In the petroleum industry, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technology has been applied to numerous applications in the laboratory and for wireline logging, which provides vital information about the petrophysical properties of the reservoirs. The primary purpose of this paper is to evaluate the various applications of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance technology presently used in conventional and unconventional reservoir systems for formation evaluation purposes in the petroleum industry. Additionally, to better comprehend the type of analysis and information that could be derived from the NMR measurement, a detailed literature review was conducted on the history, theory, and principles of nuclear magnetic resonance. This paper also discussed some standard methods in which NMR technology has been used in the oil and gas industry to estimate reservoir properties such as porosity, permeability, wettability, irreducible water saturation, and irreducible oil saturation. Likewise, it reveals that the borehole and laboratory applications of the NMR measurement have been utilized in both conventional and unconventional reservoir systems to quantify critical parameters like pore size distribution, porosity, and permeability. The application of NMR measurement also gives a better understanding of the interaction between fluids in the reservoirs and the rock properties. This review establishes that the exploration and production of oil in the industry have benefited from NMR technology by effectively enhancing the evaluation of formation and fluid properties in the reservoir.
KeywordsPetroleumNumerous Applications
Kleinberg, R.L. (1994) Pore Size Distributions, Pore Coupling, and Transverse Relaxation Spectra of Porous Rocks. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 12, 271-274. https://doi.org/10.1016/0730-725X(94)91534-2
Allen, D.F., Bedford, J., Castelijns, K., Fairhurst, D., Gubelin, G., Heaton, N., Minh, C.C., Norville, M.A., Seim, M.R., Pritchard, T. and Ramamoorthy, R. (2000) Trends in NMR Logging. Oilfield Review Journal, 12, 2-19.
Legchenko, A., Baltassat, J.M., Bobachev, A., Martin, C., Robain, H. and Vouillamoz, J.M. (2004) Magnetic Resonance Sounding Applied to Aquifer Characterization. Ground Water, 42, 363-373. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2004.tb02684.x
Walsh, D., Grunewald, E., Zhang, H., Ferre, P. and Hinnell, A. (2012) Recent Advancements in NMR for Characterizing the Vadose Zone. 5th International Meeting on Magnetic Resonance, Hannover, 25-27 September 2012.
Swanson, R.D., Singha, K., Day-Lewis, F.D., Binley, A., Keating, K. and Haggerty, R. (2012) Direct Geoelectrical Evidence of Mass Transfer at the Laboratory Scale. Water Resources Research, 48, W10543. https://doi.org/10.1029/2012WR012431
Porion, P., Faugère, A.M., Michot, L.J., Paineau, E. and Delville, A. (2010) Orientational Microdynamics and Magnetic-Field-Induced Ordering of Clay Platelets Detected by 2H NMR Spectroscopy. Langmuir, 26, 7035-7044. https://doi.org/10.1021/la904298d
Berhoozmand, A., Keating, K. and Auken, E. (2014) A Review of the Principles and Applications of the NMR Technique for Near-Surface Characterization. Surveys in Geophysics, 9, 1-59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-014-9304-0
Knight, R., Abraham, J., Cannia, J., Dlubac, K., Grau, B., Grunewald, E., Irons, T., Song, Y. and Walsh, D. (2010) Field Experiment Provides Ground Truth for Surface NMR Measurement. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts.
Kenyon, W.E. (1991) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance as a Petrophysical Measurement. Nuclear Geophysics, 6, 153-172.
Mohnke, O. and Yaramanci, U. (2008) Pore Size Distributions and Hydraulic Conductivities of Rocks Derived from Magnetic Resonance Sounding Relaxation Data Using Multi-Exponential Decay Time Inversion. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 66, 73-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2008.05.002
Seevers, D.O. (1966) A Nuclear Magnetic Method for Determining the Permeability of Sandstones. SPWLA 7th Annual Logging Symposium, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 9-11 May 1966, Paper L.
Kenyon, W.E., Day, P.I., Straley, C. and Willemsen, J.F. (1988) Three-Part Study of NMR Longitudinal Relaxation Properties of Water-Saturated Sandstones. SPE Formation Evaluation, 3, 622-636. https://doi.org/10.2118/15643-PA
Timur, A. (1969) Producible Porosity and Permeability of Sandstones Investigated through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Principles. The Log Analyst, 10, 3-11.
