An exact expression for the cross polarization between two spin-1/2 particles is derived from the quantum Liouville equation. This is given in the form of two integrodifferential equations. These can be solved exactly in the static case (no sample spinning) and a powder average easily performed numerically. With magic-angle spinning, the neglect of certain interference terms simplifies the numerical calculation. A further assumption decoupling the calculation of the sidebands gives a very simple formula that is capable of giving a qualitative interpretation of all experimental observations. Examples are given illustrating typical buildup curves and CPMAS matching profiles.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance (MR) T 2 lifetime measurements were employed to monitor oil displacement by waterflooding and polymer flooding in two different rock core plugs. In situ oil saturation profiles were determined from the MRI measurements. Water-wet and oil-wet core plugs saturated with crude oil and mineral oil showed different oil saturation profile changes and T 2 relaxation time variations during core flooding. The T 2 log mean ratio is proposed to normalize T 2 trends from different rock/fluid samples. The polymer stripping mechanism in the oil-wet rock core plugs was consistent with in situ oil saturation profile changes and relaxation time trends observed during oil displacement.

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Low salinity waterflooding (LSF) has been proposed to improve oil recovery, with major projects in progress worldwide. There is however no consensus on the mechanisms of LSF for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Wettability change is the most widely accepted mechanism. In this work, magnetic resonance (MR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were employed to monitor oil displacement processes during model laboratory scale LSF experiments. The MR and MRI measurements permit evaluation of putative LSF mechanisms. Two clay-coated sand packs, one with nonswelling kaolinite, the other with swelling montmorillonite, were prepared as model porous media for LSF. The interactions between pore fluids (oil and water) and the clay-coated pore surfaces were evaluated with relaxation time measurements. A MRI methodology, spin echo single point imaging (SE-SPI), was employed to spatially resolve the T 2 distribution along the sand pack. The oil saturation profiles were determined from SE-SPI measurements. A new differential relaxation time distribution method is proposed in this work for oil saturation estimation. The pore fluid self-diffusion coefficients were measured. The mechanism of wettability change for LSF is suggested on the basis of the oil diffusion coefficient variation with LSF. The similarities and differences between the kaolinite and montmorillonite behaviors are discussed. This work demonstrates that MR and MRI are robust tools to monitor oil displacement processes, with the potential to reveal the mechanisms of LSF and other procedures for enhanced oil recovery.