Solutions in the Mineral and Energy Sector

1. Core Porosity, Permeability, and Saturation Measurement

The porosity, permeability, and saturation of cores are key physical parameters in petroleum exploration. Accurate measurements of these properties are critical for correctly evaluating and analysing petroleum reservoirs.

In recent years, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) logging has emerged as a primary technique for reservoir evaluation and has become a research hotspot in petroleum exploration. The pore size of a porous medium is intrinsically linked to the relaxation behaviour of fluids within the core. By leveraging NMR technology, we can obtain highly accurate measurements of core porosity, permeability, and saturation. Compared with conventional logging methods, such as resistivity, neutron, density, and sonic logging, NMR offers simpler operation and more precise results. Additionally, it has enabled breakthroughs in cable-side well and downhole analysis.

2. Moisture Content and Porosity Analysis of Coal Powder

The moisture content and porosity of coal powder directly influence combustion rate, flue gas volume, dust generation, and powder flowability, making them important indicators of coal quality. As a common porous medium, coal powder is ideally suited for analysis using NMR. Since the pore structure is closely linked to the relaxation behaviour of fluids within the powder, NMR enables highly accurate measurement of moisture content and porosity, as well as precise evaluation of water distribution within the pores. Compared with traditional methods, NMR offers simpler operation, faster testing, and more reliable results.

3. Oil Content in Oil Sands and Oil Sludge

The world’s oil sand resources are abundant, with reserves far exceeding those of conventional petroleum. To address the increasing pressure on conventional energy supplies, more oil sands and oil sludge are being processed into synthetic crude oil. Oil content is a critical indicator of whether a deposit has industrial exploitation value and can even serve as a decisive criterion. Oil sands and oil sludge are typical porous media, with oil molecules stored within the pore spaces. NMR, as a leading technique for porous material analysis, leverages the relationship between pore size and fluid relaxation behaviour to accurately determine oil content. Traditional solvent extraction methods require complex equipment and procedures, are time-consuming, and often yield less reliable results. NMR, on the other hand, is simple to operate, fast, and delivers stable, reliable measurements.

4. Crude Oil Viscosity Prediction

Viscosity is a key parameter in the petroleum industry, particularly important for heavy oil and bitumen production. As viscosity increases, conventional measurement methods lose accuracy and may struggle to provide results. NMR presents a superior alternative, offering rapid, objective, and non-destructive measurements even under high-viscosity conditions. The relaxation time of a liquid correlates with its viscosity; water, light oil, and heavy oil each exhibit distinct T2 values. By analysing the T2 distribution of a sample using specialised software, the viscosity of the oil can be accurately predicted.