Korringa, J., Seevers, D.O. and Torrey, H.C. (1962) Theory of Spin Pumping and Relaxation in Systems with a Low Concentration of Electron Spin Resonance Centers. Physical Review, 127, 1143-1150. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.127.1143
Foley, I., Farooqui, S.A. and Kleinberg, R. (1996) Effect of Paramagnetic Ions on NMR Relaxation of Fluids at Solid Surfaces. Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 123, 95-104. https://doi.org/10.1006/jmra.1996.0218
Keating, K. and Knight, R. (2007) A Laboratory Study to Determine the Effect of Iron Oxides on Proton NMR Measurements. Geophysics, 72, E27-E32. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.2399445
Keating, K. and Knight, R. (2010) A Laboratory Study of the Effect of Fe (II)-Bearing Minerals on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Relaxation Measurements. Geophysics, 75, F71-F82. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.3386573
Cowan, B. (1997) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Relaxation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 7. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511524226
Coates G.R., Lizhei, X. and Prammer, M.G. (1999) NMR Logging Principles and Applications. Haliburton Energy Services Publication.
Fukushima, E. and Roeder, S.B.W. (1981) Experimental Pulse NMR: A Nuts and Bolts Approach. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Advanced Book Program, Reading, 22, 164, 242.
Amani, M., Al-Jubouri, M., Khadr, S. and Sayed, A.M. (2017) A Comprehensive Review on the Use of NMR Technology in Formation Evaluation.
Müller, M., Kooman, S. and Yaramanci, U. (2005) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Properties of Unconsolidated Sediments in Field and Laboratory. Near Surface Geophysics, 3, 275-285. https://doi.org/10.3997/1873-0604.2005023
Grunewald, E. and Knight, R. (2011) A Laboratory Study of NMR Relaxation Times in Unconsolidated Heterogeneous Sediments. Geophysics, 76, G73-G83. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.3581094
Roy, J. and Lubczynski, M. (2005) MRS Multi-Exponential Decay Analysis: Aquifer Pore-Size Distribution and Vadose Zone Characterization. Near Surface Geophysics, 3, 287-298. https://doi.org/10.3997/1873-0604.2005024
Griffin, D.D., Kleinberg, R.L. and Fukuhara, M. (1993) Low-Frequency NMR Spectrometer. Measurement Science and Technology, 4, 968. https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-0233/4/9/009
Taicher, Z., Coates, G. and Gitartz, Y. (1994) A Comprehensive Approach to Studies of Porous Media (Rocks) Using a Laboratory Spectrometer and Logging Tool with Similar Operating Characteristics. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 12, 285-289. https://doi.org/10.1016/0730-725X(94)91537-7
Morriss, C.E., Freeman, R., Straley, C., Johnston, M., Vinegar, H.J. and Tutunjian, P.N. (1997) Hydrocarbon Saturation and Viscosity Estimation from NMR Logging in the Belridge Diatomite. The Log Analyst, 38, 44-59.
Mirotchnik, K., Kryuchkov, S. and Strack, K. (2004) A Novel Method to Determine NMR Petrophysical Parameters from Drill Cuttings. SPWLA 45th Annual Logging Symposium, Noordwijk, 6-9 June 2004, SPWLA-2004-MM.
Yan, W., Sun, J., Sun, Y. and Golsanami, N. (2018) A Robust NMR Method to Measure Porosity of Low Porosity Rocks. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 269, 113-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2018.02.022
Fellah, K., Utsuzawa, S., Song, Y.-Q. and Kausik, R. (2018) Porosity of Drill-Cuttings Using Multinuclear 19 F and 1 H NMR Measurements. Energy & Fuels, 32, 7467-7470. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.8b01350
Freedman, R. (2006) Advances in NMR Logging. https://doi.org/10.2118/89177-MS
Marschall, D. (1997) Magnetic Resonance Technology and Its Applications in the Oil and Gas Industry, Part 2. Petroleum Engineer International, 70, 65-70.
