Logging-while-coring – new technology for the simultaneous recovery

of downhole cores and geophysical measurements

D. GOLDBERG1 , G. MYERS1 , G. ITURRINO1 , K. GRIGAR2 ,
T. PETTIGREW2;3 & S. MROZEWSKI4;5
1
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Borehole Research Group, Rte 9W, Palisades,
NY 10964, USA (e-mail: goldberg@ldeo.columbia.edu)
2
Texas A&M University, Ocean Drilling Program, 1000 Discovery Drive, College Station,
TX 75845, USA
3
Present address: Stress Engineering Services, Inc., 13800 Westfair East Drive, Houston,
TX 77041, USA
4
Schlumberger Drilling and Measurements, 135 Rousseau Road, Youngsville,
LA 70592, USA
5
Present address: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Borehole Research Group,
Rte 9W, Palisades, NY 10964, USA

Abstract: A newly developed logging-while-coring system was deployed during Ocean Drilling
Program legs 204 and 209 off the coast of Oregon and near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The system
consists of two existing devices modified to be used together – a Schlumberger Resistivity-at-
the-Bit tool, and a Texas A&M University wireline-retrieved core barrel and latching
tool. The combination allows for precise core-log depth calibration and core orientation
within a single borehole, and without a pipe trip. These tests, conducted in clay-bearing
sediments (Leg 204) and in crustal peridotite and gabbroic rocks (Leg 209), mark the first
simultaneous use of coring and logging-while-drilling technologies. Sediment cores were
recovered with 33% recovery, on average, and as high as 68% to 75 m depth below the sea
floor. Core recovery in crustal rocks was only 1–2%, however, penetrating to 21 m depth
below sea floor, which is attributed to a problem with the core catcher. High-resolution
logs were recorded in the downhole tool memory over the entire drilled intervals at both
test sites. It is anticipated that logging-while-coring systems will be utilized more routinely
where rig time constraints may otherwise preclude coring in difficult drilling environments.

Merging state-of-the-art wireline coring and log-
ging-while-drilling (LWD) technologies provides
two vital datasets without sacrificing time or
adding risk associated with longer open hole
times. Until now it has not been possible to con-
tinuously collect large diameter core and in situ
logging data simultaneously. Logging-while-dril-
ling and wireline logging measurements are typi-
cally made following coring in Ocean Drilling
Program (ODP) holes. Continuous wireline-
retrievable coring is routine in nearly all ODP
drill holes, whereas industry coring programmes
are often limited in key intervals due to time and
cost constraints. The ODP drills holes up to
2000 m (c. 6500 ft) deep without a riser in water
depths ranging from 300 to 6000 m (c. 1000–
20 000 ft). Sea water is utilized at high pressure
to clear the hole of cuttings. Following the
coring operations, the hole is logged with con-
ventional wireline tools. In cases where drilling
is difficult and wireline log quality is anticipated
to be poor, LWD technologies are employed. A
dedicated LWD hole is often the only alternative
to collect in situ log data in such difficult drilling
environments.
This new development of logging-while-coring
technology achieves two primary objectives:
. to reduce the time required to log after dril-
ling and coring has been completed in a hole;
. to make in situ measurements using LWD
over the same cored interval in a particular
hole.
The system construction, testing and deploy-
ment were conducted jointly by the Ocean Dril-
ling Program groups at the Lamont-Doherty
Earth Observatory and Texas A&M University
and by Schlumberger Drilling and Measurements.
System design and testing
A schematic layout of the logging-while-coring
system is depicted in Figure 1. To make this

