SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018
FOCUSED NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
M. Bacciarelli, Pedro A. Romero Rojas and P A S Elkington, Weatherford
Copyright 2018, held jointly by the Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log
Analysts (SPWLA) and the submitting authors.
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPWLA 59th Annual Logging
Symposium held in London, UK, June 2-6, 2018.
ABSTRACT
Borehole NMR has become an important source of
petrophysical information, helped by the
development of increasingly sophisticated hardware.
In order to address the most fundamental challenge
to the utility of NMR – namely the inherent non-
uniqueness of the inversion – it is necessary to take a
holistic approach in which hardware, job planning,
inversion and analysis are considered as a whole. It is
especially important to understand the role of signal-
to-noise, and develop strategies to deal with it,
recognizing that physics dictates that some of the
most ambitious interpretation objectives may not be
compatible with fast logging speeds.
Starting with hardware, a new logging tool has been
developed to maximize signal from the formation
and minimize noise from the borehole. Negligible
borehole signal and high tolerance to tool orientation
error result from focusing the static magnetic field
within a 90 degree sector. Extremely low coupling
between the RF antenna and the borehole allows
power consumption to be kept small. This eliminates
the need for fluid excluders, even in very saline
muds, as well as enhancing reliability and
operational flexibility. Control of the static magnetic
field uniformity along the sensor together with
optimally shaped symmetrical pre-polarization zones
allow for motion-artifact-free logs and accelerated
polarization of fluids with long T1 components.
Tight control of phase and amplitude characteristics
of transmit and receive paths ensure acquisitions
have negligible levels of systematic echo train
distortions. Higher gradients allow improved
characterization of heavy oil and other small
diffusion coefficient fluid components, and are a
factor in addressing the commercial pressures for
higher logging speeds in unconventional reservoirs.
The operation of the tool is tightly integrated with
the design of the data processing and analysis, and
manifests itself in highly flexible activation
sequences which are capable of being optimized for
1
particular interpretational needs. This is particularly
useful for fluid typing from T2-D and T1-T2 in
unconventional reservoirs, noting that the existence
of a theoretically optimum sequence is no guarantee
that it can be physically realized. This is addressed
with a sophisticated job planning tool and laboratory
testing of activation sequences. Operationally the
sequences may be optimized on a zone-by-zone
basis. Subsequent processing uses the acquired data
to identify the best trains to pass to the inversion
which facilitates the use of new evolving
simultaneous joint inversion techniques for better
analysis.
Field trials in over 50 wells encompassed diverse
borehole and formation environments. Relative to the
tool used as a basis for comparison, results
demonstrate step-change improvements in data
quality. Processed results and interpretations are
reviewed relative to data from supporting logs, to
highlight the benefits of integrating multiple data
sources. The new service significantly improves
confidence in the commonly delivered NMR
petrophysical properties and contributes to a better
understanding of what can be achieved and how to
achieve it.
INTRODUCTION
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) involves
absorption and re-emission of electromagnetic
energy by nuclei of atoms with non-zero spin. Its
potential as an analytical technique for geological
material was recognized soon after the discovery
of the phenomenon in 1946. Laboratory NMR
studies of fluids in rocks and clays started in the
1950’s and the first pulsed RF NMR logging
technique was patented by Jackson in 1978 which
in turn led to the first commercial pulsed RF NMR
well logging services by Numar in 1990s (K. Dunn
et al, 2002). Since the 1990’s tool design and
measurement technology has become more
sophisticated but is constrained by the borehole
environment. Particular challenges are the amount
of power that can be delivered through a wireline,
the size, shape and composition of the magnet to
provide the coercivity necessary to generate a
magnetic field sufficiently deep enough into the
SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018
formation, and, the necessity to operate at
temperatures as high as 175°C and pressures up to
20 000 psi.
In the oil and gas sector NMR is used to infer or
measure fluid and pore space properties such as
fluid type, fluid saturation and distribution,
permeability, viscosity, wettability, capillary
pressure, porosity, pore size distribution, rock type
and grain size (E. Toumelin et al, 2006). Uniquely
NMR is able to differentiate between clay bound
water (CBW), capillary bound water (BVI), free
fluids (FFI), water and hydrocarbons. It identifies
fluids based on their longitudinal and transverse
relaxation times T1 and T2 respectively.
NMR has found applications in a wide range of
reservoir types but heterogeneous carbonates,
complex lithologies, heavy oil reservoirs, fractured
or vuggy rocks, and more recently unconventional
or organic rich shale reservoirs have required
specific techniques that have evolved with
experience rather than “everyday” NMR (R.
Akkurt et al, 2009 and V. Anand et al, 2017) that
can be applied to conventional reservoir problems.
These more challenging reservoirs can lead to
uncertainties that are a complex function of
activation parameters, formation and fluids as well
as tool noise.
A holistic approach was necessary to improve
signal-to-noise (SNR), involving the hardware,
measurement acquisition, processing and
inversion. Strategies were developed to deal with
improving signal-to-noise, recognizing that
physics dictates that some of the most ambitious
interpretation objectives may not be compatible
with fast logging speeds.
THE NMR MEASUREMENT
The NMR measurement stimulates hydrogen
nuclei (protons) in a formation to generate signals
that are rich in useful information concerning
fluids and their containing structures.
To start a NMR measurement the hydrogen nuclei
are polarized by the application of a static
magnetic field B0 that originates from permanent
magnets inside the tool. This process gradually
aligns the nuclear spin axis in the direction of B 0.
The polarization occurs with a time constant, T1
specific to the properties of the fluid being
2
measured and also dependent on the interaction of
the fluid and formation matrix.
The nuclear spin will precess around the magnetic field
at the Larmor frequency, ω0. This frequency is
proportional to the applied B0 field and the
gyromagnetic ratio, γ which is specific for the nucleus
involved (42.5781 MHz/Tesla for the hydrogen
nucleus). In the B0 field the spins are able to absorb and
emit energy at this specific frequency.
(1)
Once polarized, the formation has a macroscopic
longitudinal magnetization M0 along the B0 field axis, z:
(2)
A sequence of high energy RF pulses is used to
generate the NMR signal. These RF bursts can be
arranged into many different sequences but the tool
uses a specific sequence common to NMR logging, the
CPMG sequence, named after its inventors Carr-
Purcell-Meiboom-Gill. An example of this sequence
and its stages is shown in Figure 1.
Fig. 1. Components of a CPMG sequence
Pulse tipping and free induction decay is achieved
by application of a precisely measured pulse of an
oscillating magnetic field (B1) oriented
perpendicular to B0. The frequency of the applied
field equals the Larmor frequency and the
amplitude and duration is set such that it
effectively tips the macroscopic magnetization by
90° to a transverse plane (hence the pulse is called
π/2 pulse).
When the B1 field is removed the protons de-
phase generating a short burst of RF energy at the
Larmor frequency. This is the Free Induction
Decay (FID). In downhole tools operating at
relatively low frequencies the FID signal is
 SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018
masked by signals related to imperfections of the
system and is not usable in the present state of the
technology.
Next refocusing is achieved by applying another
burst of an oscillating magnetic field at the Larmor
frequency at time τ from the π/2 pulse but phased
and timed such that it reverses the phases of the
currently de-phasing spins. Since the phase
reversal involves rotation by 180° this pulse is
referred to as a π pulse. Molecular interactions and
diffusion in an inhomogeneous magnetic field are
the main cause for this loss of phase.
Spin echo detection occurs at a time τ from the