Han, Y.J., Zhou, C.C., Fan, Y.R., Li, C.L., Yuan, C. and Cong, Y.H. (2018) A New Permeability Calculation Method Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Logging Based on Pore Sizes: A Case Study of Bioclastic Limestone Reservoirs in the a Oilfield of the Mid-East. Petroleum Exploration and Development, 45, 183-192. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(18)30019-3
Valori, A., Van den Berg, S., Ali, F. and Abdallah, W. (2017) Permeability Estimation from NMR Time Dependent Methane Saturation Monitoring in Shales. Energy & Fuels, 31, 5913-5925. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.7b00433
Craig, F.F. (1971) The Reservoir Engineering Aspects of Waterflooding. Monograph Volume 3 of the Henry L. Doherty Series, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Richardson.
Freedman, R., Sezginer, A., Flaum, M., Matteson, A., Lo, S. and Hirasaki, G.J. (2000) SPE Paper 63214. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Dallas.
Salathiel, R.A.J. (1973) Oil Recovery by Surface Film Drainage in Mixed-Wettability Rocks. Journal of Petroleum Technology, 25, 1216-1224. https://doi.org/10.2118/4104-PA
Morrow, N.R. (1990) Wettability and Its Effect on Oil Recovery. Journal of Petroleum Technology, 42, 1476-1484. https://doi.org/10.2118/21621-PA
Kovscek, A.R., Wong, H. and Radke, C.J. (1993) A Pore-Level Scenario for the Development of Mixed Wettability in Oil Reservoirs. American Institute of Chemical Engineers Journal, 39, 1072. https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.690390616
Brown, R.J.S. and Fatt, I. (1956). Measurements of Fractional Wettability of Oilfield Rocks by the Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation Method. Transactions of the AIME, 207, 262-264. https://doi.org/10.2118/743-G
Saraf, D.N., Kumar, J. and Fatt, I. (1970) Determination of Wettability of Porous Materials by the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Technique. Indian Journal of Technology, 8, 125-130.
Williams, C. and Fung, B.M. (1982) The Determination of Wettability by Hydrocarbons of Small Particles by Deuteron TIP Measurement. Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 50, 71. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-2364(82)90032-4
Hsu, W.F., Li, X. and Flumerfelt, R.W. (1992) Wettability of Porous Media by NMR Relaxation Methods. The SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Washington DC, 4-7 October 1992, SPE 24761. https://doi.org/10.2118/24761-MS
Øren, P.E., Ruesltten, H.G., Skjetne, T. and Buller, A.T. (1994) Some Advances in NMR Characterization of Reservoir Sandstones. North Sea oil and Gas Reservoirs, Vol. 3, 307-316. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0896-6_27
Zhang, G.Q., Huang, C. and Hirasaki, G.J. (2000) Interpretation of Wettability in Sandstones. Petrophysics, 41, 223.
Johannesen, E.B., Steinsbø, M., Howard, J.J. and Graue, A. (2006) Wettability Characterization by NMR T2 Measurements in Chalk. Society of Core Analysts, Trondheim, September 12-16.
Al-Muthana, A., Hursan, G., Ma, S., Valori, A., Nicot, B. and Singer, P. (2012) Wettability as a Function of Pore Size by NMR. SCA Paper A013.
Freedman, R., Heaton, N., Flaum, M., Hirasaki, G.J., Flaum, C. and Hürlimann, M.D. (2002) Wettability, Saturation and Viscosity Using the Magnetic Resonance Fluid Characterisation Method and New Diffusion-Editing Pulse Sequences. SPE, San Antonio, SPE 77397. https://doi.org/10.2118/77397-MS
Wim, L. and Jan, H. (2006) Wettability-Index Determination by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering, 9, 146-153. https://doi.org/10.2118/93624-PA
Looyestijn, W.J. (2008) Wettability Index Determination from NMR Logs. Petrophysics, 49, 130-145.
Al-Mahrooqi, S., Grattoni, C., Moss, A. and Jing, X. (2003) An Investigation of the Effect of Wettability on NMR Characteristics of Sandstone Rock and Fluid Systems. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 39, 389-398. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0920-4105(03)00077-9
Howard, J.J. (1998) Quantitative Estimates of Porous Media Wettability from Proton NMR Measurements. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 16, 529-533. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0730-725X(98)00060-5
Johannesen, E. and Steinsbø, M. (2006) Wettability Characterization by NMR T2 Measurements in Chalk. SCA 2006, Trondheim, Norway, 12-16 September 2006, 1-8.
