MAGNETIC RESONANCE LOG

BASIC CONCEPT

OF

Magnetic Resonance Log

 HISTORY

MRI Introduced by Dr. Raymond Damadian July 3, 1977

with “Indomitable” now at the Smithsonian Institute
Color Enhanced MRI
MAGNETIC RESONANCE TOOLS

 From the center of the tool, a permanent

magnet produces a magnetic field that
magnetises the formation material (Known as
B0).

 Additionally, precisely timed oscillating

magnetic field is applied
MAGNETIC RESONANCE LOGGING
Introduced by NUMAR in 1991 based on medical MRI

MR Tool

24 "
2.5 – Depth of Investigation
Borehole 4.5 "
M R LOGGING SEQUENCES

 Before the tool is lowered in the well, protons in the

formation fluids are randomly oriented
M R LOGGING SEQUENCES

 Before the tool is lowered in the well, protons in the

formation fluids are randomly oriented

 These protons are activated when tool generates the

magnetic fields while passing through the formation.
M R LOGGING SEQUENCES

 Before the tool is lowered in the well, protons in the

formation fluids are randomly oriented

 These protons are activated when tool generates the

magnetic fields while passing through the formation.

 First, the tool’s permanent magnetic field aligns or

polarizes, the spin axes of the protons, in a particular
direction.
M R LOGGING SEQUENCES

 Before the tool is lowered in the well, protons in the

formation fluids are randomly oriented

 These protons are activated when tool generates the

magnetic fields while passing through the formation.

 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.
 M R LOGGING
CONCEPTS
 When the oscillating field is subsequently removed,
the protons begin tipping back, or relaxing, towards
the original direction in which the static magnetic field
aligned them.
 M R LOGGING
CONCEPTS
 When the oscillating field is subsequently removed,
the protons begin tipping back, or relaxing, towards
the original direction in which the static magnetic field
aligned them.

 Specified pulse sequences are used to generate a

series of spin echos, measured by the tool and are
displayed on logs as spin echo trains. These spin echo
trains constitute the raw MR data.
 M R LOGGING
CONCEPTS
 When the oscillating field is subsequently removed,
the protons begin tipping back, or relaxing, towards
the original direction in which the static magnetic field
aligned them.

 Specified pulse sequences are used to generate a

series of spin echos, measured by the tool and are
displayed on logs as spin echo trains. These spin echo
trains constitute the raw MR data.

 The tool measures the amplitude of the spin echo as a

function of time and can be displayed as a function of
depth.
IDEALIZED MR ECHO TRAIN
Amplitude

Decay Curve

TE Time
 M R LOGGING
CONCEPTS

 The initial amplitude of the spin echo is proportional to

the hydrogen nuclei, associated with fluids in the pore
and thus amplitude can be calibrated to porosity.

 The observed Echo-train can be linked to:

1. Data Acquisition Parameter

2. Properties of the pore fluids located in the

measurement area.
 M R Logging

DATA ACQUISITION PARAMETER:

1. Inter echo spacing (Te) : the time between the

individual echo

2. Polarization time (TW) time between the

cessation of measurement of one echo train
and the begining of measurement of the next
echo train.

3. Both Te & TW can be adjusted to change the

information content of the acquired data
measurement area.
M R Logging

PROPERTIES OF PORE FLUIDS:

1. Hydrogen Index (HI); measure of the density of hydrogen
atoms

2. Longitudinal relaxation time T1; Indication of how fast the

tipped protons relaxed longitudinally (relative to the axis
of the static magnetic field)

3. Transverse relaxation time T2 Indication of how fast the

tipped protons relaxed transversely (again relative to the
axis of the static magnetic field)

4. Diffusivity (D): Measure of the extent to which molecules

move at random in the field.
 M R LOGGING
CONCEPTS
 Since only fluids are visible to MRI, the porosity
measured by the tool is independent of matrix
material: a significant different from other porosity
devices.

 The main information from Magnetic Resonance:

1. Information about quantities of fluids in the rock

2. Information about the properties of these fluids

3. Information about the size of these pores that

contain these fluids.
T2 DISTRIBUTION

The amplitude of the spin -echo train

decay forms the decay spectrum or
transverse relaxation time (T2)
distribution.
Echo Data Inversion

Decay Curve
Amplitude

T 2 Spectrum
Time 20

Ø
Inversion 15

10

Part.
5

0
0.1 1 10 100 1000
T2 [ms]
T2 DISTRIBUTION

1. Small pores will have small T2 value and large

pore will have large T2 value.

T2 DISTRIBUTION

1. Small pores will have small T2 value and large

pore will have large T2 value.

