—
such as relaxation times (T1 and T2) and diffusivity
(D)—among various fluids, MRIL data can be used (in
the zone of investigation) to differentiate clay-bound
water, capillary-bound water, movable water, gas, light
oil, medium-viscosity oil, and heavy oil.
•Other information, such as pore size, permeability,
hydrocarbon properties, vugs, fractures, and grain size,
often can be extracted.
The volumetric model of Fig. NM-3 does not
include other parameters that can be estimated
from NMR measurements: pore-size; formation
permeability; the presence of clay, vugs, and
fractures; hydrocarbon properties such as
viscosity; and grain-size. These factors affect
MRIL measurements, and their effects can be
extracted to provide very important information
for reservoir description and evaluation.
Conventional logging measurements are
insensitive to these factors.
Theory of NMR Porosity Estimation :
• The initial amplitude of the raw decay curve is
directly proportional to the number of polarized
hydrogen nuclei in the pore fluid. The raw reported
porosity is provided by the ratio of this amplitude to
the tool response in a water tank (which is a medium
with 100% porosity). This porosity is independent of
the lithology of the rock matrix and can be validated
by comparing laboratory NMR measurements on cores
with conventional laboratory porosity measurements.
• The accuracy of the raw reported porosity depends
primarily on three factors:
1. a sufficiently long TW to achieve complete
polarization of the hydrogen nuclei in the fluids,
2. a sufficiently short TE to record the decays for
fluids associated with clay pores and other pores of
similar size
3. the number of hydrogen nuclei in the fluid being
equal to the number in an equivalent volume of
water, that is, HI = 1
Provided the preceding conditions are satisfied, the
NMR porosity is the most accurate available in the
logging industry.
• The first and third factors are only an issue for gas
or light hydrocarbons. In these cases,special
activations can be run to provide information to
correct the porosity. The second factor was a problem
in earlier generations of tools. They could not, in
general, see most of the fluids associated with clay
minerals. Because in shaly sand analysis the non-clay
porosity is referred to as effective porosity, the
historical MRIL porosity (MPHI) was also called
effective porosity. Current MRIL tools now capture a
total porosity (MSIG) by using both a short TE (0.6
ms) with partial polarization and a long TE (1.2 ms)
with full polarization. The difference between MSIG
and MPHI is taken as the clay-bound water (MCBW).
This division of porosity is useful in analysis and often
corresponds to other measures of effective porosity
and clay-bound water. The division of porosity into
clay-bound porosity and effective porosity depends to
some extent on the method used; thus, other partitions
can differ from that obtained from the MRIL porosity.
• NMR measurements on rock cores are routinely
made in the laboratory. The porosity can be
measured with sufficiently short TE and sufficiently
long TW to capture all the NMR-visible porosity.
Thousands of laboratory measurements on cores verify
that agreement between the NMR porosity and a
Helium Boyles Law porosity is better than 1 p.u. Fig
NM4 illustrates such an agreement.
Fig.NM4: As exemplified here for a set of clean sandstones, good agreement is typically
observed between porosity derived from laboratory NMR measurements and porosity derived
from conventional core analysis. NMR-porosity values typically fall within ±1 p.u. of the
measured coreporosity values. The figure shows NMR laboratory data measured at two different
TE values, namely, 0.5 and 1.2 ms. Comparing the core data to the NMR data indicates whether
microporosity is present. (Fluid in micro-pores exhibits a fast T2 that can be observed when TE =
0.5 ms, but not when TE = 1.2 ms.) In this case, because no evidence exists for micro-porosity,
the NMR “effective porosity” (MPHI) and total porosity (MSIG) would be the same.
 VII) Permeability:
• The motivation for the use of NMR data originated
in the inability of most conventional porosity logs to
consistently provide an estimate of the permeability or
producibility.
• In the illustrated example , two core samples are
presented having very similar porosity, but nearly 2
orders of magnitude difference in the permeability.
The thin sections indicate that the rock with the higher
permeability also has pores of larger sizes which are
well connected. The rock with the lower permeability
has porosity distributed in very fine pores resulting in
tortuous and restricted flow paths.
 Porosity = 20%
Permeability = 7.5 md