application of the π pulse benefiting from the fact
that all the spins have re-focused and a burst of RF
energy is emitted at the Larmor frequency.
This burst of RF energy is sensed as a voltage by
the antenna positioned in close proximity to the
measurement zone. Since this voltage is in the
order of nanovolts it is amplified and filtered
before being stored in the NMR tool as an NMR
echo. Phase sensitive detection is used and the
echoes are stored as complex numbers.
The process of re-focusing is repeated many times
resulting in a series of echoes, known as an echo
train, in which the amplitudes of consecutive
echoes decay at a rate T2, which is specific for the
fluids and formation properties. The time between
consecutive echoes equals 2τ and is referred to as
the echo spacing, TE.
The combination, number, timing and spacing of
these excitation and measurement pulses are
referred to as an activation sequence and are
designed to emphasize desired measurement
parameters such as the different fluid relaxations
and/or diffusivities. An incorrectly designed
sequence may not be able to measure a specific
fluid property; for example the lack of attention to
different gradients and echo spacing would make
obtaining any diffusion measurement very
difficult.
MEASUREMENT INFORMATION
The NMR information of interest is encoded as the
amplitudes of these NMR echoes. The
concentration of hydrogen nuclei, the longitudinal,
T1 and transverse T2 relaxation times and the
3
diffusivity can be extracted from the signal and
used to deduce information on the fluids and their
pore structure.
The observed signal is effectively a distribution of
all the signals from the sensitive volume, therefore
the total signal intensity is proportional to the total
number of hydrogen nuclei (or Hydrogen Index,
HI) within the fluids in the sensitive volume,
assuming all the fluid relaxation times are long
enough to be visible to NMR measurements.
When the signal amplitude is calibrated this is
equivalent to total porosity in the sensitive volume.
The tool is typically calibrated to water at a
reference temperature (assumed to have HI of 1).
The hydrogen index of hydrocarbons may differ
substantially from 1 depending on composition,
pressure and temperature. For example, the HI of
methane at 5,000 ft depth can be around 0.2
resulting in an apparent porosity that is much
lower than actual porosity. Therefore a HI
correction may be required.
Relaxation is the rate at which hydrogen nuclei
will return to equilibrium. Two relaxation
mechanisms are involved: the T1 relaxation, also
known as spin-lattice or longitudinal relaxation,
and T2 relaxation, sometimes termed as spin-spin
or transverse relaxation.
Both these relaxation mechanisms are dependent
on molecular dynamics which in turn depends on
molecular size therefore on viscosity and
intermolecular forces at the pore surface and
therefore contain information on both these
properties and therefore T1/T2 ratio will be related
to the molecular mobility of the fluids (B. Nicot et
al, 2016).
The relaxation mechanisms work in parallel and
the effective relaxation times T1 and T2 are
expressed as follows:
(3)
(4)
where:
 T1 is the effective longitudinal relaxation time
measured by the NMR tool.
SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018
 T1B is the longitudinal relaxation time of a
bulk fluid in a sample so large that the
interaction with its walls would be negligible.
 T1S is the longitudinal relaxation component
resulting from interaction of the fluid with the
pore surface.
 T2 is the effective transverse relaxation time as
measured by the NMR tool.
 T2B is the transverse relaxation time of a bulk
fluid in a sample so large that the interaction
with its walls would be negligible and which
occurs in a uniform B0 field.
 T2S is the transverse relaxation component
resulting from interaction of the fluid with the
pore surface.
The main difference between the two mechanisms
is the T2D term which is the transverse relaxation
component resulting from diffusion of the fluid in
the B0 magnetic field and the magnetic field
gradient inherent in the formation matrix.
The diffusion related T2 component can be
described by the following relationship:
(5)
where:
 D is the fluid diffusion coefficient in [m2/s]
 γ is the gyromagnetic ratio of the proton for 1H
measurements in [Hz/Gs]
 G is the gradient of the B0 magnetic field in
[Gauss/m]
 TE is the inter-echo time for the CPMG
sequence in [s]
Diffusion is a material property and results from
random Brownian motion of fluid molecules. The
diffusion constant is inversely proportional to
molecular radius, a, and viscosity, η and is useful
for distinguishing fluid from gas, which has a very
large diffusivity. It is described by the Stokes-
Einstein equation:
(6)
where T is absolute temperature and k
Boltzmann’s constant. Different fluids have their
own bulk relaxation times broadly related to their
viscosity. Mixtures of fluids can present very
complex relaxation times. Moreover, the fluid
4
diffusivity affects the response of the T 2 relaxation
time to the magnetic gradients of the tool and
those that may be embedded in the formation
matrix.
Fluid typing is one of the main reasons multi-
frequency NMR tools were designed. In order to
extract the maximum information about fluids and
fluid interactions with the formation, special
acquisition sequences are designed with a variety
of wait times, gradients and number of echoes to
take advantage of these type of tool.
The dominant component of the surface relaxation
times T1S and T2S is often approximated as a
function of the surface to volume fraction of the
pore in which it exists and will be inversely
proportional to pore size:
and (7)
The parameters ρ1 and ρ2 are the surface
relaxivities for T1 and T2 respectively and
represent the strength of relaxation at the pore
surfaces. Their values will depend on mineralogy,
pore shape and the interaction of fluid molecules
with paramagnetic impurities on pore surface.
Generally sandstones have a stronger effect on
surface relaxation than carbonates.
In the case of estimates of pore size from T 2 this
relationship only holds true if the fast diffusion
limit is met, when the surface wall relaxation time
is longer than time the hydrogen nuclei can diffuse
across the pore (W. Kenyon, 1997).
This interaction between fluids and formation
matrix surfaces has the potential to shorten both
the T1 and T2 relaxation times of the fluids in
direct contact or bound to the solids. Water wet
and oil wet rocks behave differently in this respect.
Moreover, magnetic gradients internal to the rock
further affect the relaxation times. This provides
useful information on wettability, pore size
distribution and in some cases grain size.
ENVIROMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
The sensitive volume is the region of the
formation from which the NMR signal will
preferentially be acquired and is relatively precise
in its spatial distribution and its geometry. It
 SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018
depends on the shape and magnitude of the B0
field controlled by the magnet design, and the
shape and frequency of the B1 field, which
depends on the coil array and available power and
the temperature in the logging environment. The
new tool has a sidewall design whose sensitive
volume is a cylindrical segment shell of a
thickness of approximately 0.04 inch (1 mm). The
absolute width is influenced by temperature, and
its intrinsic length of 18 inches is related to the
antenna aperture (Figure 2). When the tool is in
motion the effect of the pre-polarizing magnets
modifies the vertical resolution to around 20
inches.
Fig. 2. The tool’s sensitive volumes are well
defined curved shells 18 inches long.
The strength of B0 varies as a function of the distance
from the magnet and controls the depth of
investigation (DOI). The definition of DOI adopted
in this paper is the distance of the sensitive volume
from the tool surface, and includes a 0.5 inch
standoff from the borehole wall. A similar shaped
shell of sensitive volume is created for each
frequency.
A well-focused sensitive volume in front of the
sensor results in low borehole signal. In the
presence of highly conductive borehole fluids the
returning signal is attenuated the and therefore
decreases the SNR. This contrasts with centralized
NMR tools whose sensitive regions are concentric
cylindrical shells. LWD tools tend to have wider
toroidal shaped sensitive region as they are near
zero gradient tools to make them motion tolerant.
As both of these tools sense more volume they will
have a better SNR compared to a sidewall tool.
5
The narrow sensitive volume differs from the diffuse
sensitive volume of other logging measurements which
are also often influenced by borehole and mudcake,
necessitating correction to arrive at their true values.