2. The estimate of free fluid index is based on the

assumption that the producible fluids reside in
the large pores whereas the bound fluids
reside in the smaller pores.
T2 CUTOFF

3. Because T2 values can be related to pore sizes, a T2 value can

be selected below which the corresponding fluids are
expected to reside in the small pores and above which the
corresponding fluids are expected to reside in larger pores.

4. This T2 value is called T2 cutoff.

T2 CUTOFF

3. Because T2 values can be related to pore sizes, a T2 value can

be selected below which the corresponding fluids are
expected to reside in the small pores and above which the
corresponding fluids are expected to reside in larger pores.

4. This T2 value is called T2 cutoff.

5. This cutoffs then divide the total porosity into free fluid and
bound fluid (bulk volume irreducible).

6. The area under the T2 curve is total porosity.

7. Usual value of T2 cutoff, (determined from core calibration)

Gulf of mexico Sandstone: 33ms and Carbonates : 92ms.
Pore-Size Distribution from MR

Magnetic Resonance
MR Porosity T2 Cutoff

Incremental Porosity pu)

20
4.00 4.00

(
15 T2 Decay 3.00 3.00
Amplitude
Echo

2.00 2.00
10
Transform
1.00 1.00
5

CBW BVI BVM

0.00 0.00
0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150
0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000

Time (ms) T2 Decay (ms)

Clay-
Clay- Capillary
Dry Mobile
Matrix Bound Bound Hydrocarbon
Clay Water
Water Water
 Bulk Volume Irreducible Water
(“MBVI”)
 Bound Water occupies pore space and is not producible,
but it affects resistivity measurements and must be
accounted for !
 Bound Water is generally confined to small pores.

MBVI
disconnected
?
poorly connected

Dry Clay- Capillary

Matrix Clay Bound Bound Mobile Hydrocarbon Vugs
Water Water Water

MCBW MBVM

MPHI  eff

total
Porosity – Different Points of View

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

RESERVOIR ENGINEER’S ?
eff
t

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

LOG ANALYST’S ?
eff
t
Conventional Simple NMR Interpretation

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

T2

Ideal Case:
Cutoff can be established to separate bound vs. free water;
hydrocarbon vs. aqueous phases
Pore Volumetric Partitioning of T2 Spectra
GR CBW BVI BVM
T2 Cutoffs
Incremental Porosity (pu)

4.00 4.00

3.00 3.00

2.00 2.00

CBW BVI BVM

1.00 1.00

0.00 0.00
0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000

T2 Decay (ms)

Default T2 Cutoff Values:

3 ms for CBW - Effective Porosity
33 ms for BVI - BVM (Clastics)
92 ms for BVI - BVM (Carbonates)
Petrophysical Integration of NMR & Conventional
Logs
Bulk Analysis
GR, SP & Resistivity & T Total Fluid
2
Total Pore Formation
Caliper Permeability Saturation Volumetrics Volumetrics
Spectra
Sensitive Volume in the Invaded Zone
Mechanical Damage
from drilling Sxo Sw

NMR (MREx, MRIL, CMR, …) measurements are primarily in the

flushed zone where invasion alters the native fluid saturation.
… Additives in the mud system may alter wetability.
NMR vs. Core Porosity
Gulf of Mexico Sandstone Middle East Carbonate
20 0.3

18
0.25
16

MRIL Porosity (frac.)

MRIL Porosity ( %)

14
0.2
12

10 0.15

8
0.1
6

4 1.2 TE 0.05
0.5 TE
2
= +/- 1 p.u.
0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
Core Porosity (%) Core Porosity (frac.)

Mineralogy-Independent Porosity
Gas and Shale Effects

Gas

ØD

Shale

ØN
MRIL-CN cross-plot
provides a gas-effect
Gas free Vshale estimate
ØMPHI

Shale

ØN
Vsh from CNC - MRIL Shale Triangle

Effect of light Hydrocarbons

s
Gas
Ga
MRIL 

e
h aal le
SS h

Neutron 
BVM/BVI Concept :
We remember: empirical equations for k
Pore properties empirically expressed in irreducible water
saturation terms (Timur 1968, Coates & Dumanoir 1974):
2
  2.25 
k  100  
 S w, irr 

--> permeability determination from NMR measurements:

4 2

   MBVM  MBVM - bulk volume moveable fluids
k   

 C   MBVI  MBVI - bulk volume irreducible
fluids
NMR Logging User Perspectives

 Primary interests for NMR logging

 Bound water (clay and capillary bound)

