Coring:

Coring is the removal of sample formation material from a wellbore. To the extent
possible, core samples are taken in an undamaged, physically unaltered state.
The Purpose of Coring:
Laboratory measurements performed on core samples recovered from hydrocarbon
reservoirs furnish reservoir descriptive data available from no other source. Well
logs, including the new generation NMR tools, play a very important role in reservoir
identification and characterization. However, the reservoir core material itself will
provide the most accurate information available to geologists, engineers, and
petrophysicists. In addition, core material is needed to calibrate well logs.
Evaluation data gained from core samples fall into three general categories:
geological, completion, and engineering.
Core Barrel Components:
Outer Barrel:
Outer, thick-walled barrel which attaches to core bit on one end and drill string on
the other. The outer barrel encloses inner core barrel components. The O.D. of the
outer barrel is always less than the hole size to allow for fishing operations.
Inner Barrel:
Receiver for core column being cut by core bit. Inner barrels are generally made of
thin walled steel. Aluminum and Fiberglass inner barrels are now commonly used as
the standard and preferred method to containerize the core. Both aluminum and
fiberglass are disposable. Inner barrel containerize the core, protecting the core from
fluid contamination and erosion.
Inner Tube:
PVC, aluminum and fiberglass inserts or inner tubes are used for the steel inner
barrel. Inner tubes containerize core samples and generally are disposable.

Core Head or Core bit:
Hollow drill bit at end of core barrel designed to cut the rock. The center part of the
bit forms a column of rock to become a core. Core bits are application-specific with
a cutting structure of choice, i.e., natural diamond, synthetic diamond, or
polycrystalline diamond compact cutters.
Outer Barrel Stabilizers:
Segments of outer barrel, generally 3 feet in length and constructed with hardened
ribs, keep core barrel centered in well bore. OD of stabilizer ribs is larger than that
of outer barrel and equal to hole size.
Top Sub:
Top part of the HT core barrel that connects to the drill string. High torque core
barrels (HT series & Core Master) have been designed and standardized with a top
sub, leaving the safety joint as an option only.
Swivel Assembly:

A section of inner barrel that connects inner barrel to safety joint or top sub.
Bearings allow outer barrel to rotate about inner barrel without turning the inner
barrel. Swivel consists of thrust bearing, Inner tube plug and pressure relief plug.

Drop Ball:

A steel ball dropped from the surface through the drill string. The ball is dropped to
initiate coring, which is conducted without drilling fluid flow through inner barrel.
Seating action of the ball forces fluid flow through the annulus space between outer
and inner core barrels.

Core Catcher:

A device configured inside a shoe assembly located at the bottom end of the inner
barrel assembly. Its function is to grab and break the core at the bottom prior to
retrieving the core. The core catcher goes into the coregard shoe and sits in the
coregard shoe which is tapered to enable the catcher to grip the core.



Lower or Coregard Shoe:

Lower end of inner core barrel; holds core catcher and seats into throat of bit.

Upper or Top End Shoe:

Extension connecting the pilot or extended pilot (Low Invasion) lower shoe to the
inner barrel. The Top End or Upper shoe screws into the coregard and onto the
inner tube.

Inner tube extension:

This Inner tube extension is used to space out the inner tubes to the outer barrel.
Long Distance Adjustment (LDA):
A device and procedure for spacing aluminum or fiberglass inner tubes to
compensate for differences in thermal expansion between steel outer barrel and
disposable inner tubes.LDA consists of Slick housing, stabilizer and top sub.