The NMR measurement itself is shallow, normally
within the flushed zone, with the deepest shell around
4.3 inches into the formation and the shallowest around
1.7 inches. The shape of the shell makes the
measurement sensitive to vertical heterogeneity and this
should be considered when interpreting NMR data.
Because the measurement is in the flushed zone mud
properties should always be considered. Whether mud
filtrate invasion is a drainage or imbibition event will
depend on the mud type and the wettability of the
formation. In the case of WBM and water wet
formations filtrate invasion may provide a reliable pore
size distribution from the T2 spectrum. However
OBM’s can be more complicated as they can interfere
with the oil signal, and in the case of Invert muds
contain a substantial water phase. For unconventional
reservoirs invasion is often ignored and native fluids
can be expected to be measured unless chemical
alteration or mechanical damage to the rock affects the
measurement.
NOISE
Noise is defined as any unwanted disturbance that
obscures or interferes with a desired signal. The relative
contribution of the true signal to the random
superimposed signal (noise) for a detected signal is
referred to as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
The very small NMR signal is extremely sensitive to
noise. The SNR of the signal is proportional to the
proton concentration, the acquisition time and the
magnetic field strength. Increasing the magnetic field
strength or operating in high porosity rocks will have a
positive impact on SNR.
One common method to improve the SNR is to average
or stack several measurements together at the expense
of some loss of spatial resolution. The SNR increases as
the square root of the number of samples in the stack.
Noise can come from a variety of sources including the
tool itself. Coherent noise such as ringing is the residual
effect of the powerful exciting RF pulse on the
electronics of the receiver. The acquisition of the
echoes as phase-alternate pairs (PAPs) not only helps to
eliminate electronics related artifacts (dead time and
SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018
DC offset) and ringing but reduces random noise by a
factor of square root of 2.
Thermal or Johnson–Nyquist noise generated from
electronic components in the tool, such the RF antenna
and pre amplifiers, is due to the thermal fluctuations of
charge distribution in conducting media. Noise or
uncertainty that is attributed to the formation could be
termed geologic noise. For example the NMR signal
amplitude drops off as a function of the inverse of
absolute temperature (°K). The practical implication of
this phenomenon is the reduction of signal-to-noise at
high temperatures, necessitating a temperature
correction.
Interference between externally applied gradients and
internal gradients or inhomogeneous magnetic fields
induced by the magnetic susceptibility contrast between
the solid matrix and pore fluid will depend on the
magnitude of static magnetic field, B0, the magnetic
susceptibility contrast, pore sizes, and the pore shapes
of all individual pores (E.L. Fay et al, 2017). This may
lead to a shortening of the T 2 relaxation time and an
increase in apparent diffusivity.
“Mathematical noise” can come from the inversion.
Inversion uncertainty may be different from each
inversion algorithm. Inverse problems involve
predicting some physical property from a series of
measurements in this case T2, T1 and D from the
amplitude and decay of the raw echoes trains.
NMR inversion is an ill-posed problem, meaning there
is no unique solution. The solution must be constrained
or regularized. Regularization makes the solution less
sensitive to noise. The price for this stability is a less
accurate or somewhat uncertain answer.
Tool noise mitigation was accomplished by extensive
modeling of the whole system and benefited from early
prototyping. Big sources of the noise are the mud and
formation resistivity-related noise, and noise from tool
receiver amplifiers. The tool performs periodic
measurement of the random noise observed in the
system. The noise is measured in a way identical to the
NMR signal acquisition except the transmitter is not
activated resulting in no NMR signal, just noise seen by
the tool’s antenna.
A set of look up tables of single echo noise as a
function of stand-off, pulse type, frequency, borehole
size, formation resistivity, mud salinity and temperature
were constructed for use in planning and interpretation.
6
TOOL DESIGN
The new NMR tool was developed in collaboration
with an oilfield product and technologies development
company and an exploration and production software
development company. This partnership was able to
draw on a long history and experience in wire-line,
LWD and core NMR measurements and operations.
The tool was developed using computer optimization of
a comprehensive NMR tool model with constraints and
goal functions set such that a solution converged on a
configuration that matches the needs of today’s market
(Figure 3). The tool is a multi-frequency, sidewall-
focused tool which provides a range of depths of
investigation and has been designed for a wide range of
hole sizes and borehole fluid types (including high
salinity mud) without the need for additional
equipment.
Hardware
To ease transport and maintenance the design is
modular and consists of three short sections or subs: the
Sonde sub that includes all the major components of the
NMR sensor, the antenna and magnet assembly; the
Electronics sub which contains the NMR controller, a
digital signal processor (DSP) that controls the
operation of the tool and the Energy Storage sub which
provides the required power.
To assist orientation, the tool is equipped with a pair of
eccentric standoffs and a bow-spring mounted onto the
Energy Storage sub which helps to reduce the effects of
borehole wall rugosity. A field replaceable sacrificial
sleeve is installed over the antenna assembly for
protection. This has the beneficial effect of reducing the
borehole fluid volume in front of the antenna. A tilt
sensor in the Sonde comprises two, 2-axis ±5g MEMS
accelerometer units oriented to give 3-axis coverage.
These provide a depth correction and input to a
measurement quality indicator.
During the design phase a 3-axis high accuracy
magnetometer probe mounted on a computer controlled
motion system allowing 3D mapping of the magnetic
field around the magnet. This allowed the achievement
of the desired B0 field uniformity to within 1% along
the sensor. The optimally shaped symmetrical pre-
polarization zones allow for motion-artifact-free logs
and accelerated polarization of fluids with long T 1
components.
 SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018
Fig. 3. Tool development process.
The tool exploits the geometry of the static magnetic
field (B0) and oscillating RF field (B1) by using shaped
and matched magnets and a special antenna design to
provide a focused measurement. The RF field generated
by the sensor is shaped by the combined action of the
magnetically permeable antenna cores and a high
conductivity screen.
A pair of identically shaped magnets arranged in such a
way that they are tilted relative to each other in the x-y
plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the tool by a
tilt angle described as:
(8)
The magnitude of this tilt angle has implications for the
gradient, SNR, the borehole signal and DOI; an angle
that is greater than perpendicular results in less power
consumption, increased SNR and a wider span of
higher magnitudes of gradients. The value of the tilt
angle was optimized by experimentation and
sophisticated numerical modeling.
7
Fig. 4. Magnet arrangement and tilt angle.
The resultant wider range of gradients present in the
sensitive volume provided by the tool allows for better
resolution of diffusivity coefficient in any T1-D or T2-
D inversion, while large gradients can help resolve
smaller values of diffusivity coefficient. This is
important in fluid typing especially when fast decaying
components are present such as in the case of heavy oil.
Currently the tool uses 16 different gradient bands, each
with its own DOI, as shown in Figure 5 and Table 1.
This influence of the gradient on the signal is seen in
the Bloch equation:
(9)
The tilt angle also serves to focus the sensitive volume
such that there is minimal or no undesired signal from
the borehole around the tool. This is especially
important when logging in wells drilled with a bit size
greater than 12-1/4 inches.
While a more focused sensitive volume excites less
formation and therefore will have less SNR, modeling
showed that this effect is far less than the effects of
unwanted hydrogen and sodium signals from the
borehole. The better SNR permits the higher logging
speeds needed in unconventional wells.
SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018

