Characterization of sand sediment by pore size distribution and permeability using proton nuclear magnetic resonance measurement

Abstract

This study used proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to measure pore size distribution of sediment in order to characterize methane hydrate‐bearing sediment by pore size distribution and permeability. Sand sediment with different grain size distributions was measured as fundamental research and for application of natural methane hydrate‐bearing sediment. Sediment pore size distribution and porosity were measured by NMR and mercury porosimetry. The absolute permeability of sediment measured by water flow based on the Darcy law was compared with the permeability calculated from NMR spectra based on the sediment delivery ratio equation. NMR spectra were also analyzed by a conversion technique in order to obtain pore size distribution with higher spatial resolution.