CORING AND CORE ANALYSIS

(SAMPLING OF ROCK)

Well
Well

Surface
Surface seepage
seepage

Anticline dome
(
(Dome)
)
RESERVOIR ROCK
Seen under
Seenunder
Cap Rock microscope
microscope
Gas

Oil Oil

Salt Salt
water water

Sediment Basin
 Coring and Core Analysis
(Sampling of Rock)

Objectives :
• List rock exploration methods
• Be familiar with sampling methods
• Recognize various coring techniques
• Familiarity with core bits and barrels
• Observations to be made during coring,
including Rock Quality Designation (RQD)
• Core analysis methods and it’s application
 Rock Core Drilling

Rock Exploration
• Rock Sampling
• Rock Coring Techniques
• Transports of Core to Laboratory
• Storage of Core
• Analyze of Core
Rock Sampling for Geostratification
 Type of Coring

 Drill-string coring :
• Sample is taken from bottom of
the drill string.
• Consist of inner and outer metal
barrel. Inner barrel remains
stationary and outer barrel
attached to the bit and rotate
• 30 ft length
 Wireline coring :
• Sample can be taken in the
different level in one run
 Advantages

 Drill-string Coring:
• A continues vertical section of the
formation
• Big core diameter
• Have a big similarity to the original state

 Wireline Coring:
• Faster, more sample interval and less rig
time
 Wireline Coring

 Percussion coring (CST):

• Inexpensive and quick
• Higher number of sample

 Rotary coring (MSCT):

• Formation not damaged
• Better sample obtain
Rock Coring Methods

Layne Rock Drilling

 Rotary Wash Borings
 Rotary wash techniques
are the best for borings
extending below
groundwater table.
 Rotary wash can achieve
great depths > 100+ m
(300+ feet).
 Drilling bits:
Drag, Roller, and
• Drag bits for clays Diamond Bit Types
• Roller bits for sands
 Rotary
Wash
Borings

Schematic
(Hvorslev 1948)
 Rotary Wash Borings

 In rotary wash method,

borehole is stabilized
using either temporary
steel casing or drilling
fluid.
 Fluids include water,
bentonite or polymer
slurry, foam, or Revert
that are re-circulated in
Rig conducting
tub or reservoir at rotary wash boring
surface.
 Types of Rotary Wash Bits

Drag, Roller, and

Diamond Bit Types Roller Bits
 Drilling and Coring Bits

 Diamond bits are the best and hardest,

producing high quality core. Fastest
cutting rates. Expensive.
 Synthetic bits. Less expensive. Generally
good quality cores.
 Tungsten carbide. Least expensive.
Slower coring rates.
 Types of Coring Bits

Tungsten Carbide Bits Type Sidewall Core Bits Type

 Types of Coring Bits

Diamond, Carbide Carbide Type Bits

Tungsten, Sawtooth
 Diamond Coring Bits
 Core Size: Larger better but more expensive
 Diamond setting: hardest vector set against
the work
 Bit Profiles: Full-round, semi-round, flat crown,
semi-flat
 Diamond size: relates to hardness and fineness
of rock minerals
 Waterways: flushing cuttings and rock flour;
Number of ports, slots, discharge direction
 Matrix: secure diamonds and dissipate heat
Diamond Coring Bits
 Core Barrels

 Core barrel retains rock core samples

from drilling operations
 Single tube core barrel: most rugged,
least expensive
 Consists of head section, core recovery
tube, reamer shell, and cutting bit
 Often used as starter when beginning
core operations
Core Barrels
 Core Barrels

 Double tube core barrel is the standard

 Outer barrel rotates with cutting bit
 Inner barrel is either fixed or swivel type
(with bearings) that retains core sample
 Core diameters generally range from 21 to
85 mm (0.85 to 3.35 inch)
 NX core: standard diameter = 54 mm
(2.15 inches)
 Core Barrels

Double Tube Core Barrel (Swivel Type)

Outer Barrel Assembly Inner Barrel Assembly

 Triple Core Barrel

 Good for obtaining core

samples in fractured rock
and highly weathered rocks.
 Outer core barrel for initial
cut and second barrel to
cut finer size. Third
barrel to retain cored
samples.
 Reduces frictional heat that
may damage samples.
 Coring Assembly and Core Bit
Drill collar
connection

PDC Cutters
Thrust bearing

Outer barrel
Inner barrel
Fluid
vent
Core retaining
ring
Core bit
Sidewall Coring Tool

