Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Technology: The 'Stethoscope' and 'Scalpel' in the Hands of Oil and Gas Experts

Overview

 

How can we unlock more oil and gas resources? How can we optimise reservoir stimulation, enhancement, and protection? What role can nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) play as an advanced analytical method in this context?

Studies show that in a person’s lifetime, over 8,469 kg of petroleum is consumed simply to meet basic needs like food, clothing, housing, and transportation. As a key strategic resource, oil and gas are critical not only to daily life but also to global economic development. After more than a century of extraction, traditional reserves are depleting, and exploration has shifted from conventional to unconventional sources, from land to sea, from shallow to deep waters—posing greater technical and equipment challenges.

In response to these questions, Instrument.com.cn recently interviewed Professor Tang Hongming from the National Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Development Engineering at Southwest Petroleum University, as well as Dr. Lai Jie, a member of the research team led by Professor Guo Jianchun, Vice President of Southwest Petroleum University.

Using Low-Field NMR to “Diagnose” Reservoirs

 

Reservoirs are the fundamental geological units that store oil and gas in the Earth’s crust. Most petroleum is extracted from these naturally sealed formations, which act as underground storage tanks. These reservoirs are broadly classified into conventional and unconventional types. In recent years, with the discovery of more unconventional resources and the deepening of research, traditional geological theories have become inadequate for today’s exploration needs.

This has prompted a shift in academic focus toward unconventional reservoirs such as shale gas and tight oil. Professor Tang Hongming is one of the leading researchers in this field.

Professor Tang Hongming, Southwest Petroleum University

Prof. Tang is a professor at Southwest Petroleum University and a part-time researcher at the National Key Laboratory for Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Development. He is also a selected academic and technical leader for Sichuan Province. His research spans reservoir damage mechanisms, protection technologies, and evaluation methods for unconventional oil and gas development. Since 2000, he has led or participated in five National Natural Science Foundation projects, three major national oil and gas programs, and one 863 Program project. He has received one First Prize and four Second Prizes at the provincial and ministerial levels, holds ten invention patents, and has published more than 150 academic papers (including ~20 SCI-indexed).

First Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress (Provincial/Ministerial Level)

Reservoir protection is one of Prof. Tang’s core research areas. This technology must be applied throughout the reservoir lifecycle—from drilling to depletion—and is focused on preserving or enhancing pore permeability to enable efficient and sustainable extraction. Influenced by pioneers such as former President Zhang Shaohuai of Southwest Petroleum Institute and Academician Luo Pingya, Prof. Tang joined the field in 1989 after completing his bachelor’s degree. Over the past 30 years, he has established a unique interdisciplinary approach, combining petroleum geology and engineering to address core technical challenges.

His team has developed reservoir protection and evaluation methods that have been successfully applied in Bohai (CNOOC), Xinjiang Oilfield, and Tarim Oilfield (CNPC), achieving significant social and economic impact.

Prof. Tang visiting China’s first shale gas well in Weiyuan, Sichuan

Another focus of Prof. Tang’s research is unconventional reservoir geology. His team investigates key control factors for high-quality reservoirs in shale gas and tight oil formations—including sedimentation, diagenesis, heterogeneity, pore structure, and movable fluid saturation. With deepening research, low-field NMR has become an essential tool.

Low-field NMR data from Prof. Tang’s research (excerpt)

“I first heard of NMR during my graduate studies,” recalled Prof. Tang. “At that time, most systems were imported and prohibitively expensive. But with the rise of unconventional oil and gas, the number of publications on low-field NMR applications exploded—and owning an NMR system became a dream for my team.”

Large-Bore NMR Imaging Analyzer MacroMR12-150H-I

During China’s 12th Five-Year Plan, Prof. Tang’s team acquired the MacroMR12-150H-I system from Niumag with support from a central government equipment procurement program. It has been used for T2 spectrum analysis to determine pore structure, fluid saturation, and throats; imaging has helped analyse micro-displacement and pore collapse mechanisms over time under water flooding.

Prof. Tang highlights NMR’s unique benefits: “It enables non-destructive, in-situ, quantitative analysis of fluid distribution and pore structure dynamics. Samples remain reusable, ensuring test reproducibility. With pressure-temperature control systems, lab simulations of downhole conditions become possible—guiding real-world operations.”

He added: “NMR is now an essential, irreplaceable technique for studying unconventional reservoirs. In the next few years, we expect breakthroughs in flow mechanisms, fluid-mineral interactions, spontaneous imbibition, and flowback behaviours. Niumag’s evolving NMR systems provide strong technical support for these challenges. We look forward to future upgrades—budget and space permitting.”

Low-field NMR: Rejuvenating the Lifeblood of Oil and Gas Reservoirs