Bruce J. Balcom

Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Petrographic Techniques to Understand the Textural Attributes and Porosity Distribution in Macaronichnus-Burrowed Sandstone

ABSTRACT Magnetic resonance images are paired with petrographic data to evaluate the textural characteristics of rocks dominated by Macaronichnus segregatis, a trace fossil that is commonly associated with rocks deposited in shallow, marginal marine sedimentary environments. MRI techniques used revealed the three-dimensional geometry of the trace fossil. Burrows are typically horizontal and in plan view range between straight, sinuous, meandering, and spiral geometries. Changes in burrow morphology may be related to population density and patchy resource distribution. The pairing of MRI and petrographic data helped map the distribution of porosity in the burrowed rock. Because MRI images represent complex composites of nuclear spin density and MR relaxation times, each of which is related to pore size, stronger MR signals must be calibrated to known porous zones by integrating petrographic data with MR data. The complex distribution of porosity and its relationship to the matrix show that this fabric represents a dual porosity-permeability system and may affect the resource (reservoir or aquifer) quality of similarly burrowed sedimentary rocks. Future research should elaborate upon the porosity-permeability model for this and similar fabrics.

SPIN ECHO SPI METHODS FOR QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF FLUIDS IN POROUS MEDIA

Fluid density imaging is highly desirable in a wide variety of porous media measurements. The SPRITE class of MRI methods has proven to be robust and general in their ability to generate density images in porous media, however the short encoding times required, with correspondingly high magnetic field gradient strengths and filter widths, and low flip angle RF pulses, yield sub-optimal S/N images, especially at low static field strength. This paper explores two implementations of pure phase encode spin echo 1D imaging, with application to a proposed new petroleum reservoir core analysis measurement. In the first implementation of the pulse sequence, we modify the spin echo single point imaging (SE-SPI) technique to acquire the k-space origin data point, with a near zero evolution time, from the free induction decay (FID) following a 90 degrees excitation pulse. Subsequent k-space data points are acquired by separately phase encoding individual echoes in a multi-echo acquisition. T(2) attenuation of the echo train yields an image convolution which causes blurring. The T(2) blur effect is moderate for porous media with T(2) lifetime distributions longer than 5 ms. As a robust, high S/N, and fast 1D imaging method, this method will be highly complementary to SPRITE techniques for the quantitative analysis of fluid content in porous media. In the second implementation of the SE-SPI pulse sequence, modification of the basic measurement permits fast determination of spatially resolved T(2) distributions in porous media through separately phase encoding each echo in a multi-echo CPMG pulse train. An individual T(2) weighted image may be acquired from each echo. The echo time (TE) of each T(2) weighted image may be reduced to 500 micros or less. These profiles can be fit to extract a T(2) distribution from each pixel employing a variety of standard inverse Laplace transform methods. Fluid content 1D images are produced as an essential by product of determining the spatially resolved T(2) distribution. These 1D images do not suffer from a T(2) related blurring. The above SE-SPI measurements are combined to generate 1D images of the local saturation and T(2) distribution as a function of saturation, upon centrifugation of petroleum reservoir core samples. The logarithm mean T(2) is observed to shift linearly with water saturation. This new reservoir core analysis measurement may provide a valuable calibration of the Coates equation for irreducible water saturation, which has been widely implemented in NMR well logging measurements.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Moisture Content Profiles of Drying Concrete

The spatial distribution of moisture in concrete, along with the role this moisture plays in various modes of deterioration, is of fundamental importance to the understanding of concrete behaviour. In this paper a new magnetic resonance imaging technique is utilized for the first time to obtain drying profiles of concrete with sub-millimetre resolution. This technique permits observation of the drying mechanisms, as well as the effects of water-cement ratio and moist curing time on drying behaviour.

The gelation of sodium alginate with calcium ions studied by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Abstract The displacement of the sol/gel interface during the gelation of sodium alginate by calcium ions can be tracked in both one and two dimensions using magnetic resonance imaging. In the one-dimensional gelation experiments, the distance moved by the sol/gel interface was proportional to (time 1 2 ), which implies that the gelation process is diffusion-limited. Using the gelation model previously proposed by Smidsrod and co-workers, together with the initial reaction conditions and assuming that the diffusion coefficient of the alginate molecules is extremely small, it was found that the diffusion of calcium ions through the gel network is dependent on the initial concentration of the calcium, the ionic strength of the alginate solution, and the size of pores in the gel which is formed.