From: Rothwell, R.G. 2006. New Techniques in Sediment Core Analysis. Geological Society, London,
Special Publications, 267, 219–228. 0305-8719/06/$15.00 # The Geological Society of London 2006.
220 D. GOLDBERG ET AL.
Fig. 1. The logging-while-coring system developed by
ODP and Schlumberger. The motor-driven core
barrel depicted in yellow passes through a modified
Schlumberger RAB-8 collar to allow the acquisition
of resistivity and gamma-ray data while collecting a
full core.
concept a reality, an existing core barrel was
selected to fit through the throat of a modified
Schlumberger Resistivity-at-the-Bit (RAB-8 )
tool (e.g. Lovell et al. 1995). Only the Motor
Driven Core Barrel (MDCB) among the ODP’s
coring systems is sufficiently narrow to fit
within the 87.5 mm (3.45-inch) annulus of the
RAB-8. Minor modifications of the MDCB
were required to accommodate the tool length
and latching mechanism.
A typical RAB-8 battery ordinarily occupies
the annular space in the tool. The RAB-8 battery
was redesigned to retain the annular space,
allowing the MDCB to pass through. In addi-
tion, the standard ODP bit size is 25 cm (9 7/8
inches), considerably smaller than conventional
bits used with the RAB-8 collar. A new resistivity
button sleeve and slick stabilizer were fabricated
to accommodate the ODP bit. The tool standoff
from the borehole wall for the modified RAB
tool is nominally 4.7 mm (0.185 inches) for this
ODP configuration.
Following the fabrication of all required
MDCB and RAB-8 parts, the logging-while-
coring system was assembled and tested at the
Schlumberger Genesis testing facility in Sugar
Land, TX (Fig. 2a). This ensured that the com-
ponents mated properly and assembly could be
accomplished in the field. A coring test through
low-grade cement was also conducted using the
Genesis rig at this location and successfully
recovered core through the RAB-8 (Fig. 2b).
Both tests were conducted prior to deployment
of the system at sea during Ocean Drilling Pro-
gram Leg 204 on Hydrate Ridge off the coast
of Oregon.
Ocean Drilling Program tests
The logging-while-coring system was deployed
on the D/V JOIDES Resolution for use on
ODP Leg 204, offshore Oregon, in July 2002
(Bohrmann et al. 2003). The test was conducted
in 777 m (2550 ft) water depth at the crest of
southern Hydrate Ridge at ODP Site 1249 (Fig.
3). Drilling proceeded ahead to 30 m (98.4 ft)
below sea floor, where coring operations began
with sequential 4.5 m, then 9 m-long (15 and
30 ft) cores recovered through gas-hydrate-bear-
ing clay-rich sediments to 74.9 m (245 ft) depth.
Starting the coring operation below 30 m
(98.4 ft) depth allowed for more consistent con-
trol of weight-on-bit and torque during drilling
in these shallow and soft sediments. A standard
ODP 25 cm (9 7/8 inch) diameter four-cone bit
was used and the rotation rate increased from
15 to 45 rpm with depth. Average penetration
rate was approximately 8 m hÿ1 (c. 25 ft hÿ1 ).
Eight cores were recovered from Hole 1249B
with 32.9% recovery, on average, through a
45 m (147.5 ft) interval. Cores recovered using
plastic liners have a slightly narrower diameter
(59 mm or 2.35 inch) than standard ODP cores,
yet recovery as high as 67.8% was reached
(Table 1). Note that over the same interval in
an adjacent hole, the average recovery using
standard ODP coring equipment was 77%.
 LOGGING-WHILE-CORING 221

(a)

(b)
Fig. 2. (a) Testing the logging-while-coring system at the Schlumberger Genesis rig site. (b) Successful Genesis
rig test yielding first core through a RAB-8 tool.

Two 9 m (30 ft) cores were also taken using the
MDCB without liners and recovered 65 mm
(2.56 inch) diameter cores with up to 42.3%
recovery. The cores were intact and processed
normally through the ODP sediment laboratory.
Without liners, however, the cores were extruded
from the barrel, and further core handling and
processing of the disturbed sediments was
limited.
All eight cores were processed and archived
normally on board the D/V JOIDES Resolution
(Ocean Drilling Program 1999). Figure 4 illus-
trates the first core recovered from Hole 1249B
prior to measurement and processing. Core
222 D. GOLDBERG ET AL.

