What are the latest innovations and developments in MRI technology and applications for petrophysics?

1 MRI principles and challenges

MRI is based on the interaction of magnetic fields and radio waves with the nuclei of certain atoms, such as hydrogen, that have a magnetic moment. By applying a strong static magnetic field and a sequence of radio frequency pulses, MRI can manipulate and measure the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals from these atoms, and use them to create images or spectra of the sample. However, applying MRI to petrophysics poses some challenges, such as the low signal-to-noise ratio, the heterogeneity and complexity of the porous media, and the influence of the fluid properties and dynamics.

2 MRI hardware and software

To overcome some of the challenges of MRI for petrophysics, researchers and engineers have developed various hardware and software solutions that can enhance the performance and versatility of MRI systems. For example, some of the hardware innovations include high-field magnets, multi-channel coils, gradient systems, flow cells, and temperature and pressure control devices. Some of the software innovations include advanced pulse sequences, signal processing algorithms, image reconstruction methods, and data analysis tools.

3 MRI techniques and parameters

Depending on the research question and the sample characteristics, different MRI techniques and parameters can be used to obtain different types of information for petrophysics. For example, some of the MRI techniques include spin-echo, gradient-echo, inversion-recovery, diffusion-weighted, relaxometry, spectroscopy, and flow imaging. Some of the MRI parameters include relaxation times, diffusion coefficients, pore size distributions, fluid types, saturation, viscosity, permeability, and velocity.

4 MRI applications and benefits

MRI has a wide range of applications and benefits for petrophysics, as it can provide quantitative and qualitative insights into the structure and behavior of reservoirs and their fluids. For example, some of the MRI applications include rock typing, porosity estimation, wettability determination, fluid identification, saturation mapping, capillary pressure measurement, relative permeability estimation, enhanced oil recovery monitoring, and multiphase flow visualization. Some of the benefits of MRI include its non-invasive and non-destructive nature, its high spatial resolution and contrast, its sensitivity to fluid properties and dynamics, and its compatibility with core analysis and numerical modeling.

5 MRI limitations and opportunities

Despite its advantages, MRI also has some limitations and opportunities for improvement and innovation for petrophysics. For example, some of the limitations include its high cost and complexity, its low signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity, its susceptibility to magnetic susceptibility artifacts and external noise, its requirement for homogeneous and stable magnetic fields, and its difficulty in scaling up to field conditions. Some of the opportunities include developing new hardware and software solutions, exploring new MRI techniques and parameters, integrating MRI with other methods and data sources, and validating MRI results with experiments and simulations.

6 MRI future and trends

MRI is a dynamic and evolving field that has a promising future and trends for petrophysics. Some of the future and trends include increasing the field strength and the number of channels, enhancing the gradient strength and the spatial resolution, expanding the range of temperature and pressure conditions, optimizing the pulse sequences and the signal processing, applying machine learning and artificial intelligence to MRI data analysis, and collaborating with other disciplines and industries to address complex and multidisciplinary problems.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?