Core
bullets

Rock
formation

Core
sample
 Drilling Fluids

 Rotary wash with water, foam, or drilling

mud (bentonite or polymeric slurries),
Revert
 Fluids reduce wear on drilling and coring
bits by cooling
 Fluids remove cuttings and rock flour
 Re-circulate to filter fluids and to
minimize impact on environment
 Core Recovery

 Core Runs taken in either 5- or 10-foot

sections (1.5- or 3-m sections).
 Core Recovery is percentage retained.
 Core Recovery

 Cores should be stored in either wooden

boxes or corrugated cardboard box.
 Box marked with boring number, depth
of core run, type core, bit type, core
recovery (CR), rock type, RQD, and
other notes.
 Core operations should be documented:
Loss of fluid, rates, sudden drop in
rods, poor recovery, loss of core
Core Recovery
Care and Preservation of Core Samples

 Samples must be marked and logged upon

retrieval (identification, type, number,
depth, recovery, moisture)
 Jar samples in wood or cardboard box
 Should be protected from extreme
conditions (heat, freezing, drying)
 Sealed to minimize moisture loss
 Packed and protected against excessive
vibrations and shock
 Care and Preservation of Rock Cores

 Routine: rock samples in core boxes

 Special: enclose core in plastic sleeves
 General: avoid exposure to shock and
vibration during handling and transport
 Non-natural fractures may result from
excessive movements, temperatures, and
exposure to air
 Storage for future reference
Storage and Transport of Core Samples
Storage of Rock Core Boxes
Storage of Rock Core to Evaluation
 Rock Quality Designation (RQD)

 The RQD is a modified core recovery

 Measure of the degree of fractures,
joints, and discontinuities of rock mass
 RQD = sum of pieces > 100 mm (4
inches) divided by total core run
 Generally performed on NX-size core
 Rock
Quality
Designation
 Cores Usage

 Allow direct measurement of reservoir

properties
 Used to correlate indirect measurements,
such as wireline/LWD logs
 Used to test compatibility of injection fluids
 Used to predict borehole stability
 Used to estimate probability of formation
failure and sand production
 Informations from Core Analysis

Standard Analysis Special Core Analysis

(Routine Core Analysis) (SCAL)
 Porosity  Vertical permeability
 Horizontal permeability  Relative permeability
 Grain size and Grain  Wettability
density
 Capillary pressure
 Saturation
 Cementation factor (m),
 Lithology Saturation exponent (n)
 Core Analysis Measurements

Routine Core Analysis SCAL

 Porosity (Boyle’s Law  Compressibility (Korelasi
Porosimeter; Saturation Carpenter-Spencer; Hall;
Method) Van der Knapp; Newman)
 Saturation (Retort  Wettability (Arnolt-
Method; Distillation Harvey Method; Ammot
Method) Test)
 Permeability  Capillary Pressure
(Permeability Plug (Restored State Method)
Method)
 Porosity Measurement
 Boyle’s Law Porosimeter
Grain Volume (Vs)
Vs = V1 + V2 – P1/P2 . V1

 Saturation Method
Vp = (Ws-Wd)/ρf
 Saturation Measurement
 Retort Method  Distillation Method

VW VO WT = Wo + Ww
SW  SO 
VP VP Ww = Vw + Dw
Vo = ((Wo-Ww)-Ww) / Do
 Permeability Measurement
 Liquid Permeameter
2  Q2  g L P2
k
A( P1  P2 )
2 2

 Air Permeameter (Klinkerberg Correction)

b
K g  K a (1  )
Pm
 Determination of “m” Parameter
To determine of cementation factor ’m’ made by relation
between porosity of core (Φ) with formation factor (F).

Basic concept was Archie and Humble equations.

1 0.62
F Archie F Humble
 m  m

1000

Hence we have
log F = -m log Φ + log 1
100

Formation Factor
10

Equation above is straight line y = 1.6596x

-1.6594

equation with slope –m, written as:

2
R = 0.6701
1
F
m

y = mx + c
0.1
0.01 0.1 1
Porosity
 Determination of “n” Parameter
To determine of exponent saturation ’n’ made by
relation between water saturation (Sw) with
Resistivity Index.

Basic concept was Archie Law second.

