Limitations of resolution and absorption in standard chemical spectroscopic techniques have made it difficult to study fluids in sedimentary rocks. In this paper, we show that a chemical characterization of pore fluids may be obtained in situ by magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), which is normally used for solid samples. 1H MAS-NMR spectra of water and crude oil in Berea sandstone show sufficient chemical shift resolution for a straightforward determination of the oil/water ratio. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.