 Effective and total porosity
 Permeability
 Advanced NMR applications

 Fluid typing, saturation, and viscosity

 Contacts: OWC, GOC, GWC

from S. Chen et al., 2003

NMR - Information

Total porosity
Irreduci
b le w a t e
Cla r
yb volume
oun
Po dw
re ate
siz r

pe
Flu
e

rm
id v

ea
bil
isc

ity
os
ity
T2 - An Overview

water
CBW BVI BVM (free)
water in rocks

heavy light
cold oil hot

Gas no
gradient gradient
1 10 100 1000 T2 ms
MAGNETIC RESONANCE LOG

Any Questions
On
Magnetic Resonance Log ? ?
Applications

 Low resistivity pay (high Swir)

 Shaly sands (effective)

 Improved reserves estimation (Net Pay and So)

 Reservoir Quality (e, k, Vsh, Qv, Grain Size, …)

 Producibility (Pore Size, k, SMoveable Fluid, …)

 Porosity (complex mineralogy, dolomitization, ...)

 Hydrocarbon Typing (PoroPerm + Oil, PoroPerm + Gas)

 Viscosity Estimation (Diffusion measurements)

Environmental Effects on NMR logs

Temperature Reduces S/N somewhat

Conductive mud Loading reduces S:N (low Q),

logging speed may suffer.
Interference signal from sodium ?

Washout > MPHI too high, excess (mud) signal,

usually in
DIO (MREx) MBVI and CBW

Invasion Alters native fluid saturations;

primarily measures the flushed zone
MAGNETIC RESONANCE LOGGING
Introduced by NUMAR in 1991 based on medical MRI

Sensitive Volumes
(1 mm thick sectors,
10 mm spacing)
MR Tool

24 "
2.5 – Depth of Investigation
Borehole 4.5 "
MR Spin Echo Sequence

90° 180° 180°

RF
TE/2
TE TE

T2 Decay

T2 * Decay

Signal
1st Spin-Echo 2nd Spin-Echo
Data Acquisition Parameters: Te & TW

T1 Build up
T2 Decay

TW

TW = wait time
Te = interecho time
T1 = Longitudinal magnetization build up
T2 = Transverse magnetization decay Te
CPMG
NMR - Physics and Petrophysics
- FUNDAMENTALS -

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

is originated by interaction
of nuclei magnetic moments
with an external magnetic field
NMR Properties - Clay Minerals

Clay mineral Specif. Internal Cation Exchange T2

Surface Capacity CEC ms
m2/g meq/100g

Montmorillonite 760 76 0.3 … 1

Illite 93 15 1…2
Kaolinite 18 4 8 … 16

data after Prammer et al., 1996

Thomas-Stieber Porosity Model
sd + (1 - sd ) • sh

max
Sand
Total

Shale

sd • sh
sd = Vsh 1- sd = Vsh

Vshale
MRAX: Vshale and Vclay
 Vshale
 “catch-all” term, not well defined
(analogous to “garbage”)
 includes both silt and clay
 Vclay
 mineralogy (illite, smectite, koalinite, …)
 size (< 1/256 mm, 0.00015”)

kaolinite Chlorite Illite

Idealized NMR Echo Train

Ø nmr
BVM (“FFI”)
BVI
Amplitude

T2 Decay Curve

TE Time
MRIL Echo Data

MPHI
MBVI
Coarse grained sand

MBVM
Fine grained sand

Time (ms)

Time (ms)
Hydrocarbon Typing Methods
 Simple analysis of T
2
 Identify gas-oil, oil-water & gas –water contacts
 Viscosity estimates
 Differential Spectrum (DSM)
 Exploits T1 differences of fluids
 Shifted Spectrum (SSM)
 Exploits diffusion differences of fluids
 Enhanced Diffusion (EDM)
 Identify upper T2 limit of water
 Dual-TW, Dual / Multiple-TE
 DSM + SSM for thorough analysis
 Density Dual-Wait Time (DDTW)
 Technique for gas saturation analysis
with NMR and density log data
Summary
Hydrocarbon Typing Methods
 Simple analysis of T2
 Identify gas-oil, oil-water & gas –water contacts
 Viscosity estimates
 Differential Spectrum (DSM)
 Exploits T1 differences of fluids – light hydrocarbons
 Shifted Spectrum (SSM)
 Exploits diffusion differences of fluids – oil viscosity & quantification
 Enhanced Diffusion (EDM)
 Fluid identification based on max T 2_max(diffusion)
 Density Dual-Wait Time (DDTW)
 Deterministic method for gas saturation analysis with NMR and density log data
 Objective Oriented Acquistions – comprehensive data package for hydrocarbon identification &
analysis
 PoroPerm+Oil
 PoroPerm + Gas
 PoroPerm + Heavy Oil
 SIMET and 2D NMR Analysis
 Used for analyzing OOA data
 T1, T2, Diffusion
 Saturation analysis for oil, gas and water
 HI & ρg for gas
 T2 & diffusion maps for heavy oil