In some aspects, a magnetic system for use in a low-field MRI system. The magnetic system comprises at least one electromagnet configured to, when operated, generate a magnetic field to contribute to a B.sub.0 field for the low-field MRI system, and at least one permanent magnet to produce a magnetic field to contribute to the B.sub.0 field.

A method to produce a magnet arrangement, the method having steps of selecting a depth of investigation to be achieved by a downhole tool, identifying a desired magnetic field strength at the depth of investigation, producing a set of magnets to be incorporated into the downhole tool, sorting the set of magnets based on a quality of each of the magnets and optimizing the set of magnets such that the quality of each of the magnets results, when arranged, in the desired magnetic field strength at the depth of investigation and wherein the optimizing minimizes a cost function of the set of magnets produced.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging tool for use in wellbore logging operations is provided. The NMR logging tool features a three-part permanent magnet arrangement that reduces the attractive force between the NMR tool and casing, allowing the NMR tool to be lowered through wellbores of any size. Additionally, the disclosed arrangement of permanent magnets in the NMR tool may facilitate an effective pre-polarization of portions of the formation at different logging speeds. Further, the disclosed arrangement of permanent magnets in the NMR tool may provide a uniform or substantially uniform static magnetic field within the antenna window of the radio frequency (RF) antenna used to perform the measurements. The second magnet may be positioned between the first and third magnets in a longitudinal direction along the NMR tool, and a radio frequency (RF) antenna may be disposed adjacent the first magnet.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging tool for use in wellbore logging operations is provided. The NMR logging tool features a three-part permanent magnet arrangement that reduces the attractive force between the NMR tool and casing, allowing the NMR tool to be lowered through wellbores of any size. Additionally, the disclosed arrangement of permanent magnets in the NMR tool may facilitate an effective pre-polarization of portions of the formation at different logging speeds. Further, the disclosed arrangement of permanent magnets in the NMR tool may provide a uniform or substantially uniform static magnetic field within the antenna window of the radio frequency (RF) antenna used to perform the measurements. The second magnet may be positioned between the first and third magnets in a longitudinal direction along the NMR tool, and a radio frequency (RF) antenna may be disposed adjacent the first magnet.

According to some aspects, a method of producing a permanent magnet shim configured to improve a profile of a B.sub.0 magnetic field produced by a B.sub.0 magnet is provided. The method comprises determining deviation of the B.sub.0 magnetic field from a desired B.sub.0 magnetic field, determining a magnetic pattern that, when applied to magnetic material, produces a corrective magnetic field that corrects for at least some of the determined deviation, and applying the magnetic pattern to the magnetic material to produce the permanent magnet shim. According to some aspects, a permanent magnet shim for improving a profile of a B.sub.0 magnetic field produced by a B.sub.0 magnet is provided. The permanent magnet shim comprises magnetic material having a predetermined magnetic pattern applied thereto that produces a corrective magnetic field to improve the profile of the B.sub.0 magnetic field.

Logging-while-drilling (LWD) tools may include multiple instruments interleaved into a compact configuration in a single drill string section that may be capable of nuclear magnetic resonance, resistivity, porosity, gamma density measurements, or any combination thereof. For example, a LWD tool may include a drill collar section containing: a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) electronics module and an NMR sensor module interleaved with a nuclear source and at least one nuclear detector.

A magnetic resonance imaging device may include a field generator for generating at least one magnetic gradient field. The field generator may include a first magnet and a second magnet confining an imaging volume of the magnetic resonance imaging device in two spatial directions. The first magnet and the second magnet may be arranged asymmetrically with respect to the imaging volume. The magnetic resonance imaging device may be used to perform a method for acquiring an image of a diagnostically relevant body region of a patient.

Disclosed embodiments provide an apparatus and method for creating or modifying a magnetic field in a region of interest including one or more arrays of magnetizable components in which at least one of the magnetizable components has a substantial remanent magnetization, the level of which being controllable and variable in space and/or time through imposition of electrical currents in electrically conductive components located in proximity to one or more of the magnetizable components.

An apparatus and method which produce a magnetic field gradient by physically rotating one or more permanent magnets near an object in order to obtain images of the object.

An apparatus and method which produce a magnetic field gradient by physically rotating one or more permanent magnets near an object in order to obtain images of the object.