NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance)

Physics & Applications

By: Dr. Tharwat Hassane

Email: hassanetharwat@gmail.com
1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 1
 Outline
1 Introduction for Evolution of NMR tools
2 NMR values
3 Atom structure and how the proton act as Magnet
4 Types of Movement of protons
5 Protons status under external magnetic field (B0)
6 Precession Frequency and Larmor Low
7 NMR measurement Cycle
8 NMR Relaxation Mechanisms
9 NMR application and Fluid Typing
10 Conclusion
 Schlumberger
MRX 2004 MRX/LWD/
/LWD/ CMR+
Evolution of - MRF
Hydrocarbon
Magnetic Character
- NMR Based

Resonance Saturation
- Viscosity
- Deep Reading
- Fast Logging
CMR-Plus - New Answers
2000
- Faster
ProVISION(LWD)
CMR-200 - DMR, HiRes
- EPM 2002
1997
- Real-time
CMR-A −F Total - GeoSteering
1995 - SNR
-2020 (MagniSphere*
- F NMR - high-definition)
- BFV
-K - measurements of
NML - T2 dist - T1 and T2 distribution
1968… - while drilling
-FFI - Fluid ID
- K? - Baker Hughes
• MREX (WL)
Wyman,
1/12/2023 et al Dr.Tharwat Hassane 3
• MTK (LWD)
 Value of Magnetic Resonance
⚫ Lithology Independent Porosity
– Does Not See Matrix
– Not affected by Neutron Absorbers
– Do Not need m, f for F
⚫ NMR Sees Fluids (Hydrocarbon Identification)
– Hydrogen Index
– Polarization and Echo Spacing
– Diffusion Coefficient of Fluids
⚫ NMR Measures Pore Size Distribution
– Irreducible Water Saturation
– Permeability, K
– Bound / Free Fluid F

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• Reduce / eliminate coring costs
• Optimize well completion
• Increase net pay in then bed reservoir
• Perforate high Sw zones and produce dry oil
• Optimize MDT testing and sampling program
• Avoid perforation disasters (shooting tar
zones)
• Gas detection in shaley sands
• Locate reservoir quality rock
• Characterize oil viscosity.
• Geosteering process in LWD operation

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 How the Proton acts as a magnet?

❑Any atom consist of Nucleus ( Proton ,

Neutron and Electrons)
❑The Protons are constantly spinning
around axis (Like Earth)
❑The proton with positive charge with
spinning so it is an electrical current and
any electrical current will induce a
magnetic field around it .
❑So each protons has now a magnetic filed
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What type of movements the protons have after exposed
to Magnet?

The proton has an angular movement (Spin) +

Circular Motion called Precession
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What will happen to the protons if they are exposed to
an External Magnetic Field?

❑ For the CMR permanent magnets, B0 is approximately 540 Gauss ~ 0.054 Tesla, about
1000 times stronger than the magnetic field of the earth.
❑ One gauss corresponds to 10-4 Tesla (T)
❑ Therefore, protons will preferentially align in the tool’s magnetic field. After the
protons are aligned in the magnetic field they are said to be polarized.
❑ polarization does not occur immediately but rather grows with a time constant called
the longitudinal relaxation time, T1.
❑ where t is the time that the nuclei are exposed to the B0 field.
❑ For the case of hydrogen nuclei in pore fluids, polarization takes up to several seconds
and can be done while the logging tool is moving. After that the Proton lose energy
due interaction with other nuclei and relax .
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 Net magnetization

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 Precession Frequency
❑ How many time the Proton Precess per second called Precession Frequency .

❑ The precession frequency can be calculated by Larmor Equation

ώ0=Ɣ* B0
(Omega ZERO) The strength of the external
(Gamma)
Precession Frequency magnetic Field (Tesla or Gauss)
Gyromagnetic Ratio
Hz or MHz

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 Measurement Principle
❑ Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) refers to
the response of nuclei to a magnetic field.
❑ Many nuclei have a magnetic moment and
therefore behave like bar magnet
❑ They also have spin (i.e., angular momentum)
that makes them behave in some respects like
gyroscopes.
❑ These spinning magnetic nuclei can interact ❑ hydrogen has a relatively large
magnetic moment and is
with external magnetic fields and produce
abundant in both water and
measurable signals. hydrocarbon molecules found
in pore fluids.
❑ NMR measurement can be made on any nuclei
❑ By tuning the CMR tool to the
that have an odd number of protons and/or resonant frequency of
hydrogen, the signal is
neutrons (e.g., H1, C13, Na23, F19 and P31).
maximized and is therefore
11
1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane measurable.
 NMR Physics Summary
RF Pulse Tips
Spins by 90 o
Into Transverse
Plane