(a)

Fig. 5. Available gradient range and DOI measured

from antenna sleeve. DOI accuracy is 0.05 inch, and
gradient accuracy is 4%.

DOI DOI Gradient (b)

Band
[in] [mm] [G/cm]
0 1.68 43 33.4
1 1.99 51 27.9
2 2.25 57 24.3
3 2.49 63 21.6
4 2.7 69 19.6
5 2.9 74 18
6 3.08 78 16.6
7 3.24 82 15.4
8 3.4 86 14.6
9 3.55 90 13.8 (c)
10 3.68 93 13.1
11 3.81 97 12.5 Fig. 6. Variation of borehole signal (a), frequency (b)
12 3.93 100 12 and SNR (c) with tilt angle at different DOI.
13 4.05 103 11.4
14 4.16 106 11 resulting in low power consumption and eliminating the
15 4.27 108 10.6 need for mud excluders even in very saline muds.

The lower power consumption is important as high

Table 1. Band depths of investigation and gradients.
The resultant sensitive volume is focused within a 90°
sector resulting in high tolerance of instrument
orientation errors and no limits in borehole size. The
design further features the negligible borehole signal
contribution, both from hydrogen and sodium and very
low EM coupling of the RF antenna to borehole mud
quality NMR data demands short Te acquisitions and
high duty cycle (more echoes) to boost the inherently
low SNR of NMR signals, especially in highly
conductive mud environment. Both factors increase the
power demand that in some cases approaches 1,500W
averaged over the activation cycle. There are voltage
and current limits on the amount of power that can be
delivered through a wireline.

8
 SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018
Fig. 7. The focused field.
In large boreholes, both 1H and 23Na have a potential to
return unwanted borehole signals. The frame antenna
focuses the NMR signal right in-front of the sensor so
that about 90% of the signal is contained within a +/-
45° sector (Figure 7).
Activation Sequences
The stimulation and measurement pulse sequence (the
activation sequence) is controlled by a microprocessor
(DSP) optimized for digital signal processing tasks that
is contained in the Sonde sub. Its primary functions are
to run activations scripts, generate excitation signals,
acquire the signals for processing and process and
format the acquired data.
Activation scripts are binary code that describes the
NMR pulse sequences and acquisition parameters in
precise detail using basic primitives. Scripts are
downloaded by the microcontroller to the DSP, and
interpreted by the DSP for execution in real-time.
Any set of measurement acquisition parameters,
representing a logging objective, such as wait time (T w),
echo spacing (TE), train duration (number of echoes,
Ne), repetition cycle and frequency band are laboratory
tested before creating the activation file. The testing
processes use a combination of software and firmware
designed to optimize this sequence in terms of pulse
shape, pulse timing, positioning of the π/2 pulse, duty
cycle, power budget, band cross-talk and SNR
requirements to ensure the activation is deliverable. For
example band separation needs to be considered due to
9
the duration of π-pulse, which is set to achieve the best
SNR as lower gradient (deeper) bands will have lower
SNR.
The activation file is arranged by groups and bands. Up
to 16 frequency bands (designated 0 – 15), span
frequencies of 900 to 411 kHz and DOIs of 1.68 to 4.27
inches. Each echo train with a different T W, TE,
Gradient and number of echoes is assigned a group. An
example is shown in Figure 8.
The tool draws on a library of targeted activation files
which can be used to change the survey over different
depth ranges or to provide special sequences suited to
stationary measurements. The tool can store up to 256
activation files.
During data processing the information in the activation
file suggests the best trains to feed into the chosen
inversion based on the actual data and the forward
models to provide more robust fluid information. Since
these activation scripts can be changed in real time a
more ambitious combination of acquisitions can be
used in a well to prove a hypothesis.
Complex Lithology Activation Sequence
Bands
Time, ms
Fig. 8. Activation sequence example. The timing
diagram is color coded based on TE: blue 400 μs, brown
600 μs, yellow 800 μs, green 1600 μs pink 3200 μs and
red 4800 μs.
The DSP ensures tight control of phase and amplitude
characteristics of transmit and receive paths, which
assures acquisitions with a negligible levels of
systematic echo train distortion. The ability to provide
very short echo spacing and a wide range of wait times
coupled with the low power consumption has led to the
creation of richer activation sequences that support the
use of multi-dimensional inversions that are invaluable
to fluid typing studies (T2-D) or unconventional
analysis (T1-T2) or experimental 3D or 4D inversions.
SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018

