CORING

I. PURPOSE : TO KNOW
a) Sub-surface stratigraphic condition
b) Effective thickness of formation
c) Porosity & Permeability of reservoir rock
d) The position of oil, gas and water contacts
II. CONVENTIONAL CORE BARREL
SPECIFICATION
Core barrel Sizes 4 3/4 x 2 5/8 53/4 x 3 1/2 6 3/4 x 4 7 1/4 x 4 8 x 5 1/4

Outer Tube 4 3/4 x 3 3/4 5 3/4 x 4 5/8 6 3/4 x 5 3/8 7 1/4 x5 3/8 8 x 6 5/8

Inner Tube 3 3/8 x 2 7/8 4 1/4 x 3 3/4 4 3/4 x 4 1/4 4 3/4 x 4 1/4 6 1/4 x 5 1/2

Safety Joint 3 1/2API-IF 4 1/2 API-IF 4 1/2 API-IF 4 1/2 API-IF 6 5/8 API Rg

Bit Size Range 5” to 6 1/2” 6” to 8 1/2” 7” to 9” 8 1/4 to 9 7/8 9 1/2x12 1/4

Core Size Recovery 2 5/8” 3 1/2” 4” 4” 5 1/4”

Make Up Torque

ft/lb 5570 7230 9400 17000 210000

m/kgf 770 1000 1300 2350 2900

Maximum Pull 137,000 194,000 126,000 616,000 322,000

KG 62,000 88,000 125,000 280,000 146,000

Pounds line pull for different length tong levers

lb 1114 1446 1880 2460 4200
60"
kg 505 656 853 1115 1903
lb 1215 1577 2051 2684 4582
55"
kg 551 715 931 1217 2076
lb 1261 1637 2128 2785 4755
53"
kg 572 743 966 1263 2154
lb 1422 1846 2400 3140 5362
47"
kg 645 838 1089 1424 2429
lb 1519 1972 2564 3355 5727
44"
kg 689 895 1163 1521 2595
lb 1591 2066 2686 3514 6000
42"
kg 722 937 1219 1594 2718
lb 1857 2410 3133 4100 7000
36"
kg 842 1094 1422 1859 3171
*Maximum pull figures are based upon the ultimate tensile strength in the pin thread
area with a safety factor of three.

M-1
III PART DESCRIPTION (60 FT CONVENTIONAL CORE BARREL)
a. Safety Joint Assembly
1. Safety joint pin
2. Spring (3 required)
3. Plunger (3 required)
4. Friction ring
5. O-ring upper
6. Safety joint box a
7. O-ring lower
b. Swivel Assembly
8. Shims
9. Bearing Retainer
10. Thrust Bearing
11. Cartridge Cap b
12. Cartridge Plug
13. Inner Tube Plug
14. Steel Ball
15. Pressure Relief Plug
16. Inner Tube plug Bush
c. Outer Tube 27 ft (2 Require)
With Protection
d. Inner Tube 30 ft (2 Require)
With Protectors
e. Stabilizers 3 ft (2 Require)
f. Inner Tube Shoe complete c
17. Upper Half Shoe d
18. Lower Half Shoe
g. Core Catcher (Standard) e

M-2
IV HANDLING TOOLS
Handling Tools Set
1. Bit Breaker H.D. (Heavy Duty)
2. Inner Tube Clamp
3. Elevator Sub (With Protectors)
4. Core Tong Shoe
5. Core Tong Handle
6. Core Marker
7. Pump Out Plunger
8. Pump Out Bean
9. Outer Tube Bottom Plug (Two)
10. Spanner Wrench (two)
11. Make-up Gauge
12. Ball Pick-Up Tool
13. Core Jack

M-3
V OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
The following points should strictly be applied in coring.
a. Junk : Ensure that hole is free from junk.
b. Tight holes : If the dog leg, tight spots etc exist in the open hole,
ensure that the hole is well circulated and a wiper trip be carried
out before coring. Care must be taken to avoid sticking of core
barrel in these problematic areas.
c. Coring head selection : Do the coring/bit head selection on the
basis of previous experience of bit record and formation drilled/
cored.
d. Drill collars & connections : Ensure sufficient length & size of D/
Cs to give required weight on bit and keep the string in tension.
Check the core barrel connections such as cross over sub for D/Cs.
e. Stabilization & Stabilizers : Adequate stabilization of diamond
bits and coring assembly is important while coring keeping the core
head steady on bottom ultimately assisting bit life, core recovery
and prevent excessive wear on drill string components. Coring in
hard rock area requires stabilization to allow higher weights to be
more evenly applied to core bit. Higher weight on unstabilised barrel
and bit can cause jamming, spiralling and flattening of cores. Two
drill collars & stabilizers should be used because the core barrel
will be the weakest point of the BHA.
f. Circulation : Proper circulation be maintained to achieve maximum
cleaning and cooling of the core bit. Too low flow rate can not remove
cuttings sufficiently & quickly from the bit face resulting in regrinding,
slowed penetration rate and possible burning of core bit. Too high
flow rate can wash the core and lift the bit off bottom with resulting
the diamond damage.
g. Rotary spped : When starting the core slow rotary speed 40-50
RPM should be applied. As the core enters the inner barrel and
weight is added rotary speed can be increased. Generally the rotary
speed 70-120 RPM is sufficient to core most formations.
h. Weight on bit : Depends on size of bit and nature of formation to
be cored. When coring has commenced the minimum starting weight
should be applied. Once core bit has drilled a pattern and first