Porosity = 19.5%
Permeability = 279 md
• The plots on the right show the NMR signal
obtained from the two core samples. The lower
permeability rock exhibits very quick decay of the
NMR signal (low T2 values) and this indicates that
most of the porosity exists in fine pores, as we will see
from NMR Physics. The higher permeability rock has
most of the porosity signal decaying slowly (long T2
values) indicating the presence of large pores. Hence,
NMR permits us to distinguish between the two rocks
which would look very similar on most other porosity
logging surveys. NMR gives us a handle on the pore
size distribution in the reservoir.
CMR
 NMR Petrophysics
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance signal originates from the
hydrogen nuclei in the pore fluids.

Two measurements:
• CMR porosity( CMR)
• T2 Logarithmic Mean (T2)
Calculation:
• Free fluid porosity ( ff)
• Permeability (k)
NMR Measurement :
The CMR tool responds to the hydrogen nuclei in the pore
fluids of the rock according to NMR principles. The CMR
tool extracts two separate measurements from the raw NMR
data:
• The initial signal amplitude gives CMR porosity. The
amplitude is proportional to the number of hydrogen nuclei
associated with water or hydrocarbon in the measurement
volume and can be calibrated as CMR porosity.
• The rate of decay of the signal amplitude is related to pore
size. The signal decays exponentially with time, analogous
to the TDT* Thermal Decay Time measurement. Small
pores cause a rapid signal decay, and large pores cause a
slower decay. Pore size information is the fundamentally
new measurement provided by the CMR tool.
Producible porosity and permeability can be estimated from
the CMR porosity and pore size information. The producible
porosity estimate, known as the free fluid porosity, is based
on the expectation that fluids in the larger pores are
producible, whereas fluids in the smaller pores are capillary
bound.
The estimate of permeability is based on the expectation
that permeability increases with both pore size and porosity.
What do we mean by CMR porosity and free fluid
porosity? Fluids found in a volume of water-wet rock
downhole can be divided into three groups—producible
fluids, capillary-bound water and clay-bound water. The
sum of these corresponds to the total porosity, as measured
by the density tool.
The CMR measurement, on the other hand, sees only the
hydrogen nuclei in the producible and capillary-bound fluids.
Hydrogen nuclei in the rock matrix and clay-bound water do
not contribute to the CMR amplitude signal (hence, matrix-
independent porosity). Therefore, in a 100% clean formation
(without any shale), CMR porosity is the same as density
porosity. As shale content increases, CMR porosity decreases.
Free fluid porosity, shown in yellow on this slide, is defined
as the porosity that contains the producible fluid.
Porosity Definitions
T2 Distribution - Main output of CMR
T2 0.03ms 0.3ms 3.0ms 33ms 3000ms

Not Measured Small Pore Capillary Bound Free Fluid

Porosity Porosity Porosity (Producible Fluids)

Total Porosity  Area under distribution

Total CMR Porosity

(TCMR)

3-ms CMR Porosity

(CMRP_3MS)

This cutoff is set for sandstone (33ms) CMR Free Fluid Porosity
or Limestone (100ms) (CMFF)
 Porosity Definitions
T2 Distribution - Main output of CMR
T2 0.03ms 0.3ms 3.0ms 33ms 3000ms

Not Measured Small Pore Capillary Bound Free Fluid

Porosity Porosity Porosity (Producible Fluids)

Total Porosity  Area under distribution

Three porosity measurements gives

us an indication of the types of
porosity which are present.

CMFF (%) LOG_T2CUTOFF

CMRP_3MS (%)
TCMR (%) T2 Distribution
30% Porosity 0.3ms 3000ms
Tool History
 CMR-A
- 3ms - 3000ms
- 320 µsec echo spacing
 CMR-200 (Modified CMR)
 0.3ms to 3000ms

 200 µ sec echo spacing

 CMR-PLUS
 Pre-polarization

 Up to 1800 ft/hr logging speed

 EPM mode for small pores
CMR Specifications
CMR-Plus
 Logging speed
Long T1 (OBM 7.5 SI) 800 ft/hr
Short T1 (sandstone 7.5 SI) 2700 ft/hr
 Length 15.6 ft
 Weight (with EME-F) 413 lb
 Minimum hole size 57/8 in.
 Vertical resolution (three-level) 24 in.

