Quantum Dipolar Coupling Thermal Correction for NMR Signal during Natural Rock Flooding by Melding Experimentation and Numerical Simulation (Th-CENS)

Abstract

Researchers have used NMR to measure multi-phase fluid saturation and distribution inside porous media of natural rock. However, the NMR signal amplitude suffers reduction with the increase of temperature. The main reason is the Transverse Overhauser Effect, where heating increases the freedom for ionic motion, affecting spinning behavior by having two spins go in two opposite directions to form the Dipolar Coupling. We approach solving NMR thermal effects correction by melding experimentation and numerical simulation method. We use NMR for Cretaceous carbonate rock multi-phase flow research. We conduct time step in-situ temperature measurement for four different sections of the flooding system at the inlet, center, and outlet along the flooding path. In addition, we conduct a temperature measurement at the NMR device radial axis, representing the permanent magnet temperature. We build a 3D cylindrical heat transfer model for the numerical simulator that simulates thermal effect distribution on the NMR for optimally generating the correction model. The insight provided by the simulator improved the understanding of the thermal distribution at the natural rock core plug to produce a better thermal correction model that meld experimentation and simulation, a method we call Th-CENS.