Bo

FID =Free induction Decay

12 January 2023
 Pore Fluid vs. Irreducible Fluid

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 Data Treatment

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 3 NMR Relaxation Mechanisms
Relaxation or “Energy Loss” Caused By:
1. Surface Relaxation
– Energy Loss due to Fluids Interacting with Pore
Wall
2. Bulk Relaxation
– Large Pores
– Fluids Not in Contact with Pore Walls
3. Diffusion in Gradient Relaxation
– Resonant Condition a Function of Magnetic Field
– Magnetic Field Varies in Space
1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 15
1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 16
 NMR Relaxation Mechanisms
• Surface Relaxation ⚫ Bulk Relaxation

⚫ Diffusion Relaxation
BO Larger Field
Smaller Field 1 1 1
=  .B +  .S
T1  T1   T1 
Echo
1  1   1   1 
=  .B +  .S +  .D
T2  T2   T2   T2 
180°
Echo Pulse

1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 17

 NMR
Surface Relaxation
Small Pores = Short Decay Time Large Pores = Long Decay Time

1  Surface 
  
 Volume  pore
T2
1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 18
 Effect of Pore Size & Mineralogy
Small Pores Large Pores
Short Decay Time Long Decay Time

Pore size

 1  S
 .S =    
 T2   V  pore

Mineralogy
Fe
Fe Rock
Grain
Rock Fe
Grain

Fe
Rock
Fe Grain
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 Surface Relaxation

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 Bulk Relaxation

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 Diffusion Relaxation

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 T2 Distribution

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 Magnetic Resonance Interpretation Principles
Increasing relaxation time

Bound Fluid Free

Signal Fluid
distribution

0.3 ms 3000 ms
Porosity = 20% T2 time
k = 7.5 md
Permeability = 7.5 md Increasing Pore Size

Increasing relaxation time

Free
Bound Fluid
Signal Fluid
distribution

0.3 ms 3000 ms
Porosity = 19.5% T2 time
k = 279 md
Permeability = 279 md

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 NMR Applications and Examples

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 NMR Porosity Model

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 Lithology-Independent Porosity

Density Porosity
Dolomite Matrix

Density Porosity
Limestone Matrix

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 High Sw Produces Dry Gas

Basal Colorado channel sand

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 Pore Size Indicates Producibility

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 A Indicator of Better Sand

1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 33

 Evaluation of a Shaley Reservoir

- Sw = 40 - 75%

- Entire zone tested

dry gas, no water

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 DMR - Identification of Gas-Bearing Zones

X410

X420

X430

X440

1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 35

NMR/MDT/MREX - Answers in Combination
• Reservoir Producibility
– Permeability
⚫ Continuous
⚫ Dynamic
– Fluid identification
– Fluid contacts

• Improved Efficiency

– Eliminates separate logging run

– Saves rig time
⚫ Identifies best zones for MDT points
⚫ Eliminates tests in marginal zones & reduces risk
⚫ Gives precise depth control

• Measurement synergies increase confidence in interpretation

1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 36

CMR High Resolution Permeability Indicator
Depth kTimur AHT90 DPHI T2
GR FMI
Echo Sum k Hi-Res (ohm-m) NPHI (ms)
(ft) (mD)
0 150 0.1 100 0.1 100 0.5 0 0.3 3000

320

330

340
Thin Bed Zone

1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 37

MRX (SLB) High Resolution Mode

x150

x200

x250

1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 38

 How to detect Tar from NMR Tool
Tar Volume Model - CMR
f D
clay capillary producible
tar bound bound
water water water

f tcmr

f ff
Volume of tar is calculated from

( fD − f TCMR )
1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 39
 Canada Tar Sands Evaluation
CMR Capillary BoundFluid
CMR Small Pore Porosity
Formation Pe
0 20
Density Porosity - Sand
0.6 ( m3/m3 ) 0
Neutron Porosity
0.6 ( m3/m3 ) 0
Bit Size AHT90 Total CMR Porosity
125 ( mm ) 375 2 ( ohm.m ) 2000 0.6 ( m3/m3 ) 0
Gamma Ray AHT60 CMR Free Fluid T2 Distribution Sw (CMR-PEX) Core Wt% Bitumen
0 ( gAPI ) 150 2 ( ohm.m ) 2000 0.6 ( m3/m3 ) 0 1 (%) 0 0.25 0
Caliper 1 : 400 RXO8 CMR Effective Porosity T2 Cutoff Sw (Archie)
m Wt% Bitumen
125 ( mm ) 375 2 ( ohm.m ) 2000 0.6 ( m3/m3 ) 0 0.3 ( ms ) 3000 1 (%) 0

200

225

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 Tar Carbonate Evaluation

TAR

1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 41

1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 42
 1

Fluid Typing from NMR

Diffusion-T2 Map

1
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 Some information about T1&T2

1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 44

Molecular Diffusion in Field Gradient

TE1

TE2

TE3

Oil Water
1 D(G)2TE2
=
T2D 12
1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 46
 MRF Station
D-T2 Map

1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 47

Conventional NMR Interpretation: T2

A time series of NMR A fluid relaxation time

signal amplitudes (ECHO) distribution (T2)

Time-domain T2-domain

1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 48

 Conventional Simple T2
Interpretation

CBW Irred. water Mov. Water L.H.C.

f

T2,app

Fluid typing interpretation from T2 spectrum

works if minimal overlap occur among fluids

1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 49

 Complex Fluid Distribution

GAS
H.C. H.C.