Where standard 1D methods provide overlapping and

ambiguous fluid characterization the use of methods such
as Dual Wait Time to exploit highly contrasting fluid T1’s
or Shifted Spectrum to exploit different TE’s to
discriminate fluids on a large diffusion contrast were used.
These methods infer but do not quantify fluid types and
led to the use of 2D methods that can only be achieved
with complex activations and multiple frequencies.

PLANNING AND PROCESSING

Activation sequence design uses a forward model of

expected formation and logging parameters with the
addition of noise based on tool characterization studies
from the series of Single Echo Noise (SEN) look-up
tables to generate simulated echo trains that can be
subsequently inverted to test the sensitivity to inversion
parameters. The process is summarized in Figure 9.

The modeling software is both a job planner and a

simulator. It reads customer supplied information
directly. To assess the logging environment and
objectives, and to provide the best possible answer
products, it is necessary to gather as much information
as possible about the formation and fluids to be logged
and to decide which activation sequence would be the
most suitable.

While basic reservoir and environmental information is

sufficient to create a model more advanced fluid and
rock information can be provided for a more accurate
model. Ideally knowledge of T 1, T2 and diffusivity of
the fluids to be logged should be entered. Generally
these are unknown so they are estimated from more
standard reservoir parameters such as API, GOR or
viscosity from various industry correlations (Hiraski et
al, 2002). In addition to the standard fluid information
user components can be added for use in
unconventional resource analysis.
Fig. 9. Activation sequence planning workflow
The planner also has the ability to model mud invasion
which can be critical to understanding the best It is important to understand the effect of signal to noise
frequency bands to use in the acquisition. on the interpretation objectives. Figure 10 illustrates
three different realizations of noise.
The software reads a planned acquisition sequence and
adds noise to generate synthetic echo trains using the Many authors have discussed the differences SNR
fluid and reservoir information entered previously. between log and laboratory NMR measurements, the
Noise may be added in 3 ways: as a SNR, as an RMS implications of SNR on logging speed and SNR in low
value, or from the tool-specific Single Echo Noise porosity reservoirs (S. Chen et al 1998, Cao Minh et al,
(SEN) look-up table for the most realistic 2012, Boqin Sun et al, 2016). Typical SNR estimates
representation. Once noise has been added stacking can for logging are commonly below 10, as high as 50 for
be applied and the vertical resolution or logging speed stationary measurements, while core NMR is between
estimated for those conditions. 100 and 200.
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 SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018
Once the synthetic echo trains have been created they
are fed into any of the 1-D, 2-D and 3-D inversions to
output the most likely T1 and T2 distributions and 2D
fluid maps. Inversion parameters can be varied for the
conditions and the sensitivity to different parameters or
the best inversion for the expected data quality or
objective can be decided. The models are saved for use
in post processing if a model based inversion approach
is employed.
SNR 6 RNS 0.2 Single Echo
Noise
Fig. 10. Three realizations of noise for a complex
lithology activation for expected formation, fluid and
mud parameters. The most representative is the look-up
table Single Echo Noise.
PROCESSING
Field processing focuses on the information needed to
support fundamental decisions at the well site, such as
selecting good reservoir layers based on permeability,
NMR rock type analysis, and T1/T2 ratios to
qualitatively indicate the presence of volatile fluids.
Three different types of inversion are available at the
wellsite: a single inversion using a long echo train on
one of the shallower bands to give a T 2 distribution, a
dual inversion using the same echo train and a repeated
series of short under polarized echo trains at the
shortest echo spacing (known as burst echoes) on the
same band to capture fast decaying components such as
clay bound water and T1T2 inversion which generates a
T2 and T1 distribution as projections from T1T2 maps.
Post-processing has access to all the recorded data and
uses a specific workflow optimized for the new tool.
Specific information from the activation files and the
noise models is read directly into the software which
includes special routines for phase rotation, radial
profiling, unconventional analysis, smart stacking and
stationary measurements. A comprehensive set of 1-D,
2-D and 3-D inversions are available for processing.
For 2D or higher inversions a Model Oriented
Evaluation (MOE) is used. This uses the underlying
models to define the positions of the expected
components against which the actual data is compared.
Any spot on the map represents a fluid. The spots
11
within contour lines can be evaluated in terms of their
volumetric fractions, later used to calculate the water
and hydrocarbon saturations. However, some
interpretation is necessary as erroneous or conflicting
results will occur if the underlying model is incorrect,
for example the effects of restricted diffusion in small
pores or paramagnetic and ferromagnetic material
coating grains.
FIELD EXAMPLES
Field trials were conducted in over 50 wells in the US,
Canada and Middle East encompassing diverse
borehole and formation environments. Bit sizes ranged
from 6-1/8 to 12-1/4 inches with different mud types
including Invert Mud, OBM, Brine, WBM polymer and
Water. Mud resistivity ranged between 0.03 and 5.8
Ohm-m at borehole temperatures and low Q conditions
of Rm below 0.06 Ohm-m were met in at least 10 wells.
The tool performed as expected in conventional clastic
and carbonate reservoirs in acquiring quality porosity-
permeability data. Additionally the more challenging
applications of complex lithology, unconventional and
heavy oil reservoirs have benefited from the more
focused approach.
Complex Lithology Reservoir
A complex lithology can be described as a rock
containing several lithologies or rock types rather than
one dominant type and can be expected to exhibit both
vertical and lateral heterogeneity. Often inter bedded
lithologies with beds below the vertical resolution of
the measuring device are described as complex. From
the standpoint of NMR such a lithology can be
expected to have a wide range of surface relaxivities
and pore sizes and the sensitive volume may cross
several rock types which may affect the T 2 distribution.
In the first example the reservoir is best described as a
mixed siliclastic-carbonate lithology consisting of
shallow marine and tidal channel deposits that result in
a complicated, heterogeneous succession of interbedded
limestone, shale and sandstone. Porosities are generally
high, 0.15 – 0.2 v/v and the reservoir fluid is light oil
with a viscosity of around 10 cp at reservoir conditions.
There is a high volume of clay and glauconite is present
in some intervals.
Quad-combo logs and a previous generation NMR log
were also acquired in this well (R. Khamatdinov et al,
2003 provides details of this tool). This enabled a direct
comparison between the old and new generation tools.
SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018

