Method for obtaining multi-dimensional proton density distributions from a system of nuclear spins

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for obtaining a multi-dimensional proton density distribution from a system of nuclear spins. A plurality of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data is acquired from a fluid containing porous medium having a system of nuclear spins. A multi-dimensional inversion is performed on the plurality of nuclear magnetic resonance data using an inversion algorithm to solve a mathematical problem employing a single composite kernel to arrive at a multi-dimensional proton density distribution. Ideally, the mathematical problem can be cast in the form of a Fredholm integral of the first kind wherein a two or more kernels can be reduced to a single composite kernel for ease of solution. Preferably, a series of conventional CPMG pulse sequences, using a conventional NMR tool, can be used to excite the system of nuclear spins. The present invention further includes a regression method which reduces computational efforts by retaining only those grid points, and preferably their neighboring grid points, which have non-zero values, during subsequent iterations of solving for the multi-dimensional proton density distribution. This regression process can be repeated until the density distribution is satisfactorily smooth.