Nuclear magnetic reasonance fluid characterization apparatus and method for using with electric wireline formation testing instruments

• US 6,111,409 A
• Filed: 03/02/1998
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Western Atlas International Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Western Atlas International Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Forgang, Stanislav W., Fanini, Otto N., Edwards, Carl M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oda, Christine K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fetzner, Tiffany A.
• Application Number:
  US09/033,104
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 324/303
• US Class Current: 324/303
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 24/081 Making measurements of geologic samples, e.g. measurements of moisture, pH, porosity, permeability, tortuosity or viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/32 operating with electron or nuclear magnetic resonance

Abstract

A method for characterizing a fluid sample withdrawn from an earth formation. The method includes performing nuclear magnetic resonant spin echo measurements on the fluid sample at a nuclear magnetic resonant frequency of carbon-13. Amplitudes of the spin echo measurements are summed. The summed measurements are spectrally analyzed. The fluid is characterized by determining whether aromatic hydrocarbons are present by measuring an amplitude of the spectrally analyzed spin echo measurements at about 130 part per million shift from the carbon-13 frequency. The fluid is also characterized by determining whether aliphatic hydrocarbons are present by measuring an amplitude of the spectrally analyzed spin echo measurements at about 30 parts per million frequency shift.

Claims

1. A method for characterizing a fluid sample withdrawn from an earth formation, comprising:

performing magnetic resonant spin echo measurements on said fluid sample at a magnetic resonant frequency of carbon-13;

summing amplitudes of said spin echo measurements;

spectrally analyzing said summed amplitudes;

determining whether aromatic hydrocarbons are present in said fluid sample by measuring an amplitude of said spectrally analyzed summed amplitudes at about 130 parts per million shift from said carbon-13 resonant frequency and determining whether aliphatic hydrocarbons are present in said fluid sample by measuring an amplitude of said spectrally analyzed summed amplitudes at about 30 parts per million frequency shift from said carbon-13 resonant frequency.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising improving a signal-to-noise ratio of said spin echo measurements by:

performing spin echo measurements on a first portion of said sample during a wait time between sets of said spin echo measurements performed on a second portion of said sample, said first portion substantially unaffected by a radio frequency magnetic field used to make said spin echo measurements on said second portion; and

stacking said spin echo measurements made on said first portion and said second portion.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising measuring a magnitude of a static magnetic field used to make said spin echo measurements and superimposing a selectable magnitude magnetic field on said static magnetic field to compensate for temperature induced changes in said magnitude of said static magnetic field.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising performing nuclear magnetic resonance spin echo amplitude measurements at a resonant frequency of hydrogen nuclei, and determining a relaxation rate of said hydrogen nuclei.

5. An apparatus for characterizing a fluid sample withdrawn from an earth formation, comprising:

a magnet for inducing a substantially homogeneous static magnetic field in at least a portion of said sample;

a first antenna for inducing a radio frequency magnetic field in said at least a portion of said sample, said radio frequency magnetic field substantially perpendicular to a magnetization direction of said static magnetic field;

circuits coupled to said antenna for performing nuclear magnetic resonance spin echo measurements at a nuclear magnetic resonant frequency of carbon-13, said circuits including means for stacking said spin echo measurements over a measurement sequence; and

a spectral analyzer for measuring amplitudes of components of said spin echo measurements at frequency shifts of 30 and 130 parts per million from said resonant frequency.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising:

at least one additional antenna switchably coupled to said circuits for performing said nuclear magnetic resonance measurements, so that spin echo measurements can be performed during a wait time between measurements sequences performed using said first antenna on a portion of said fluid sample substantially unaffected by radio frequency magnetic fields radiated by said first antenna; and

circuits for stacking measurements made by said first antenna and said at least one additional antenna.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising:

a sensor for measuring a magnitude of said homogeneous static magnetic field induced by said magnets in said fluid sample;

shim coils located proximal to said fluid sample, said shim coils for inducing a selectable magnitude magnetic field on said fluid sample superimposed on said static magnetic field; and

circuits for imparting a direct current to said shim coils in response to an output of said sensor, said direct current adjusted by said circuits to maintain a substantially constant magnetic field amplitude in said fluid sample.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising circuits selectively coupled to said antenna for performing nuclear magnetic resonance spin echo measurements at a nuclear magnetic resonant frequency of hydrogen nuclei.