Minh, C.C., Crary, S., Singer, P.M., Valori, A., Bachman, N., Hursan, G. and Kraishan, G. (2015) Determination of Wettability from Magnetic Resonance Relaxation and Diffusion Measurements on Fresh-State Cores. Society of Petrophysicists and Well-Log Analysts, Houston. https://doi.org/10.1190/ice2016-6501721.1
Sandor, M., Cheng, Y. and Chen, S. (2016) Improved Correlations for Heavy-Oil Viscosity Prediction with NMR. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 147, 416-426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2016.09.004
Yang, Z.M., Ma, Z.Z., Luo, Y.T., Zhang, Y.P., Guo, H.K. and Lin, W. (2018) A Measured Method for in Situ Viscosity of Fluid in Porous Media by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Geofluids, 2018, Article ID: 9542152. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9542152
Dunn, K.J., Bergman, D.J. and LaTorraca, G.A. (2002) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Petrophysical and Logging Applications (Handbook of Geophysical Exploration Seismic Exploration, Volume 32). Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Kleinberg, R.L. and Vinegar, H.J. (1996) NMR Properties of Reservoir Fluids. The Log Analyst, 37, 20-32.
Chen, S.H., Munkholm, M., Dossan, J., Wei, S. and Begova, A.N. (2006) Application of NMR Logging For Characterizing Movable and Immovable Fractions of Viscose Oils in Kazakhstan Heavy Oil Fields. Society of Petrophysicists and Well-Log Analysts. SPWLA 47th Annual Logging Symposium, Veracruz, 4-7 June 2006.
Fleury, M. (2014) Characterization of Shales with Low Field NMR. The International Symposium of Core Analysts, Avignon, 8-11 September 2014, SCA2014-014.
Washburn, E.K. (2014) Relaxation Mechanisms and Shales. Concepts in Magnetic Resonance Part A, 43, 57-89. https://doi.org/10.1002/cmr.a.21302
Anand, V., Hirasaki, G.J. and Fleury, M. (2008) NMR Diffusional Coupling: Effects of Temperature and Clay Distribution. Petrophysics, 49, 363-372.
Saada, A., Siffert, B. and Papirer, E. (1995) Comparison of the Hydrophilicity/Hydrophobicity of Illite and Kaolinites. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 174, 185-190. https://doi.org/10.1006/jcis.1995.1381
Bustin, R.M., Bustin, A.M., Cui A., Ross, D. and Pathi, V.M. (2008) Impact of Shale Properties on Pore Structure and Storage Characteristics. SPE Shale Gas Production Conference, Fort Worth, 16-18 November 2008, SPE-119892-MS. https://doi.org/10.2118/119892-MS
Sondergeld, C.H., Ambrose, R.J., Rai, C.S. and Moncrieff, J. (2010) Micro-Structural Studies of Gas Shales. Society of Petroleum Engineers, Richardson. https://doi.org/10.2118/131771-MS
Hürlimann, M.D. and Griffin, D.D. (2000) Spin Dynamics of Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill-Like Sequences in Grossly Inhomogeneous B0 and B1 Fields and Application to NMR Well Logging. Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 143, 120-135. https://doi.org/10.1006/jmre.1999.1967
Yu, H., Wang, Z., Rezaee, R., Su, Y., Tan, W., Yuan, Y. and Liu, X. (2017) Applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Logs in Shale Gas Reservoirs for Pore Size Distribution Evaluation. Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Austin, 24-26 July 2017. https://doi.org/10.15530/urtec-2017-2663389
Li, Z.Y., Mao, Z.Q., Sun, Z.C., Luo, X.P., Wang, Z.L. and Zhao, P.Q. (2019) An NMR-Based Clay Content Evaluation Method for Tight Oil Reservoirs. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 16, 116-124. https://doi.org/10.1093/jge/gxy010
Yang, L., Dou, N.H., Lu, X.B., Zhang, X.H., Chen, X., Gao, J., Yang, C.W. and Wang, Y. (2018) Advances in Understanding Imbibition Characteristics of Shale Using an NMR Technique: A Comparative Study of Marine and Continental Shale. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 15, 1363-1375. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-2140/aaaf76
Washburn, K.E. and Birdwell, J.E. (2013) Multivariate Analysis of ATR-FTIR Spectra for Assessment of Oil Shale Organic Geochemical Properties. Organic Geochemistry, 63, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2013.07.007