Advances in the systems and tech that can benefit the subsea supply chain has seen technology from other fields such as medicine, aerospace and the nuclear sectors play a bigger role in recent years and there’s no sign that trend stopping anytime soon.
Guildford-based MR Solutions has established a solid reputation over 30 years developing MRI scanners for use in medicine.
MR Solutions has teamed up with Canadian firm Green Imaging Technologies, to combine technologies bring a complete rock core imaging solution to the sector and bring its existing MRI technology into the oil and gas sector.
The result is a new 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) solution, the ImaCore 3017, now being introduced to the oil and gas sector for high-resolution rock core imaging.
Green Imaging Solutions is a specialist in nuclear magnetic resonance rock core analysis software.
Rock core analysis has traditionally been an exercise in providing measured data, but equipment limitations can result in final analysis that involves using theories to understand what is happening at the pore level.
The ImaCore 3017 all but removes these resolution limitations by allowing customers to bolster the theoretical with actual images of all the fluid present in the rock core sample, and thus the pore network.
Chief executive of Green Imaging, Jill Green said: “By using higher field MRI instrumentation, limitations of resolution are virtually removed, so one can bolster the theoretical with actual images of all the fluid present in the rock, and thus the pore network itself.
“ImaCore will allow users to go further and see more of the rock core. ImaCore will be a key tool for revealing the missing pieces and completing the reservoir puzzle.”
Three orders for this system have already been placed within the oil and gas sector.
MR Solutions David Taylor, said: “Green Imaging has been offering rock core analysis using NMR and MRI technologies for 10 years and they’ve built an enviable reputation as the leading application experts in the field.”
For the oil and gas exploration sector, MR Solution’s unique cryogen-free MRI imaging technology is highly versatile as the magnet field can be adjusted from 0.1T to 3.0T, depending on image requirements.
Sample sizes can range from 1” to 4” diameters and ample space is provided for pressure and flow cells, allowing users to make measurements at reservoir conditions and to perform high-resolution flow studies.
MR Solutions’ technology, including 3D imaging pulse sequences, is combined with Green Imaging’s software to provide workflow management, easy calibration, system monitoring and end results matching the industry’s best practices for rock core analysis.
The ImaCore system allows oil and gas sector customers to understand the complex mechanisms and processes happening within rock core samples and interpolate that understanding across entire reservoirs.
MR Solutions has developed cutting edge MRI scanning with excess of 1,000 installations across the world.
The ImaCore system is being offered to all major oil producers, oil and gas service companies and researchers in the field of rock core analysis.