Method of determining solid and liquid components in sedimentary rocks using NMR relaxation
US12228531B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 2023 |
| Grant date | Feb 18, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 16, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V3/32
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for separating liquid-like (T2e) from solid-like (T2G) 1H NMR transverse relaxation times in porous media uses novel pulse sequences together with a 1H NMR spectrometer optimized for geological core samples. The method is applied to obtain 1D T2 distributions and 2D T1-T2 maps in organic-rich chalks for quantification of liquid-like signal (micropore fluids, meso-macropore fluids, fluids dissolved in organic matter, and clay-bound water) and solid-like signal (kerogen, bitumen, and clay hydroxyls). The novel pulse sequences comprise a solid-echo, which detects more solid-like signal than an FID. The method is used for fluid typing in micro/meso-macro pores, clay mineral identification, determination of kerogen content, and quantification of solvent-extracted bitumen versus bitumen expelled from kerogen due to swelling from dissolved hydrocarbons. The method is used to quantify the asphaltene, resin, aromatic, and/or saturate content of bitumen in the rock.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.