A magnetic resonance study of pore filling processes during spontaneous imbibition in Berea sandstone

A new magnetic resonance technique, DDIF (the decay of magnetization due to diffusion in the internal field), was combined with mercury porosimetry to investigate pore geometry, including pore- and throat-size distribution, and pore connectivity for porous media. A comparison of DDIF spectra for a fully water saturated Berea sandstone, with the partially saturated sample by centrifugation in air, indicated that DDIF can be used for the measurement of water filled pore size distribution in partially saturated porous media. Dynamic water imbibition into air-filled Berea sandstone was studied using the DDIF technique. Simultaneously, in situ three-dimensional saturation and capillary driven water penetration were monitored using Conical-SPRITE, which is a rapid, centric scanning, spin-density weighted single point three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging technique. These measurements provide direct evidence for differences in the pore filling mechanisms for co-current imbibition and counter-current imbibition in Berea sandstone. During co-current imbibition, water flows through the pores and connected throats with a piston-type mechanism. Air is displaced from the sample by the leading edge of the waterfront, resulting in a macroscopic piston-like flow through the entire sample. During counter-current imbibition, water flows through the pores and connected throats with a film-like structure along the corners and surfaces of the pore space. Air escapes from the sample by flowing through the center of the pores and pore throats, in the opposite direction. Once the penetrating waterfronts meet, at the sample center, there is a global, uniform increase in water content.

Diffusion in Fe(II/III) radiation dosimetry gels measured by magnetic resonance imaging.

We analyse the diffusion problem in the traditional Fe(II/III) agarose gel system employed in MRI studies of radiation dosimetry. The diffusion coefficient is measured using an inversion recovery null-point imaging method in a model gel/water phantom. The diffusion coefficient of Fe(III) in 1% agarose gel at pH 1.1 is D = 2.7 +/- 0.3 x 10(-6) cm2 s-1. The diffusion coefficient of Fe(II) is D = 3.3 +/- 0.5 x 10(-6) cm2 s-1. Measurement of the diffusion coefficients permits simulation of the MRI signal intensity from phantoms with model radiation dose distributions. We allow for diffusion of both Fe(II) and Fe(III) in our simulations as well as the effect of both relaxation agents on the local spin-lattice relaxation time T1. We also analyse the effects of the physical penumbra on the diffusion problem.

Magnetic resonance imaging of water content across the Nafion membrane in an operational PEM fuel cell

Water management is critical to optimize the operation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. At present, numerical models are employed to guide water management in such fuel cells. Accurate measurements of water content variation in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells are required to validate these models and to optimize fuel cell behavior. We report a direct water content measurement across the Nafion membrane in an operational polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, employing double half k-space spin echo single point imaging techniques. The MRI measurements with T2 mapping were undertaken with a parallel plate resonator to avoid the effects of RF screening. The parallel plate resonator employs the electrodes inherent to the fuel cell to create a resonant circuit at RF frequencies for MR excitation and detection, while still operating as a conventional fuel cell at DC. Three stages of fuel cell operation were investigated: activation, operation and dehydration. Each profile was acquired in 6 min, with 6 microm nominal resolution and a SNR of better than 15.

T2 distribution mapping profiles with phase-encode MRI

Two 1-D phase-encode sequences for T₂ mapping, namely CPMG-prepared SPRITE and spin-echo SPI, are presented and compared in terms of image quality, accuracy of T₂ measurements and the measurement time. The sequences implement two different approaches to acquiring T₂-weighted images: in the CPMG-prepared SPRITE, the T₂-weighting of magnetization precedes the spatial encoding, while in the spin-echo SPI, the T₂-weighting follows the spatial encoding. The sequences are intended primarily for T₂ mapping of fluids in porous solids, where using frequency encode techniques may be problematic either due to local gradient distortions or too short T₂. Their possible applications include monitoring fluid-flow processes in rocks, cement paste hydration, curing of rubber, filtering paramagnetic impurities and other processes accomplished by changing site-specific T₂.

Visualizing the Internal Physical Characteristics of Carbonate Sediments with Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Petrography

ABSTRACT Magnetic resonance (MR) images are analyzed in conjunction with petrographic data to evaluate the textural characteristics of rocks dominated by fabric-selective dolomitization. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements reveal the three-dimensional geometry of the physical sedimentary structures and the trace fossils that influenced dolomitization and porosity development. Because MRI images represent composites of nuclear spin density and MR relaxation times, each of which can be related to pore size, stronger MRI image intensity must be calibrated to know porous zones by integrating petrological data with MR data. Pairing of MR images with petrography helps map the distribution of porosity in diagenetically altered rock. The data presented herein show the potential of a new class of MRI technique as an imaging tool for low-porosity rocks. The results demonstrate that MRI technology can significantly enhance petrological studies. Notable results include 1) the successful resolution of the porosity distribution in carbonate rocks characterized by low porosity (generally less than 6%); 2) the successful acquisition of the three-dimensional data required to model the porous network; and 3) recognition that the complex distribution of porosity and its relationship to the matrix show that this fabric represents a dual porosity/permeability system and may reduce the resource quality of similary burrowed carbonate rocks. End_Page 363------------------------

The influence of shrinkage-cracking on the drying behaviour of White Portland cement using Single-Point Imaging (SPI)

The removal of water from pores in hardened cement paste smaller than 50 nm results in cracking of the cement matrix due to the tensile stresses induced by drying shrinkage. Cracks in the matrix fundamentally alter the permeability of the material, and therefore directly affect the drying behaviour. Using Single-Point Imaging (SPI), we obtain one-dimensional moisture profiles of hydrated White Portland cement cylinders as a function of drying time. The drying behaviour of White Portland cement, is distinctly different from the drying behaviour of related concrete materials containing aggregates.