CBW Irred. water Mov. Water

T2,app
Fluid typing interpretation from
T2 spectrum fail if significant
1/12/2023
overlap occur among fluids
Dr.Tharwat Hassane 50
 Fluid Diffusivity

• Dw: constant at given T, P

• Do: Linearly correlates with Viscosity
• Dg: Depends on gas composition
D g  D w  Do
• In general
1 1 1
= +
T2 app T2 int T2 diff (G  TE , D )
 2D NMR maps for HC Identification
⚫ Additional Contrast (diffusion) to separate O-G-W

Gas

Water
D

Oil

T2

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Spin echoes to D-T2 map
2D Map Examples- Movable Water and Medium Oil
Good D Contrast: Separable with PPOIL

Water

D(cm2/s)
Oil

T2 values of water and oil overlap but

diffusivity separation is significant
1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 55
 2D Map Examples-Light and Medium Oil

O2

O4

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 Light Oil and Long T2 BVM Water

Difficult to separate as both T2 and D contrasts are small

W2

D(cm2/s)
O2

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Challenges of 2D NMR for Light Oil
Identification in Vuggy Carbonates

Vug Neither T2 nor

CBW BVI BVM
D contrast is
significant
Water line
LO
D
VO

T2int

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Individual 2D Maps: Small Diffusivity
Difference between Water and Oil

(a)

Dominantly Oil
D (m2/s)

(b)

Mixed oil and Water

2 16 128 1024
T2int (ms)
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 T2 change with Oil Viscosity

TAR
Heavy Oil

Medium Oil
T2 ~100 ms
Other Correlations between NMR and Oil
Properties
• Relaxation time vs. viscosity
4  TK T 
0 .9
T2 =
7.13  TK
T2 = T2 = 7.13 K  
   
Vinegar, '95 Morriss, '97 Zhang (Rice U), '98
• GOR effect (Lo, '90) Degassed, refined Alkanes

1 9 .5  T
T1 = (ms)
f (GOR ) 
• Pressure effect (Winkler, et al, '04; Chen, et al, ’04)
 GS Product – Viscosity Analysis

Available with-
PoroPerm + Oil
PoroPerm + LO

Visocity analysis
MREX
2.5 cP
PVT
using PoroPerm +
2.5 cP
Oil data yields
results consistent
with PVT analysis
MREX
2.4 cP
PVT
2.9 cP

MREX
6.7 cP
PVT
6.8 cP

1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 63

 1D NMR – Simple Analysis of T2

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 Advantage of Continuous 2D Log
• Clear difference between water and
oil D values

• Water and oil are inseparable by T2

and D in intermediately zone

• Oil and water contact can be

determined from D log

1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 65

LWD Example :Source-Free Porosity and Gas-
Oil Contact

Shale
Zone

Gas
Zone

66
published in SPE100336
Source-Free Porosity and Gas- Oil Contact
Answers While Drilling
▪ Clear delineation and Gas
characterization of
Zone
shale, gas and oil zones
by (partial) porosities
and T2 signature

▪ Successful landing of
the well in the oil zone

▪ Accurate porosity
estimation without Oil
radioactive source (HI Zone
correction to be applied
in the gas section)

67
published in SPE100336
 Conclusions
• NMR can Reduce / eliminate coring costs
• Porosity independent lithology
• Viscosity Estimation
• Fluid typing
• Tar Detection
• Optimize well completion
• Avoid water production
• Increase net pay
• Locate bypassed pay / LRP
• Perforate high Sw zones and produce dry oil
• Optimize MDT testing and sampling program
• Avoid perforation disasters (shooting tar zones)
• Gas detection in shaley sands
• Locate reservoir quality rock
• NMR can be run in Both LWD and WL.
1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 68
 Thank You
• Name: Tharwat Fawzi Ragheb Hassane
• E-mail: hassanetharwat@gmail.com
• PhD, MSc, BSc in Petroleum Engineering
(Heriot Watt University–UK)
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-
tharwat-hassane-3084b388/
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/U
CQMVZBOO3B8ZdlWCbD34h1w

1/12/2023 Dr.Tharwat Hassane 69