Table 1. Coring summary in ODP Hole 1249B

Core # Advance Recovery % recovered

(m/ft) (m/ft)

1W 29.9/98. – –
2A 4.5/14.7 3.05/10.0 67.78
3A 4.5/14.7 1.92/6.3 42.67
4A 4.5/14.7 1.15/3.77 25.55
5A 4.5/14.7 0.93/3.05 20.67
6A 4.5/14.7 2.06/6.76 45.78
7A 4.5/14.7 0.57/1.87 12.67
8A 9.0/29.5 3.81/12.5 42.33
9A 9.0/29.5 0.52/1.71 05.78
Total 45/147.6 14.01/45.9 Average 32.9

High-resolution logs and image data were

Fig. 3. Location map of the logging-while-coring
experiments on legs 204 and 209.
measurements including density and magnetic
susceptibility were made onboard the D/V
JOIDES Resolution using a multisensor track.
Bulk density, porosity and grain density core
measurements were made on discrete sample
plugs. The occurrence of gas hydrates in the
core material and their rapid dissociation pre-
cluded the measurement of natural gamma-ray
activity, which requires longer measurements
times.
recorded in the downhole memory of the RAB-
8 tool over the entire 74.9 m (245 ft) drilled
interval in Hole 1249B. The RAB-8 tool was
also calibrated post-deployment in salt-water
calibration tanks at Sugar Land, TX. The tool
functioned properly during this test and the cali-
bration showed that the field data are reliable.
During Leg 209, one hole, Hole 1275C, was
drilled using the RAB-8 at water depths twice
that of the Leg 204 drilling targets (Kelemen
et al. 2004). Typically, 2.0–7.0 m (6.5–23 ft) of
core were recovered over this shallowest interval
in other holes drilled through gabbro and perido-
tite using conventional coring systems during
Leg 209. In particular, Hole 1275D was drilled
with rotary coring technology and recovered
6.4 m (21 ft) of core over the uppermost 22.6 m

Fig. 4. Core recovered using the logging-while-coring system onboard the Ocean Drilling Program drill ship,
JOIDES Resolution.
 LOGGING-WHILE-CORING

Fig. 5. Downhole data acquired from ODP Hole 1249B including measurement time after bit (RTIM), average bit penetration rate (ROP5), resistivity images, resistivity
and gamma-ray logs. Data measured on the core collected through the logging-while-coring system, including mutlisensor track (MST) density and magnetic susceptibility,
223

and plug sample porosity, bulk density and grain density. Recovery in each core is indicated by the dark shaded bar; depth is noted in metres below the sea floor.
224 D. GOLDBERG ET AL.

(74 ft) of penetration, yielding an average recov-
ery of 28.2%. However, in Hole 1275C, just a few
metres away, the RAB-8 coring system recovered
only 17 cm (6.7 inches) of core from 20.8 m
(68.2 ft) of penetration below the sea floor, yield-
ing an average recovery of 1.3%. A problem with
the one-way core valve opening, often referred to
as a core catcher, was identified as the most likely
reason for the poor recovery in this test. Variable
control of weight-on-bit while coring over the
shallowest interval beneath the sea floor may
also have contributed to the poor core recovery
in this environment.
Results
Figure 5 shows a summary of the primary core
and drilling data acquired in Hole 1249B includ-
ing resistivity images, and the resistivity and

Fig. 6. Downhole log data acquired using the GVR-6 and VDN tools from Hole 1249A, adjacent to Hole
1249B, as indicated. Depth measurements for time after bit, average bit rate of penetration and bit rotation
(rpm) are also shown. Depth is noted in metres below the sea floor.
 LOGGING-WHILE-CORING 225