9. An apparatus for characterizing a fluid sample withdrawn from an earth formation, comprising:

a probe for selective hydraulic engagement with said earth formation;

a pump coupled to said probe for selectively withdrawing said fluid sample from said formation; and

a nuclear magnetic resonance sensor in hydraulic communication with said pump and said probe, said sensor comprising a magnet for inducing a substantially homogeneous static magnetic field in at least a portion of said sample, a first antenna for inducing a radio frequency magnetic field in said at least a portion of said sample, said radio frequency magnetic field substantially perpendicular to a magnetization direction of said static magnetic field, circuits coupled to said antenna for performing nuclear magnetic resonance spin echo measurements at a nuclear magnetic resonant frequency of carbon-13, said circuits including means for stacking said spin echo measurements over a measurement sequence, and a spectral analyzer for measuring amplitudes of components of said spin echo measurements at frequency shifts of 30 and 130 parts per million from said resonant frequency.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 further comprising:

at least one additional antenna switchably coupled to said circuits for performing said nuclear magnetic resonance measurements, so that spin echo measurements can be performed during a wait time between measurements sequences performed using said first antenna on a portion of said fluid sample substantially unaffected by radio frequency magnetic fields radiated by said first antenna; and

circuits for stacking measurements made by said first antenna and said at least one additional antenna.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 further comprising:

a sensor for measuring a magnitude of said homogeneous static magnetic field induced by said magnets in said fluid sample;

shim coils located proximal to said fluid sample, said shim coils for inducing a selectable magnitude magnetic field on said fluid sample superimposed on said static magnetic field; and

circuits for imparting a direct current to said shim coils in response to an output of said sensor, said direct current adjusted by said circuits to maintain a substantially constant magnetic field amplitude in said fluid sample.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 further comprising circuits selectively coupled to said antenna for performing nuclear magnetic resonance spin echo measurements at a nuclear magnetic resonant frequency of hydrogen nuclei.

13. A method for characterizing a fluid sample withdrawn from an earth formation, comprising:

placing a probe in hydraulic communication with said earth formation, said probe forming part of an electric wireline formation testing instrument;

withdrawing fluid by operating a pump in selective hydraulic communication with said probe;

conducting said fluid into a sample chamber disposed in said instrument for performing nuclear magnetic resonance measurements on said fluid therein, said measurements comprising performing magnetic resonant spin echo measurements on said fluid sample at a nuclear magnetic resonant frequency of carbon-13, summing amplitudes of said spin echo measurements, spectrally analyzing said summed amplitudes, and determining whether aromatic hydrocarbons are present in said fluid sample by measuring an amplitude of said spectrally analyzed summed amplitudes at about 130 part per million shift from said carbon-13 frequency and determining whether aliphatic hydrocarbons are present in said fluid sample by measuring an amplitude of said spectrally analyzed summed amplitudes at about 30 parts per million frequency shift.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 further comprising improving a signal-to-noise ratio of said spin echo measurements by:

performing spin echo measurements on a first portion of said sample during a wait time between sets of said spin echo measurements performed on a second portion of said sample, said first portion substantially unaffected by a radio frequency magnetic field used to make said spin echo measurements on said second portion; and

stacking said spin echo measurements made on said first portion and said second portion.

15. The method as defined in claim 13 further comprising measuring a magnitude of a static magnetic field used to make said spin echo measurements and superimposing a selectable magnitude magnetic field on said static magnetic field to compensate for temperature induced changes in said magnitude of said static magnetic field.

16. The method as defined in claim 13 further comprising performing nuclear magnetic resonance spin echo amplitude measurements at a resonant frequency of hydrogen nuclei, and determining a nuclear magnetic relaxation rate of said hydrogen nuclei.

17. The method as defined in claim 13 further comprising performing nuclear magnetic resonance spin echo measurements at a resonant frequency of sodium-23 ions in aqueous solution, summing amplitudes of said sodium-23 spin echo measurements, and determining a relative concentration of sodium ions in said fluid sample.