The logging objectives were an accurate porosity-
permeability, an estimate of residual hydrocarbon
saturation, radial saturation analysis, and integrated
resistivity based saturations and if possible some
measure of viscosity.
T1 activation sequence and high SNR T2 data
(Figure 11) proved to be very useful to define a
reasonable T2 cut-off at 75 ms in this complex
lithology reservoir.

A special activation sequence was designed such that

one band had a similar depth of investigation as the old
generation tool, which after accounting for 0.5 inch
standoff, equates to a DOI of 3.08 inches and was
obtained from band 6 (a nominal frequency of 555
kHz). For accurate porosity fully polarized long echo
trains (0.7 s acquisition) were placed on two bands with
high SNR and different DOIs. These were
accompanied by a set of burst echoes to resolve both
fast components and long components in the presence
of anticipated clay and glauconite. Multiple wait times
from 10 ms to 6 s with short echo spacings were
designed to map the T1 spectrum while echo trains with
different echo spacing on different frequency bands
were designed to provide a broad range of diffusivity
coverage (see Figure 7 for this sequence). Fig. 11. Complex lithology free fluid cut off
picked from T1-T2 map.
A main and a repeat pass were done with this activation
sequence and a third pass was performed with a Heavy Oil Reservoir
different activation sequence to test the ability to
change activations. This new sequence was designed to SPE defines heavy oil as liquid petroleum of less
enhance diffusivity measurements by a wide range of than 20°API gravity or more than 200 cp viscosity at
TE’s across multiple bands. A comparison of these runs reservoir conditions. No explicit differentiation is
showed consistent results between passes and a made between heavy oil and extra heavy oil (oil
comparison of the real time logs can be seen in the Log sands), although the criteria of less than 12°API
Example 1. gravity and greater than 10,000 cp with a gas oil
ratio (GOR) less than 50 scf/bbl are sometimes used.
At the top of the logged section the hole is washed out
by over 25 mm. It can be clearly seen that the new Without any doubt, the greatest challenge in the
generation tool is unaffected while the older tool NMR analysis of extra heavy oil is its
reads some borehole leading to an overestimation identification from the water signal in BVI or
of capillary bound fluid and porosity. Apart from CBW. Beside the lack of spectral resolution, the
this zone both tools exhibit similar characteristics NMR properties of BVI, CBW and Extra Heavy
and similar total porosities. A comparison of Oil are too similar to separate them when they
processed results from both tools can be seen in overlap in single T1 or T2 spectra or in 2DNMR
the Log Example 2. maps. New approaches based on statistical
analysis and Machine Learning seems very
Deciding what free fluid cut-off to use is a promising (P. Romero, 2009) to separate extra
different, but not uncommon problem for complex heavy oil from water signals.
reservoirs. In a different well the lithology was a
mixture of sandstone, dolomite, limestone and The NMR T2 spectrum of the extra-heavy oil
some shale intercalations. The well was drilled shows a peak at less than 10 ms, which is wider
with brine of a salinity of 120 kppm. Without any compared to light oils because of the presence of
information from the operator the initial NMR T2 dissolved water. The T1, however, can increase 3
cut-off for free fluid was chosen to be 33 ms for to 10 times over T2. The higher the oil viscosity
the sandstone and 92 ms for the limestone. The the more likely is that the oil signal cannot be
high spectral resolution T1-T2 map from a special captured totally by the NMR tool, this implies that
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 SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018

the NMR porosity will be less compared to the

reference porosity from Density/Neutron logs.
This under call of porosity will reflect the
remaining oil saturation and is shown on the
example log as Bitumen Indicator (see Log
Example 3).

Apart from the ability to identify heavy oil and

moveable water in the oil sand zones the use of
NMR data to provide information on cap rock
integrity was tested by performing some stationary
measurements in the overburden shale and the oil
sand itself.

The activation sequence needs to ensure good

coverage of T2 spectrum for the fluids expected
and accurate representation of the T2 spectrum to
provide viscosity and permeability indexes and
provide a good comparison for core NMR
measurements – provide cut offs. After entering
the supplied reservoir and fluid parameters into
planning software adjustments was need to the
band selection as shown in Figure 12.

Heavy Oil Activation Sequence

Bands

Fig. 13. Clay signal in predominantly shale section in

Time, ms T2D (upper) and T1T2 (lower) maps.

Fig. 12. Heavy oil activation example. The timing
diagram is color coded based on TE, blue 400 μs,
brown 600 μs, yellow 800 μs, green 1600 μs pink
3200 μs and red 4800 μs.
It was hoped to identify the bitumen using a range
of TE: there should be a decrease in porosity going
from a TE of 0.4 to 0.8 ms.
Stationary Measurements
Stationary data was acquired for radial profiling.
Cycle times are in the order of 40 seconds. Figure 14
shows an example stationary activation sequence
which enables comprehensive data acquisition for
each individual band from which the volumetric fluid
fractions and a saturation profile calculated.