CMR-200 and CMR-Plus

 Measurement aperture 6 in.
 Max pressure 20 and 25 kpsi
 Max temperature 350°F
 Echo spacing 200 s
 Depth of investigation 1.1 in.
 Mud resistivity No limit
The CMR measurement is an exciting advance in well
logging with applications for
• providing continuous permeability
• determining irreducible water saturations
• helping in the analysis of low-resistivity pay.
A skid-type device, the CMR tool is applied to the
borehole wall using a bowspring or powered caliper. It
is approximately half the length and weight of older
generation tools and can be run in hole sizes as small as
6.5 in. The CMR tool can be used in very large
boreholes provided big-hole eccentralization equipment
is used.
Logging speed is 600 ft/hr in sandstones and 300 ft/hr
in carbonate formations.
Stationary readings can also be recorded. The region
investigated by the measurement is a cigar-shaped
volume 6 in. long and 1 in. into the formation. The
vertical resolution for stationary readings is 6 in. At
slow logging speeds, 9-in. beds can be fully resolved.
There are no limitations on the borehole fluid, and the
tool can be run in saline muds, fresh muds, oil-base
muds or even air-drilled holes.
 CMR Measurements
 Porosity
 Porosity as a function of
relaxivity (T2
distribution.)
 Free Fluid
 Bound fluid
 capillary bound
 small pore porosity
 Permeability
 Fluid identification
 with other tools
Job Preparation

 Ditch Magnets
 CMR Job Planner
 Tool Combinations
 Mud and Mud Filtrate Samples
 Tuning the tool to mud samples, and
again to each formation.
Operations
Must be eccentered 

Need knuckles if run with neutron to 

avoid undesirable standoff

Tune before and after each pass 

Must tune at Larmor frequency 

Operations
 Mud and mud filtrate measurements
done to correct log (T2 of mud filtrate
<100 msec)
 Crucial for OBM
 Vertical resolution (downhole stacking =
3)
 18” with 6” sampling rate,
 9” with 3” sampling rate
Bad Hole Flag
Check vs.
Mud at
Surface

CMR / ETC-2002
Speeding

Never use Real time speed correction with CMR

CMR / ETC-2002
Insufficient Wait Time

CMR / ETC-2002
 Bad Contact
 A large peak at the T2 of
the mud is visible
 All three porosities are
affected.
 This is unrecoverable.
 Notice the caliper?
 Notice that there is no bad
hole flag?

CMR / ETC-2002
 CMR Safety
• Nickel Chloride crystals are used to make the liquid
solution for topping off the Calibration Fixture. Be very
careful when mixing the NiCl crystals with distilled water.
The NiCl material is irritating to the skin, eyes and
mucous membranes. It is also harmful if swallowed.
•Sensitive Electronics (and credit cards!)
•Flying objects (this is a real threat)
•Loose magnets - Keep magnets at least three feet
apart
•Navigation
CMR-Plus vs. CMR-200
CMR-Plus / CMR-200
Repeatability
CMR-Plus, CMR-200 Comparison
DPHI DPHI DPHI
0.4 0 0.4 0 0.4 0

200 580 fph 200 580 fph 200 580 fph

0.4CMR-200 0 0.4 CMR-200 0 0.4CMR-200 0 CMR-Plus, CMR-200 Comparison
MD A 580 fph B 1800 fph EPM 1000fph
1 : 240 0.4 0 0.4 0 0.4 0
ft A 580 fph B 1800 fph EPM 1000 fph 200 580 fph A 580 fph B 1800 fph EPM 1000fph
GR A 580 fph B 1800 fph EPM 1000fph
0.4 0 0.4 0 0.4
EPM 1000 fph0
0 150
A 580 fph B 1800 fph
950 95 0

1000 10 00

1050
10 50

EPM has superior precision

 CMR Porosity vs
Neutron/Density Porosity
• CMR responds to hydrogen nuclei in the pore space.
• No signal contribution from hydrogen in the matrix.
• CMR porosity (f CMR) is independent of formation lithology.