Ro
100

Sw  n

Rt Resistivity index
10

Hence we have:
1
-1.4571

-n log Sw = log Ro/Rt

y = 1.0553x
2
R = 0.9648

-n = log (Ro/Rt - Sw) 0.1

0.01 0.1 1
Brine Saturation
 Application of Core Analysis Results
 Porosity : determine the storage capacity of
formation
 Permeability : define the flow capacity of the
rock
 Saturation : define type of hydrocarbons and
connate water
 Lithology : determine the rock type and
mineral characteristic
 Fluid production : predict the type of
production from core analysis
Application of Core Analysis Results

 Contacts : determine Gas-Oil, Oil-Water,

Gas-Water contacts
 Grain density : to refine the density log
 Grain size : average grain size can be
determine for Gravel pack
 Petrology : help in completion
recommendation from Core analysis
 Paleontology : determine the geological age
of rock to help correlate it to other well
Integrated Core Measurements
and Analysis

- Core Heterogeneity
- Rock Typing
- Core Plug Selection
- Core Analysis
- Data Integration
 Integrated Workflow
1. Core Recovery
2. Core Preparation and Cleaning
3. AutoScan Heterogeneity
Characterization
4. Data Miner Analysis
5. Plug Selection
6. Routine Core Analysis
7. Special Core Analysis
8. Pore Structure Analysis – PSI
9. Slabbed Core Cap-Pressure Maps
10. Up-scaled Physical Properties
11. Data Integration for Reservoir
Optimization and Management
3. AutoScan Heterogeneity Characterization

AutoScan II: Spatially Correlated Property

Measurements
- Ultrasonic Velocities Vp, Vs1, Vs2 Log k Vp Vs core/feet
- Complex Electrical Conductivity 0

- Gas Permeametry k 2

10

12

14
 Scales of Investigation Used
In Reservoir Characterization
300 m Relative Volume
14
Gigascopic 50 m Well Test 10

300 m
Reservoir Model 12
Megascopic 5 m Grid Cell 2 x 10
150 m

2m
Wireline Log 7
1m
Interval 3 x 10
Macroscopic cm 2
Core Plug 5 x 10

mm - m Geological
Microscopic 1
(modified from Hurst, 1993)
Thin Section
 4. DataMiner Analysis

• Cluster Analysis:
- Rock Typing/Heterogeneity
- Property Correlations Log k Vp Vs lithos core/feet
0
- Plug Selection
2

10

12
14
Cross Plot 14 foot Line Scan
 4. DataMiner Analysis

• Cluster Analysis:
- Rock Typing/ Heterogeneity
Log k Vp Cross Plots
- Property Correlations
- Plug Selection

P velocity (m/s)
all data
Log Permeability (mD)

P velocity (m/s)
individual core
Log Permeability (mD)

1 foot
slabbed core 14 foot line scan
 4. DataMiner Analysis

• Cluster Analysis:
- Rock Typing/ Heterogeneity
- Property Correlations
- Plug Selection

Log k Vp Vs lithos lithos Vs Vp Log k k map scan 1 ft core

1.0 Log k (mD) 3.0

14 foot line scan 1 ft core line scan
 8. Pore Structure Analysis – PSI

1. Core Plug Measurements 2. PSI Analysis

Inverse Modeling
& Data Mining Permeability

Velocity

Image Analysis

Formation
Factor
Pore Structure
Inversion Model
T2 NMR

3. Physical Model
Catalog

Forward Modeling
 9. Slabbed Core Capillary Pressure Maps
1. Integrated Data 2. Capillary Pressure - Saturation
Models

PSI Catalog

AutoScan II

Grid Scale Rel-Perm

Berea: Relative
Berea: Relative Permeability
Permeability
Corey Drainage
Corey Drainage Model
Model Core Scale
Model
(mD)(mD)

400
400
Kwater vertical
Kwater vertical

300
Kwater horizontal
Kwater horizontal Cap-Pressure Map
Permeability(mD)
Permeability

300
Knapl vertical
Knapl vertical
Permeability

200
200 Knapl horizontal
Knapl horizontal

Kwater (standard
Kwater (standard
model)
model)
100
100 Knapl (standard
Knapl (standard
model)
model)

00
00 0.2
0.2 0.4
0.4 0.6
0.6 0.8
0.8 11
3. Relative Permeability Models
Water Saturation
Water Saturation
Water Saturation
 10. Up-scaled Physical Properties
1. Core Scale Cap-Pressure Map 2. Grid Scale Parameter Properties

• Relative Permeability
• Fluid Substitution for 3D Seismic
• Formation Factor Anisotropy
• Saturation Exponent
• Sanding Potential

2
3
4 1
3. Reservoir Scale
Optimized Model
Geological and Petrophysical Data Used
to Define Flow Units
Core Pore Petrophysical Gamma Ray Flow
Core Lithofacies
Plugs Types Data Log Units
 vs k Capillary
Pressure