The results from a water sand and the oil sand are
shown in Log examples 4 and 5. The water sand
shows predominantly free water with a small
volume of clay and bound water. The oil sand is
mainly bitumen with a small volume of bound
water and clay. The bitumen signal is very
different from the clay signal seen in the water
sand or seen in the shale at 2.5 ms T2 as seen on
theT2-D the map in Figure 13.
13
Stationary measurements are useful for obtaining a
good T1 measurement for calculating the T1/T2 ratio
which often assumed, incorrectly, as 1.5, or for
obtaining a SNR value to guide the stacking of the
continuous logged measurements. Another use of
stationary measurements is to assess formation damage
by comparing results on different bands. Figure 15
shows an example of radial profiling and Figure 16
shows a stationary measurement.
SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018
Fig. 14. Stationary activation sequence for radial
profiling. The timing diagram is color coded based on
TE, blue 400 μs, brown 600 μs, yellow 800 μs, green
1600 μs pink 3200 μs and red 4800 μs.
Fig. 15. Stationary measurement profile with band
number and their DOIs adjusted for 0.5 inch standoff
showing fluid invasion on the shallowest band 0; other
bands are stable.
Unconventional Reservoir
Unconventional reservoirs are often characterized by
fast decays caused by nano and micro pore sizes with
fluid types and distributions obscured by mixed
wettability.
Early evaluation strategies involved triple combo
measurement for resource identification and cross
dipole acoustic logs for mechanical properties (Q.
Passey et al, 2010 and A. Hameed et al, 2014).
Historically the first usage of NMR was NMR porosity
combined with density as a TOC indicator and later the
use of T2-D techniques for interpreting gas shale and
14
oil shale reservoirs was demonstrated to be of value
(Cao Minh et al, 2012; B. Nicot et al, 2016 and R.
Kausik et al, 2016). More recently T1-T2 interpretation
due to faster measurements and specialized activation
sequences have become popular (Boqin Sun et al, 2016;
V. Anand et al, 2017).
Fig. 16. Stationary measurement example for group 0.
Noise stabilizes rapidly (blue curve) after the indicated
time (magenta line). The 2D maps show progressive
stabilization with time. The final cumulative map is
used for fluid typing and saturation calculations.
The difficulty of distinguishing gas from water for fluid
typing in low permeability or unconventional reservoirs
with conventional NMR T2 analysis has been discussed
by many authors (M. Mullen et al, 2005). The inclusion
of T1 is advantageous as T1 is insensitive to diffusion so
the gas signal is clearly separate from water in the T 1
spectrum in these types of reservoirs. Because of the
difficulty of measuring diffusion in nanopores , the
T1/T2 ratio is preferred to T2-D for differentiating
between oil and water.
In this example the calculation of accurate water
saturation was a key part of the reservoir evaluation
strategy in a series of alternating conventional and
unconventional reservoir layers in the Permian Basin.
 SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018
Rig time constraints meant that a logging speed of 7
fpm was used. A special activation sequence was
designed for the combination of challenging
interpretation objective and logging speed, and enabled
optimized T1-T2 maps to be made at regular spaced
depth intervals. The NMR porosity comes from the T1
distribution rather than the more usual T 2 distribution.
There was some concern that the short T w values
necessary for this logging speed may under call
porosity in the better porosity conventional reservoir so
the provision of a polarization correction was made for
these zones.
Changes were made in the processing software to
accommodate multiple components in addition to those
for the standard hydrocarbons and water ones. These
components are user defined on the basis of T 1 and T2
values or by selecting an area on the relevant map to
form the underlying fluid model used to calculate
saturations (Figure 17).
The maps are used to compute water saturation on a
depth-by-depth level based on a multiple component
fluid model with appropriate statistical properties. Each
spot in the T1-T2 space represents a fluid component
from which a volume fraction is calculated. Integrating
the volume fractions gives the total porosity.
CBW+BVI= 70%
Water: 10%
HC: 20%
Fig. 17. Additional user-defined hydrocarbon
component on T1T2 map in an unconventional
reservoir, with calculated saturations.
There are diverse relaxation mechanisms in the
conventional and unconventional layers, and
hydrocarbon spot positions will reflect either viscosity
15
(for bulk relaxation) or pore-size distribution (for
Surface/Volume relaxation), whereas water tends to be
aligned closely to the T1 equal to T2 line. Low
permeability means that mud filtrate invasion is not
problematic.
The T1 porosity was found to match the expected values
based on core and density-neutron log analysis and T1-
T2 map derived water saturation that includes CBW,
BVI and free water. It also agreed with values from
tested intervals.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
A new generation focused NMR service uses a holistic
combination of hardware, job planning and processing
to address fundamental challenges in the evaluation of
conventional and unconventional reservoirs.
The design and operation of the tool is tightly
integrated with the design of the data processing and
analysis, and manifests itself (for example) in highly
flexible activation sequences which are capable of
being optimized for particular interpretational needs.
This is particularly useful for fluid typing from T2-D
and T1-T2 in unconventional or more complex
reservoirs, noting that the existence of a theoretically
optimum sequence is no guarantee that it can be
physically realized.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to acknowledge M. Morys, S.
Knizhnik and D. Avdeev, of PetroMar Technologies
Inc., and J. Pumphrey of Logicom E&P for their help
and assistance during this project, and P. Pavalakos of
Weatherford for processing and interpretation
contributions.
REFERENCES
Akkurt R., Kersey D. and Zainalabedin K. (2009).
Towards everyday-NMR: an operator’s perspective.
Petrophysics, 50, 6, December 2009.
Anand V., Sun B., Mosse L, Mutina A., Jiang T.,
Brown R.L., and Crousse L. (2017). Toward accurate
reservoir characterization from new-generation NMR
logging. SPWLA 58th Annual Logging Symposium,
paper BBB.
SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018
Chen, S., Ostroff, G., Georgi, D.T., (1998) Improving
estimation of NMR log T2cutoff value with core NMR
and capillary pressure measurements. International
Symposium of the Society of Core Analysts, The
Hague, The Netherlands, September 14-16, paper 9822.
Dunn K.J., Bergman D.J. and Latorraca G.A. (2002).
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Petrophysical and
Logging Applications. Pergamon Press.
Fay E.L., Grombacher D.J., and Knight R.J. (2017).
Investigating the effect of internal gradients on static
gradient nuclear magnetic resonance diffusion
measurements. Geophysics, 82, 5, pp D293–D301.
Hameed A., Bacciarelli M. and Williams P.J., (2014).
Unconventional reservoir formation evaluation
challenges addressed with deployment-optimized
openhole logging solutions. SPE Eastern Regional
Meeting held in Charleston, West Virginia, USA, 21–
23 October 2014.
Hiraski G.J., Lo S.W. and Bechtel Y.Z., (2002). NMR
properties of petroleum reservoir fluids. 6th
International Conference on Magnetic Resonance in
Porous Media, Ulm, Germany, September 8-12, 2002.
Kausik R., Fellah K. , Rylander E., Singer P.M., Lewis
R.E. and Sinclair S.M., (2016) NMR relaxometry in
shale and implications for logging. Petrophysics 57, 4,
August 2016.
Kenyon W.E. (1997) Petrophysical principles of
applications of NMR logging. Log Analyst March-
April 1997.
Khamatdinov, R., Mityushin, E., Murtsovkin, V., Tiller,
D., and Jonkers, J., (2003). Field test of a new nuclear
magnetic resonance tool. SPWLA 44th Annual Logging
Symposium, paper AAA.
Minh C.C., Crary S.F., Zielinski L. Liu C.B., Jones S.
and Jacobsen S. (2012). 2D-NMR applications in
unconventional reservoirs. SPE Canadian
Unconventional Resources Conference held in Calgary,
Alberta, Canada, 30 October–1 November 2012.
Mullen M., Gegg J., Bonnie R., Cherry R. and Riggert
G., (2005). Fluid typing with T1 NMR: incorporating
T1 and T2 measurements for improved interpretation in
tight gas sands and unconventional reservoirs. SPWLA
46th Annual Logging Symposium, paper III.
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Nicot B., Vorapalawut N., Rousseau B., Madariaga
L.F., Hamon G, and Korb J.P., (2016). Estimating
saturations in organic shales using 2D NMR.
Petrophysics, 57, 1, February 2016.
Passey Q,R., Bohacs K.M., Esch W.L., Klimentidis R.,
and Sinha S., (2011). From oil-prone source rock to
gas-producing shale reservoirs – geologic and
petrophysical characterization of unconventional shale-
gas reservoirs. SPE 131350, Transactions, SPE
Americas Unconventional Gas Conference.
Romero P, (2009). Determination of heavy oil viscosity
as a function of the ratio of log means of T1 to T2
NMR relaxation times. International Geophysical
Conference and Exposition, Beijing, China, Volume:
2009: pp. 269-269.
Sun B., Yang E., Wang H., Seltzer S.J., Montoya V.,
Crowe J. and Malizia T., (2016). Using NMR to
characterize fluids in tight rock unconventional and
shale formations. SPWLA 57th Annual Logging
Symposium, paper PP.
Toumelin E., Torres-Verdin C, Sun B and Dunn K.J.,
(2006) Limits of 2D NMR interpretation techniques to
quantify pore size, wettability, and fluid type: a
numerical sensitivity study. SPE Journal September
2006.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Mark Bacciarelli is a Principal Research Geoscientist
at Weatherford based in the UK, working on a diverse
range of subjects including NMR, Well Integrity, Rock
Physics, and Geoscience Software Development. After
graduating from Imperial College, London with a
degree in petroleum geology he began his career as a
geophysicist before moving to the oilfield. Since then
he has accumulated over 30 years oilfield experience in
all aspects of drilling and evaluation, including LWD,
surface logging, wireline and core analysis. For most of
his career he has worked internationally with several
companies including CGG, Baker Hughes and
Weatherford, and has extensive experience from Asia,
America, Europe, Middle East and Australia.
Pedro Romero has been Principal Research
Geoscientist at Weatherford since early 2017. His prior
professional experience had been as Engineering and
Petrophysics Chief at Halliburton Technology Center in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and at the Deep Water Reservoir
Group in Houston, Texas. He also worked as Research
 SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018

