Cuttings Analysis For Improved Downhole NMR Characterisation

A system for validating subterranean rock properties of a rock formation estimated by nuclear magnetic resonance, comprising

• (a) a drill cutting collection unit for extracting drill cuttings from a drilling fluid in groups of drill cuttings based on a time of arrival of the drill cuttings at the Earth's surface and placing the groups of drill cuttings in respective containers;
• (b) a SEM, FIB-SEM, or X-ray CT scanner having a stage capable of holding at least one of the groups of drill cuttings, and optionally including the container that holds the group of drill cuttings, operable to produce digital images of at least one or more of the drill cuttings, and operable to output the digital images to at least one computer;
• (c) a NMR logging tool positionable inside a well borehole and operable for measuring in situ fluid and well properties in at least one well interval in a well, and operable to output acquired data to the at least one computer;
• (d) the at least one computer comprising at least one computer processor programmable for (i) segmenting the digital images of the drill cuttings to define pores, grains and organic content in the digital image, (ii) determining at least one rock property of the rock samples using the segmented digital images;
• (iii) estimating at least one rock property in the well at one or more locations using measured in situ well properties obtained using the NMR logging tool;
• (iv) comparing at least one rock property determined for the well using the NMR logging tool for at least one of the one or more locations with a corresponding at least one rock property determined for the rock samples for a corresponding at least one of the one or more locations of the well;
• and (v) analysing and validating the at least one rock property determined using the NMR logging tool as compared to the at least one rock property determined for the rock samples for the corresponding at least one of the one or more locations of the well, and vi) outputting the results to at least one device to display, print, or store results of the computations;
• and (e) at least one device to display, print, or store results of one or more computations of step (d).