M-4
 stabiliser new hole, the weight can be increased in small increments
until optimum performance is achieved.
i. Torque : Excessive or fluctuating torque should be avoided. Find
the correct combination of weight and rotary speed to achieve smooth
and steady torque reading as possible.
VI PREPARATION OF CORING
a. Ensure no restriction in the string.
b. Add pup joint, if necessary.
c. Wash bottom thoroughly with little rotation and recommended flow
rate (note pressure). When true bottom is reached a WOB gain
accompanied by a pressure increase should be noted. Once it is
fully established that bottom has been reached, circulate for a further
ten to fifteen minutes to clean out inner barrel.
d. Pick up, break off Kelly and drop steel ball. Make up Kelly, recommence
circulation, when ball seats on pressure relief plug a slight pressure
increase will be indicated.
e. Make note of final off bottom pressure with ball.
VII TO COMMENCE CORING
a. Ensure correct circulation rate.
b. Lower barrel until minimum starting weight is reached. Commence
rotary, bringing up slowly 40-50 rpm.
c. Convince the bit has seated through pressure increase, maintain
starting weight until approx. 1 foot has been cored, the weight should
be increased in increments (1 Ton). Increase rotary speed to approx.
60 rpm. Once two or three feet has been cored weight and rotary
can be varied to achieve maximum performance.
d. Maintain constant pump pressure, check pump speed. Make note of
pressure and keep the fig. 1 (page no. M-10) in mind constantly
throughout coring. If pressure fluctuation exists indication of
something abnormal, chance of damage of core bit, core barrel of
loss of core if remedied action not taken.
VIII CAUSES OF PUMP PRESSURE CHANGES
a. Pressure changes possibly occur due to change in flow rates, debris
in pump valve seat or washed liner. Check strokes.

M-5
b. Pressure decrease - Core being jammed in the inner barrel or core
catcher holding the bit off bottom thus increasing flow areas and
causing a decrease in pump pressure, particularly in fractured or
laminated formation.
c. Pressure increase - If bit is "O" ringed, the diamonds having being
damaged letting the formation abrade the matrix, blocking off the
fluid course and restricting fluid flow, therefore creating a pressure
increase. Further confirmation of "O" ring can be done by retagging
bottom, the pressure increase is immediate.
Another possible cause of pressure increase could be the inner
barrel or swivel assembly backing out and sitting in the core head.
It can be confirmed by picking up off bottom, the pressure will remain
high. In either case the barrel should be pulled immediately.
d. Minor fluctuation in pressure could possibly be due to change in
formation.
IX BREAKING CORE
a. Stop rotary, shut off pump & mark kelly.
b. Pick up drill string until weight indicator shows core has been caught,
continue picking until core breaks (reduction of string weight, with
sharp return to normal string weight) or an overpull of 20,000 lb
(10 T) is reached. If the core does not break at this point, it may be
necessary to circulate at normal coring flow rate, maintaining pull
until core breaks.
c. Pick up approximately ten feet, then lower slowly back to one foot
off bottom, watch the weight indicator, making sure the barrel goes
back to bottom without meeting any obstructions caused by core
left in the hole.
d. When coring is resumed after connection, run to bottom without
rotary or circulation and add weight approximately 50% higher than
normal coring weight. This additional weight should release the
core from the core spring, permitting the passage of new core into
the inner barrel.
e. Pick up drill string until normal coring weight is reached. Start pump
at normal rate. Bring rotary slowly to normal rotation and continue
core. Make sure pump pressure is normal, when coring is
recommence.

