Post-Conference Workshop | WS07 View all workshops

Core Logging – Time to Hit the Reset Button!

Description

The diamond driller's task is to acquire good core recoveries from accurately depth-registered drill runs that are oriented, if required, from a borehole that is kept on course to target. The geoscientist measures and describes the rock exposed in core and bore, accounts for the core losses incurred, obtains an accurate survey of the borehole path, geospatially locates the data for correlation with adjacent borehole logs to deliver a geological model that is representative of the ground investigated.

Data is recorded relevant to the needs of the engineers or geoscientists for whom a drilling campaign is commissioned, to either explore for ore, then safely and profitably extract the ground, or to design ground stabilizing measures for mega structure construction. Although we are good at mapping features in outcrop, geologists are generally poor at enumerating the measurement uncertainties with which sub-surface data are located.

Workshop attendees will be provided with insight of the processes involved in diamond drilling with consideration of depth referencing, surveying, data processing, core orientation and logging workflows. We will also review the effects of other random, systemic, and human errors found during QA/QC of the drilling and logging process. Attendees are required to bring Windows-based laptops, which will be used during practical exercises.

Attendees will receive certificates of participation. View all workshops.

About the Presenter

John Orpen

Resource Exploration & Development Pty Ltd

Ph.D., lectured in geology from 1980 at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ). He was director of the Zimbabwe Geological Survey (1990–1993), then returned to UZ and set up an M.Sc. in exploration geology. In 1997 he became a consultant, sold diamond drilling rigs, and conducted drilling and geotechnical assurance reviews, trained core loggers, and developed logging software—work he continues after emigrating to South Africa in 2001.

Schedule

Click to view the workshop schedule

9:00am - 10:30am:

Introduction: Sub-surface data capture priorities to ensure optimal outcomes
Diamond drilling:
- Outline of the process and the QA/QC provisions required.
- Core and bore depth referencing and depth registration.
- Core recovery issues.
Virtual practical (each delegate to have a Windows computer).

11:00am - 12:30pm:

Surveying the borehole path trajectory:
- Verifying collar coordinates, and drill string azimuth and inclination – as drilled.
- Survey tool and wireline winch field calibration.
- On site reference borehole test of tool function and operator competence.
- Pre, In and Post-survey protocols and routines.
- QA/QC procedures and criteria for assessing data accuracy.
Practical. Data processing and evaluation.

1:30pm - 3:30pm:

Core orientation:
- Review of the different tools used.
- Field calibration tests.
- Orientation line drawing protocols and routines.
- Cumulative offset measurement and calculation.
- Practical. Data processing and evaluation.
Core loggin:
- The case for a fundamental core logging workflow.
- Planar and linear structure measurement and borehole survey interpolation to derive their in-situ attitude.
- Review of the different goniometers used.
- Comparison with ATV/OTV borehole scans.

4:00pm - 5:00pm:

Conclusion and discussion of ideas for big-data analysis of data derived from diamond drilling.

Registration

Early Deadline: June 30, 2023
Regular Deadline: August 11, 2023

	Early	Regular
SEG Professional Member	US$495	US$495
SEG Student Member	US$145	US$145
Non-member	US$595	US$595
All prices are in United States dollars (USD). SEG reserves the right to cancel this event should minimum attendance numbers not be met by June 30, 2023. All registrants will be given a full refund should SEG cancel the course. Cancellation policy, event photography, dietary restrictions, and more are detailed in the SEG Conference terms and conditions.