It has been widely acknowledged that core handling is critical to the maintenance of core integrity. Unfortunately, cores often don’t undergo adequate handling procedures

The rig site handling of unconsolidated core is a risky process that might hamper core integrity if appropriate procedures are utilized.

The main purpose of core preservation is to retain the pore fluids in the undisturbed core samples thus preventing saturation and wettability alteration.

Cases of invasion of core-stabilization products into fractures are often seen. This represents a common and often serious problem in the subsequent geological description of slabbed cores.

The fundamental objective of coring is to obtain core that is representative of the reservoir rock properties.

StoreCore primarily serves the Oil Industry but also provides services to numerous Universities and Research Institutions.

Kirk Petrophysics provides expert on-site core handling services.

Spectra-Map

spectra map

Spectra-Map is an Oxford-based consultancy providing laboratory core logging services in Short Wave Infrared Reflectance (SWIR) spectroscopy for mineral identification, using a novel design of imaging spectrometer, the SpecCam.

Infrared spectrometers have been used previously in petroleum exploration but samples have required preparation, and analytical throughput is low. The SpecCam technology is non-contact and non-invasive so no preparation is required. It uses a multi pixel sensor to measure continuous profiles or derive highly detailed images of the visible surface of the sample. It is designed for automated, high throughput mineral logging of cores, cuttings and plugs.

SWIR spectroscopy is useful for identifying a range of minerals including phylosilicates, carbonates and sulphates, but especially for discriminating the detailed clay mineralogy, e.g. clay types (including kaolin polytypes) and crystallinity, swelling and non swelling clays, and as such is complementary to techniques such as XRD. Accurate modal percentage values can be derived due to the large number of data points, and total clay values can be derived after calibration.

SpecCam mineral logging is a powerful tool for better understanding of stratigraphic correlations and reservoir properties. It can provide continuous data over a reservoir interval, and thus provide a link between wireline logs and the point sampling methods such as SEM, Thin Section and XRD.

Further information is available on www.spectra-map.co.uk