M-6
X RECOVERY OF CORE
a. Avoid jarring of the barrel, core loss may occur.
b. Put collar clamp above slip, when core barrel reaches surface.
Remove steel ball. Make up elevator sub.
c. Pull core barrel out of rotary table. Break off bit. Makeup core barrel
protector.
d. Run core barrel back into rotary table, set slips below top stabiliser,
replace collar clamp.
e. Break out safety joint, rotate out using chain tongs. Pull out inner
core barrel. Break off inner tube shoe lower half (catcher). Place
core tong shoe on inner barrel. Put core tong handle on core tong
shoe. Exert pressure on core tong handle and pick up inner barrel
slowly. Remove the inner tube shoe. The core of desired length can
be removed from the inner barrel, as inner tube is picked up, by
exerting pressure on core tong handle to break the core. The
exposed core can then be removed and boxed. This process continue
until core marker comes out of the inner tube.
If core marker or further core does not appear, lower inner barrel
on to floor and knock inner barrel with sledge hammer until core
falls. If the core cannot be removed in this manner it will be necessary
to lay down inner tube and pump out core (use water, never use
pressurised air).
f. Once removal of core has been completed, clean off catcher and
lower shoe, replace if necessary. Make lower shoe up into inner
barrel tighten with chain tongs. Check for bearing and "O" ring,
replace if require. Run inner barrel back into outer tube, grease
safety joint and make up upto recommended torque.
XI SERVICING CORE BARREL
a. Swivel assembly : Check for rotation at inner tube plug. If rotation
is difficult or feels rough this indicates that the balls have broken.
Check for vertical movement. If excessive this also indicates worn
bearing and should be changed. Change out bearing after three or
four cores, thus eliminate possible loss of rig time and core.
b. Safety joint : Check condition of "O" rings regularly. If damage,
replace it otherwise safety joint will be wash out and damaged.

M-7
c. Inner tube shoes and core catcher : Check thread and inner
condition at every core. Make sure core spring is in good condition
and that tungsten grit has not been worn flat.
d. Check the outer and inner tube for bends, dents, scratches or wear
on the surface.
e. Check the water passages are clear and clean. Wash sand particles
and girt from the tubes.
XII CORE BIT PROFILES
Diamond core bit profiles are configured for different types of
formations.
a. Softer formation profiles. b. Medium formation profiles.
c. Medium hard formation profiles. d. Hard formation profiles.
Core bit profiles

Soft Formations Medium Formations

Medium Hard Formations Hard Formations

Natural diamond core bits have different face profiles depending on the anticipated
formation they will be used to drill. Profile A has a pointed or tapered nose that
reduces the possibility of deviation on soft formations. In harder formations where
more weight is needed to drill, the bit face is progressively more round (or has a
greater nose radius) to ensure that enough diamonds share the load (of up to 100 lbs
each), and prevent abnormal wear or overheating.

M-8
 TABLE 2
HYDRAULIC HORSEPOWER (per inch2)
REQUIRED FOR CORING

Core TFA Hydraulic Pressure drop Mud

rate, required horse across bit, velocity,
(fph) (in2) power/in2
(psi) (fps)

10 - 50 0.26 4 1,085 367

6 - 10 0.3 3 815 318
4-6 0.37 2 543 260
2-4 0.43 1.5 408 225
0.5 - 2 0.52 1 271 183
* Using a 9 ppg mud and a flowrate of 300 gpm.

XIII DIAMOND CORE BIT HYDRAULICS

Diamonds are very hard and have excellent heat transfer
characteristics. During coring special care must be taken to circulate
fluid around and among diamonds to clean and cool the core bit. A
good measure of cleaning and cooling capability of diamond core
bit is hydraulic horse power per square inch of cutting area, the
fig.1 illustrates the range of flow acceptable when coring with
diamond core bit. Depending upon the flow rate through core bit,
water courses are sized to produce flow velocities that assure
turbulence for efficient cleaning and cooling of diamond core bit.
Hydraulic capability of core bit is measured as total flow area. When
the fluid flow is constant and at reasonable rate while coring,
adjustment of Total Flow Area (TFA) produces change in pressure
drop across the bit. In actual condition the Total Flow Area (TFA) is
built into Diamond core Bit when it is manufactured, thus it is not
flexible as in rotary bits in which hydraulic characteristic of fluid
flow can be changed by adjusting nozzle size.

