topic Re: Finding Drill Core Data in Mining Questions

Finding Drill Core Data

DavidHuizenga — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 22:50:43 GMT

Hello everyone,
This is my first time using these forums. I am a student who is just getting into GIS and I am trying to find data for a project I am working on. For my project I am trying to collect data from drill cores such as depth and unit contacts, as well as geospacial data. The goal is to plug this into GIS and develop a sub-surface continuity between the stratagraphic contacts.
I have been having difficulty finding any data (most likely due to industry rights to core data) so I figured I'd ask if anyone had any ideas regarding where I might be able to find this kind of data online.

Thanks!

-David

Re: Finding Drill Core Data

Anonymous User — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 14:39:35 GMT

David, up until last year I would have suggested the Dept. of Energy's Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center (RMOTC) which was about the only non-private oilfield that was liberal with providing lots of data that could be used for various purposes. However, last year the entire asset including the underlying Teapot Dome reservoir was sold off in to private hands (see http://energy.gov/articles/energy-department-sells-historic-teapot-dome-oilfield) which effectively cut off that content.

You didn't say if you were looking for a soft rock (oil/gas) or hard rock (minerals) example of core but in either case, you might pose the question to the specialist communities in those LinkedIn spaces, namely the Petroleum Users Group (PUG) at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1832102 and the Esri Mining Users Group (MUG) at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4017600. Good luck!

Re: Finding Drill Core Data

JoeBorgione — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 16:09:52 GMT

If your state (or area of interest) has Geological Survey, check with them. I know here in Utah the UGS has (literally) tons of core samples with associated data.

Re: Finding Drill Core Data

RossEvans — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 04:28:09 GMT

Finding core data is not easy man and accessing them depends on the area you're working. The best place you're going to find physical copies of the cores is at oil libraries, and each one is different. For example Midland Energy Library has gone through and recorded most of the cores they have in house and have a core list downloadable in excel, which is great BUT since most core reports don't have locational info recorded on the document, MEL does not provide any locational info other than the county and field that they were able to record from the core report.

Midland Subsurface Library has cores also but they don't have any type of list of what cores they have, you can either pay them to research your request or you can visit the library and do the research yourself.

The two ways I search cored wells is identifying on scout cards if they've been cored, or using IHS to locate which wells have cores since they are the powerhouse with the best database built from the massive historical datasets purchased from PI/Dwights.

You can search their database for $25/month and download on a per well basis but just be aware that the core data you can download from them is relatively general compared to the actual detailed core reports available from the libraries.

This is just for Texas, other areas may be completely different.

Hope this helps~

IHS Scout Ticket Core Descriptions

Core Report From Library

Scout Ticket From Library

IHS US Well & Production Data

Midland Energy Library

Midland Subsurface Library