Scientist and Manager at Baker Hughes Inc. in
Houston, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, and seven
years at Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA-Intevep),
where he started his R&D career in NMR-Petrophysics
in 1996. He received his Doctor of Engineering in
Electrical Engineering (1994) and Diploma in
Experimental Physics (MSc.) from the University of
Siegen, in Germany.
Peter Elkington is Chief Geoscientist for Weatherford’s
Geoscience Development group where he is responsible
for managing R&D projects focused on data integration
and advanced processing. Between 2004 and 2009 he
was Weatherford’s Eastern Hemisphere Geoscience
Manager, and prior to 2004 worked for Reeves Oilfield
Services in R&D, Operational Support, and Commercial
Management. He holds BSc degrees in Geology and
Mining Engineering, and a PhD from the University of
Nottingham, UK for work on rock strength predictions
from logs. He is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered
Scientist, and has authored or co-authored over 30
technical papers and articles.

LOG EXAMPLES

Log Example 1. Real time NMR data (from groups 0 and 1) from 3 runs over the same interval showing good
agreement. Run 3 used a different activation sequence. NMR resolution and character is comparable with the density
and neutron logs.

17
SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018

Log Example 2. New vs prior generation tool response. The new sidewall tool is unaffected by washouts (top
rectangle) and shows better resolution and fluid definition (lower rectangle) relative to the old tool, even though the
character and porosity of both tools are similar. Both data sets are processed for T2 using the same stacking and a
1D Bspline inversion. The older tool does not resolve the clays as well due to a larger echo spacing of 1.2 ms for the
main echo channel and 0.8 ms for the burst channel compared with 0.4 ms for both the main and burst channels for
the new tool.

18
 SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018

Log Example 3. NMR as a bitumen indicator in a heavy oil reservoir.

19
SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018

Log Example 4. T2-D and T1-T2 maps for a stationary measurement in a water sand, giving a T1/T2 of 1.5, shown
alongside a resistivity image spanning about 1.8 m of formation. The red line shows the NMR vertical resolution (18
inches) and the position of the measurement. The log on the left shows the T2 distribution, gamma, neutron, density,
PE, partial porosities and the position of the station. Both T1-T2 and T2-D show a strong water signal at 200 ms and
290 ms respectively and faint spots can be seen on both maps indicating that this zone is predominantly water with very
small volumes of clay and capillary bound water at around 3 ms and 32 ms respectively on T2-D map.

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 SPWLA 59th Annual Logging Symposium, June 2-6, 2018

Log Example 5. T2-D and T1-T2 maps for a stationary measurement in an oil sand, giving a T1/T2 of 2.5 for the
heavy oil and 1.5 for the water, shown alongside a resistivity image spanning about 1.8 m of formation. The red line
shows the NMR vertical resolution (18 inches) and the position of the measurement. The log on the left shows the T2
distribution; gamma, density, neutron, PE, partial porosities and the position of the station. The T2-D map shows some
free water around 308 ms and some bound water at 36 ms. The spot at 0.9 ms is interpreted as heavy oil; it occurs close
to the oil, but some streaking is indicative of some clay signal.

21