A nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus for estimating properties of an earth formation, the apparatus comprising: a carrier configured to be deployed in a borehole in the earth formation; a magnet assembly disposed in the carrier and configured to generate a static magnetic field in the formation; a transmitting antenna disposed in the carrier and configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field in a sensitive volume within the earth formation, the oscillating magnetic field being at least substantially orthogonal to the static magnetic field in the sensitive volume; one or more receiving antennas (48, 54, 56, 58) disposed in the carrier and configured to detect a nuclear magnetic resonance signal originating in the sensitive volume, the one or more receiving antennas (48, 54, 56, 58) being oriented so that their respective magnetic fields are at least substantially orthogonal to the static magnetic field in the sensitive volume; wherein the one or more receiving antennas (48, 54, 56, 58) are arranged relative to the transmitting antenna so that the one or more receiving antennas (48, 54, 56, 58) are inductively decoupled from the transmitting antenna, a first portion of the surface area of the one or more receiving antennas (48, 54, 56, 58) overlapping a first region of the transmitting antenna in which a magnetic flux of the transmitting antenna is in a first direction, and a second portion of the surface area of the one or more receiver antennas overlapping a second region of the transmitting antenna in which the magnetic flux is in a second direction, the second direction being predominantly opposed to the first direction, characterized in that: the one or more receiving antennas (48, 54, 56, 58) overlap the transmitting antenna so that the first portion of the surface area of the one or more receiving antennas (48, 54, 56, 58) is a central portion disposed within the first region, and the second portion of the surface area includes at least two constituent portions disposed within the second region and disposed at opposite distal ends of the central portion; and in that: the one or more receiving antennas (48, 54, 56, 58) are arranged so that a magnitude of the magnetic flux through the first portion of the surface area of the receiver antenna is substantially equal to a magnitude of the magnetic flux through the second portion of the surface area. a carrier configured to be deployed in a borehole in the earth formation; a magnet assembly disposed in the carrier and configured to generate a static magnetic field in the formation; a transmitting antenna disposed in the carrier and configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field in a sensitive volume within the earth formation, the oscillating magnetic field being at least substantially orthogonal to the static magnetic field in the sensitive volume; one or more receiving antennas (48, 54, 56, 58) disposed in the carrier and configured to detect a nuclear magnetic resonance signal originating in the sensitive volume, the one or more receiving antennas (48, 54, 56, 58) being oriented so that their respective magnetic fields are at least substantially orthogonal to the static magnetic field in the sensitive volume; wherein the one or more receiving antennas (48, 54, 56, 58) are arranged relative to the transmitting antenna so that the one or more receiving antennas (48, 54, 56, 58) are inductively decoupled from the transmitting antenna, a first portion of the surface area of the one or more receiving antennas (48, 54, 56, 58) overlapping a first region of the transmitting antenna in which a magnetic flux of the transmitting antenna is in a first direction, and a second portion of the surface area of the one or more receiver antennas overlapping a second region of the transmitting antenna in which the magnetic flux is in a second direction, the second direction being predominantly opposed to the first direction, characterized in that: the one or more receiving antennas (48, 54, 56, 58) overlap the transmitting antenna so that the first portion of the surface area of the one or more receiving antennas (48, 54, 56, 58) is a central portion disposed within the first region, and the second portion of the surface area includes at least two constituent portions disposed within the second region and disposed at opposite distal ends of the central portion; and in that: the one or more receiving antennas (48, 54, 56, 58) are arranged so that a magnitude of the magnetic flux through the first portion of the surface area of the receiver antenna is substantially equal to a magnitude of the magnetic flux through the second portion of the surface area.