CMR vs Density CMR vs Neutron

CMR reads higher than density: CMR reads higher than Neutron in:
• wrong matrix density • gas
CMR reads lower than density: CMR reads lower than Neutron in:
• wrong matrix density • shale (absorbers)
• heavy oil, tar, micropores (short T2) • hydrates
• gas (long T1, low HI) • heavy oil, tar, micropores (too short
T2)
• light oil, OBM, vug water (long T1)
• light oil, OBM, vug water (long T1)
 Irreducible
Water
Saturation
(Swirr)

CMR / ETC-2002
 CMR vs. Conventional
Core
BMNO-D

LDT Caliper BMIN Core Permeability Core Porosity

125 (mm) 375 0 50
(ohm-m) 0.01 () 100 0.2 (m3/m3) 0

Bit Size BMNO CMR Permeability CMR Porosity

125 (mm) 375 0 50 0.01 (md) 100 0.2 (m3/m3) 0
(ohm-m)
Gamma Ray 1:120 Logarithmic Mean T 2 CMR Free Fluid Porosity
0 (GAPI) 150 (m) 1 (ms) 10000 0.2 (m3/m3) 0

XX40

XX50
CMR vs Conventional Core
CMR porosity and permeability overlay on
conventional core points over the cored intervals. The
CMR tool provides continuous permeability to
evaluate producibility over the entire well.
This example is over a productive shaly sand
sequence where sand lenses of equivalent porosity can
have large changes in permeability. A full-diameter
core was taken over this interval to identify the
permeable sections. The CMR tool was also run over
this section to obtain a continuous permeability for
comparison to conventional core permeability.
Track 1 contains the correlation curves.
Track 2 contains the CMR continuous permeability
presented as the solid curve, along with the black dots
representing the core permeability. The curves show
excellent agreement, especially over the character
match that highlights the excellent vertical resolution of
the CMR tool. The dashed curve is the T2 logarithmic
mean. Track 3 contains the free fluid porosity (solid
coding) along with the CMR total porosity (dashed
coding). Core porosity, represented by the black dots,
agrees well with the CMR total porosity.
Of interest is the character of both the core and CMR
permeability measurements versus the relatively
smooth porosity measurements.
This highlights the uniqueness of the CMR pore size
measurement to derive permeability versus a standard
porosity-to-permeability transformation. The operator
plans to apply the results of this well to future CMR
logs run in this formation to help identify the
producible sands and reduce coring costs.
Note: The CMR permeability equation may have to
be tuned on the first few wells to accurately assess the
relationship between reservoir pore size versus pore
throat size (CMR measures pore size rather than pore
throat size). In sandstones, pore throat size generally
increases as pore size increases. Hence, there is a good
correlation between CMR permeability and
laboratory-measured permeability.
Carbonates, on the other hand, can have large
unconnected pores (vugs), so this relationship requires
special attention when applied in a carbonate reservoir.
For this particular example, the “C” multiplier in the
permeability equation,
k = C( ) 4(T )2,
CMR 2,log
was adjusted to match values of core permeability and
will be applied to subsequent wells in the field.
Gas Detection
 Since the Total CMR
Porosity is matrix
independent, it can be
used with the density to
identify gas in shaly
zones.
 Summary-CMR Applications
 Lithology Independent Porosity (Direct Porosity)
 Free Fluid Porosity (Reserves Calculation)
 Determine Swirr (Water Cut Prediction)
 Permeability Identification (Producibility)
 Pore size distribution (Reservoir Quality)
 Gas Detection
 Bitumen Identification
 Plugging (Producibility)
 Tar Sands Analysis (Evaluation / Reserves)
Other Petrophysical Applications
Hydrocarbon Type:
standalone: Multi Wait Time passes
with other logs: DMR, DMR-Resistivity
Residual Oil Saturation: Mn doping to discriminate water signal
Capillary Pressure: Sw or FWL estimation
Grain Size: Gravel Pack
Viscosity: Varying oil types
Surface Flow Rate Prediction: MDT calibration
Relative Permeability estimation
Nodal