Wireline Coring Service
Parent Body: British Geological Survey (Natural Environment Research Council), Continental Shelf and Margins Programme, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3LA

Principal Functions
Collection of cores for geological purposes.

Subsidiary Functions
Geophysical logging of boreholes.

General Details
A suite of wireline core barrels and associated sampling core barrels to core unconsolidated to solid formations in water depths to 1,500m with the appropriate drilling vessel. The equipment comprises a wireline core barrel with a selection of tungsten carbide, diamond and rock roller bits developed for BGS. Various types of inner barrel assemblies can be interchanged during drilling; the non-rotating inner barrel is the most commonly used, but an extended coring assembly and push sampling assemblies are also available for soft and unconsolidated formations. A Mount Sopris model 2500 wireline logging tool with combination stratigraphic probe is used to obtain gamma logs of boreholes. Neutron or gamma-gamma can be run with alternative probes. The equipment is used to depths of up to 300m below sea bed.

Specification
Collection of core to 3" diameter with a variety of drill bits to cover all formations.

Special Features
Full technical support available – system not available without this.

Future Plans
To promote strategic coring with this and other equipment as appropriate.

Availability
The facility is available to other bodies in both the private and public sector. There are no restrictions on the type of body that can apply to use the facility. The advance notice required when requesting time on the facility should be as long as possible since an appropriate vessel is necessary and must be chartered. Time is allocated to other users subject to availability.

Charging Basis
Published charging rates are available, but these could be subject to negotiation. There are no minimum or maximum hire periods, but it should be noted that mobilising a suitable vessel for less than ten days in most instances would be unrealistic.

Contact Information
Mr Alister Skinner
Head of Marine Operations
British Geological Survey
2A Nivensknowe Road
Loanhead
Edinburgh
EH20 9AU
Telephone:  +44 (0) 131 448 2700   Fax: +44 (0) 131 448 2545
Email:         mailto:acsk@bgs.ac.uk