Well site core stabilization and packaging, the first step in acquiring undisturbed core

International Symposium of the Society of Core Analyst, Halifax, Canada - Published 2010

The fundamental objective of a coring operation is to obtain core samples that are representative of the reservoir rock properties. Therefore, core handling procedures and transportation methods should provide protection against core damage from environmental changes, mechanical vibration and mishandling.

This paper presents recommendations for core processing and core handling techniques which should prevent core damage and thus maximise the success of formation evaluation studies. Results obtained from testing the stabilization, the packaging and methods of core transportation are presented in this document, demonstrating the importance of properly planning every step from rig to the laboratory.

Using rock types varying from soft sediments to fractured formations, structural analyses have been performed using standard methods. These include petrographic thin sections and CT-scanning. These analyses have been performed before and after “crash” tests in order to measure and quantify damage to the core, if any at all.

Recommendations for core stabilization and packaging are provided for various types of formation lithologies.

Jean-Valery Garcia, Julien Rousseau and David Dourel