High-field nuclear magnetic logging for evaluating viscosity of Tatarstan extra-heavy oil

UDK: 550.832.582

Key words: extra-heavy oil, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), viscosity, high-field nuclear magnetic logging (NML)

Authors: R.S. Khisamov, R.Sh. Dinmukhamedov (Tatneft PJSC, RF, Almetyevsk), K.M. Musin (TatNIPIneft, RF, Bugulma), T.R. Abdullin, T.V. Shipunov (NTC Tatneft OOO, RF, Bugulma)

The purpose of this study is to determine the viscosity of heavy oil based on high-field nuclear-magnetic logging (NML) survey results. The procedure developed for the purposes of the study is based on the viscosity vs. spin-spin relaxation time T₂ correlation dependence. More than 100 heavy oil samples extracted from the appraisal well’s oil-wet cores through high-speed centrifugation were used for the laboratory research. Spectrometer GeoSpec 2/100 (Oxford Instruments) was used for the tests at standard conditions. Empirical relationships were derived to determine oil viscosity using data about magnetic-relaxation characteristics of heavy oil in pore space. It was found that the average logarithmic of spin-spin relaxation time correlates with oil viscosity in the best way. The accuracy of the oil viscosity estimate made 20 %. These correlations and the procedure of NMR-data interpretation were used in the pilot project aimed at evaluation of viscosity heterogeneity using the high-field NML technique. Borehole surveys were carried out jointly with OOO TNG-Group. For logging, state-of-the-art NML-tools developed by OOO TNG-Group and the Kazan Federal University were used. The results obtained are comparable with direct in-situ viscosity measurement with the oscillatory viscometer HOV-700–development of Vinci Technology–with a PT measurement element to simulate reservoir pressure and temperature.
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