M-9
 Drilling mud flow Rate, gpm

Bit Diameter -in

Fig 1 : The recommended range of mud flow for a given hit

diameter is shown, Flow ranges are determined by coring rate,
total flow are of the bit, rig and pump capabilities, etc. Thus
they should be actually calculated when required, and this graph
used as only a general guideline.
Courtesy : World Oil

M-10
 TABLE 3
DIAMOND SIZE Vs ROCK HARDNESS

Formation Formation Roller bit Diamond

type hardness drill rate size (carats)

Marl
Salt Soft 15 - 17 1-5
Anhydrite
Sand Soft-orittle
15 - 20 1/2 - 3
Shale
Shale Medium
10 - 15 1/2 - 1/3
Mudstone
Limestone Medium Hard
5 - 10 1/4 - 1/8
Dolomite
Siltstone Hard
Dense 3-5 1/8
Sandstone
Quartzite Ultra hard 1-3 1/2

XIV CORE BIT STABILIZATION

Coring in hard rock area requires stabilization to allow higher weights
to be more evenly applied to core bit. Higher weight on unstabilised
core barrel and bit can cause jamming, spiralling and flattening of
cores. The problem is compounded when turbines and mud motors
are used because they turn core bits at higher rpm. To prevent this
problem, both bit and core barrel must be properly stabilised. This
is done by increasing length of gauge portion of bit and adding near
bit stabilizers.

M-11
 <-----------15 Ft. ------------>

Adequately stabilized core bit

Conventional core bit

Adequate stablization of diamond bits and coring assembles is

imperative to assure core quality and prevent excessive wear
on drill string components. These drawings illustrate a properly
stabilized core barrel and bit as well as examples of two bits
(insert) showing the difference in their construction.

M-12
XV CORING BIT SELECTION GUIDE

Sl. Rock Comparable Recommended

Formation
No. Type Rock Bits Coring Bits

1 Soft formation with Gumbo S3S RC41/M355

sticky layers and low Clay J11 RC493/M654
compressive strength. Marl
RC444/M555

C35/D6X4
2 Soft formation with low Marl F2 RC476/M585
compressive strength Salt FP51
and high drillability. Anhydrite RC444/M555
Shale
C18/D5X5
3 Soft to medium Sand J33 RC476/M585
formation with low Shale FP53
compressive strength Chalk F3 C18/D5X5
interbedded with hard ZC476/M585
layers.
4 Medium to hard Shale J44 C201/D6X5
formation with high Mudstone F4 SC226/T6X8
compressive strength Limestone FP62 SC777/T5X8
and small abrasive ZC476/M585
layers.
5 Hard and dense Limestone J55 C23/D5X6
formation with very high Dolomite F57 SC226/T6X8
compressive strength, SC777/T5X8
but non-abrasive. SC278/T6X9
6 Hard and dense Siltstone J77 SC777/T5X8
formation with very high Sandstone H88 SC278/T6X9
compressive strength Mudstone F7 SC279/D5R0
and some abrasive
formation layers.
7 Extremely hard and Quartzite J99 SC279/D5R0
abrasive formation. Volcanic H101

M-13
Coring head selection and recommended rotating speed

Very
Very Medium Hard Ultra
Formations Medium hard
soft to hard dense hard
abrasive
Sand Anhydrite Siltstone Mudstone Schist Quartzite
Clay Limestone Shale Shale Quartzitic Volcanics
Salt Sandstone Dolomite Sandstone Sandstone
Dolomite Sandstone

Recommended
diamond size - 1/2 - 3 4 4-9 9 - 12 12 - 18 impregnated
stones/carat
Coring bit types CB 502 CB 502 CB 301 CB 201 CB 401 CB 201 IMP
CB 14 CB 14 CB 303 CB 203 CB 201
CB 17* CB 17 * CB 201 CB 403 IMP
CB 101 CB 101 CB 203 CB 401
CB 103 CB 103 CB 403
CB 201 SP CB 201 SP CB 401
CB 301
CB 303

M-14
RECOMMENDED STANDARD CORE BITS FOR CHRISTENSEN'S 250P,
MARINE AND SLIM HOLE SERIES CARE BARRELS
The combination edge washing/ reverse spiral waterways of this bit give
exceptionally rapid penetration in soft to medium formations. In addition,
excellent cross pad flow of the drilling fluid permits efficient coring in
shaly or sticky formations. This bit is recommended for use in formations
where diamond drill bits or rock bits are drilling in excess of 10 feet per
hour. As an option the C-22 can be selected with a face discharge. This
can be used in conjunction with an inner tube pilot shoe, which extends
as near as possible to the hole bottom, this design provides the best
available combination for reducing core wash in soft, unconsolidated
formations.

This is a general purpose core bit for medium to hard formations. It

features a double cone crown profile with a radial feeder collector
waterway system. This allows for a heavy concentration of diamonds,
which is needed for coring the harder formations, but also provides
sufficient cross pad flow in order to clean and cool the bit. This bit is
recommended for use in formations where the diamond drill bits or rock
bits are drilling from 4 to 10 feet per hour.

M-15