gamma-ray logs from the RAB-8. Core measure-
ments of discrete samples from Hole 1249B are
presented at discrete depths from 29.9 to 75.0 m
(98–246 ft) below sea floor, as well as multisensor
track core measurements. Core measurements
have a depth accuracy of 0.5 m (1.64 ft). As
core recovery averages only 32.9% in this hole,
depth matching between core and log measure-
ments may be somewhat imprecise at specific
depths. Ties are made using density, magnetic
susceptibility and gamma-ray data, and, for
example, all three measurements increase near
60 m (146.8 ft) below the sea floor, indicating a
change in lithological content. Downhole drilling
parameters recorded during coring in Hole
1249B are also indicated in Figure 5. Hole
1249B was drilled to maintain a rate of penetra-
tion of 20 m hÿ1 (c. 65 ft hÿ1 ) over each cored
interval. Weight-on-bit ranged widely, however,
as it was difficult to control precisely in these
shallow and soft sediments. The time after bit
(of the RAB-8 measurements) varies due to the
time required to drill and recover each core,
and substantially more time than standard dril-
ling or LWD operations is required. The differ-
ence between drilling ahead and coring time
may introduce some uncertainly in the core to
log depth correlation.

Fig. 7. A comparison of responses between the RAB-8 to the GVR-6 tools in adjacent holes. Side-by-side
resistivity images and resistivity and gamma-ray logs are plotted from Hole 1249A and Hole 1249B. Depth is
noted in metres below the sea floor.
226 D. GOLDBERG ET AL.

Core photographs of core 204-1249B-5A
(43 m or 141 ft depth) indicate a gas-hydrate-
rich core that largely dissociated creating a
‘mousse’-like sediment fabric (Fig. 5). The reflec-
tive areas are an indication of where the gas
hydrate existed. Core 204-1249B-6A (49 m or
161 ft depth) indicates a change in the composi-
tion of the cored material. The core recovery in
these materials is high given that the MDCB
core barrel is designed for use in harder rocks.
The MDCB system cuts core by rotation, filling
the barrel slowly as the bit advances. A piston-
type core barrel is more conducive to high
recovery of low-strength materials. The MDCB
core barrel will be modified in the future to
shorten the core length and reduce friction as
the core enters the barrel. These are important
changes aimed at improving core recovery with
this system.
A comprehensive suite of LWD data was
acquired in nearby Hole 1249A using GVR-6
and VDN tools (Fig. 6). The lateral offset
between holes 1249A and 1249B is 40 m (131 ft).
A difference of approximately 0.5 m (1.64 ft) in
water depth exists between the two sites. The
logs from Hole 1249A show the rate of penetra-
tion and time after bit curves are lower than in
Hole 1249B and remain relatively constant for
the drilled interval (Fig. 6).
The RAB-8 data collected in Hole 1249B are
compared with GVR-6 data from nearby Hole
1249A in Figure 7, which shows important
similarities and differences. The large increase
in resistivity in the upper interval in both holes
corresponds to the presence of gas and gas
hydrate. Some variation in the images between
the holes may be associated with the greater
time after bit for the RAB-8 measurement (e.g.
coring v. drilling operations). The gamma ray
shows a linear trend with an offset that may be
attributed to the difference in standoff between
the RAB-8 and GVR-6 tools. In general, the
image data in holes 1249A and 1249B correlate
well, with differences due to environmental
conditions and lateral variations in geological
heterogeneity between the two sites.
Resistivity images acquired from Leg 209 are
depicted in Figure 8. The resolution of the
images is high, with high dynamic range and full
data recovery with no data spikes. Gamma data
are measured for the purpose of depth correlation
between logs and core, if available. Although no
direct comparison with cores is possible due to
the low core recovery, the images provide suffi-
cient information to orient borehole features
that are apparent in this highly resistive crystalline
formation. While the coring result in this hole was
disappointing, the image data in this environment

