Have we passed peak core?
Core has traditionally played a key role in the characterisation of conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs, from exploration to mature production, because it provides the only means to observe and make measurements on actual reservoir rock. However, recent oil-industry downturns have driven many to question the value of routinely taking core, given the associated costs and potential risks to well operations. In tandem, advances in other reservoir visualisation techniques, such as seismic and borehole imaging, give weight to the contention that coring now represents a much less significant means of characterising reservoirs than it once did. In May 2021, the Geological Society’s Energy Group convened the virtual conference Core Values: The Role of Core in 21st Century Reservoir Characterisation to ask, “Does core have a future?”
Williams, L, Neal, A, Ashton, M. and Dee, S. (2021) Have we passed peak core? Geoscientist Online. Autumn 2021, p50-51.