Fig. 8. Resistivity image data acquired during ODP Leg 209 with the logging-while-coring system. The depth
interval shown penetrates space 8 m (26.3 ft) into crystalline oceanic rocks. The natural gamma-ray log (GR),
shown as overlay curves, is recorded for the purpose of depth correlation between logs and core. Depth is
noted in metres below the sea floor.
 LOGGING-WHILE-CORING
and the operational experience are valuable for
further development of the technology.
Summary
Geologists and geophysicists collect subsurface
data in order to predict the location and charac-
teristics of the formation, strata and structural
features (e.g. fractures). In recent years, technol-
ogy has advanced to allow the collection of
geophysical and geological data as a well is
being drilled. Such LWD measurements are
typically made prior to or following coring in a
separate borehole, if coring has been undertaken,
because these technologies could not be deployed
together. Two holes must be drilled: a first hole
for obtaining core samples and a second hole
for obtaining LWD data. Conventional wireline
logging is typically undertaken in the same
cored borehole, but only if hole conditions are
good. In cases where drilling is expected to be
difficult, wireline logging data may be acquired
in a separate dedicated borehole, also requiring
two holes to be drilled. The logging-while-
coring system offers the significant advantage of
collecting core and log data simultaneously and
over the same interval in a single borehole. Mer-
ging state-of-the-art wireline coring and LWD
technologies provides these two vital datasets
without the possible detrimental effect of hole-
to-hole offsets on the data, even if only several
metres of lateral distance separate the drill
holes. Correlation accuracy depends on the
yield recovery of the core and sample/data
match-up. Uncertainty in the correlation of
core and log depths may cause significant
errors. A common usage of core and logging
data in geophysical applications is for strati-
graphic correlation to a seismic section at a par-
ticular drilling site, where the tie to the seismic
section depends strongly on the accuracy of the
depth-to-time conversion. When the logging
data and a core sample are obtained using the
logging-while-coring system, their accurate
depth correlation is assured.
Furthermore, time requirements for the log-
ging-while-coring system are the same as for
coring operations alone. No additional time is
required to log after drilling the core hole. That
time, needed for refitting the drill string with
the LWD assembly and to drill a second hole,
adds to the overall duration of the on-site activ-
ities. The efficiency of using the logging-while-
coring system thus saves rig costs without
adding the risk associated with borehole failure
over longer open-hole exposure times. When
continuous coring operations are required, as is
227
common in scientific drilling projects, borehole
failure often occurs after the core hole is
completed thereby restricting or eliminating the
possibility of acquiring log data in that hole.
The logging-while-coring system can increase
the likelihood that logging data and core will
both be successfully recovered at a particular
drill site.
The deployment of a new logging-while-coring
system in ODP recorded resistivity and gamma-
ray logs and resistivity images while simulta-
neously collecting core at two deep-water sites,
each with different geological compositions in
sedimentary and crystalline rock environments.
Measurements on recovered core were correlated
directly with log data over the same interval.
LWD data from both conventional and while-
coring operations at a nearby site agree well. The
experience of Leg 204 underscores the utility and
importance of the logging-while-coring system
in sedimentary environments, while making
apparent several areas for technical improve-
ments. The experience of Leg 209 suggests that
hard-rock drilling with the logging-while-coring
system has promise, although it requires design
improvements for coring in this environment and
with coring in the interval directly below the sea
floor in deep water. Looking ahead, the logging-
while-coring system will be deployed in both
soft- and hard-rock formations in the future
using a core barrel designed specifically for each
application.
A. Janik (LDEO; now at EXXON Mobil) synthesized
all the log and core data figures. We thank the Leg
204 and Leg 209 shipboard parties, Transocean Sedco
Forex and crew, Schlumberger Sugar Land Product
Center, and technical staff for their efforts to develop
and deploy this new technology. This project was sup-
ported and funded by the National Science Foundation
and the Department of Energy/National Energy
Technology Laboratory. This paper was expanded
and adapted from an article published in Petrophysics
(2004). Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory contribu-
tion number 6706.
References
Bohrmann, G., Tréhu, A.M. ET AL. 2003. Proceedings of
the Ocean Drilling Program, Initial Reports, 204 (on
line). Available from the World Wide Web: http://
www-odp.tamu.edu/publications/204_IR/204ir.htm.
Goldberg, D., Myers, G., Iturrino, G., Grigar, K.,
Pettigrew, T., Mrozewski, S. & ODP Leg 209
Shipboard Scientific Party. 2004. Logging-
while-coring: First tests of a new technology for
scientific drilling. Petrophysics, 45, (4), 328–334.
Kelemen, P., Kikawa, E. ET AL. 2004. Proceedings of the
Ocean Drilling Program, Initial Reports, 209 (on line).