Disclosed herein is a device and method for correlating core sample zones with an actual subterranean depth. The disclosed device has a pair of independent distance measuring devices operably in communication with a core sample apparatus where a first distance measuring device measures the length of a core sample entering a core sampling tube and a second distance measuring device measures a drive depth of the core sampling tube entering into the ground. A processing unit is provided for correlating the two distances so as to allow a determination as to the actual depth below ground from where a given zone of the core sample is extracted.

A mobile coiled tubing rig and method for obtaining samples from a formation. The rig having a carrier, a coiled tubing reel positioned on the carrier, a mast pivotally mounted on the carrier, a coiled tubing injector mounted on the mast, at least one wrench for connecting components to the coiled tubing and to each other to form the bottom hole assembly. The rig is operable to perform earth coring operations and/or reverse circulation drilling to obtain samples of a formation for analysis.

A mobile coiled tubing rig and method for obtaining samples from a formation. The rig having a carrier, a coiled tubing reel positioned on the carrier, a mast pivotally mounted on the carrier, a coiled tubing injector mounted on the mast, at least one wrench for connecting components to the coiled tubing and to each other to form the bottom hole assembly. The rig is operable to perform earth coring operations and/or reverse circulation drilling to obtain samples of a formation for analysis.

A contactless orientation system coupled with an inner core tube to one or more record carriers on or associated with a core sample held in the core tube having a longitudinal core axis and a core face accessible from an end of the inner core tube. An instrument guide is coupled to the end of the core tube from which the core face is accessible with an axis of the guide parallel to the core axis. Correlation information is generated between a rotational orientation of a known point P on the instrument guide about the guide axis and core orientation data known to the contactless orientation system. The instrument acts as the record carrier or generates the record carrier provided with the correlation information enabling orientation of the core sample to its in-situ orientation when released from the core tube.

A four-hole core drilling machine of the invention includes a vertically reciprocating carriage mounted to a body, a motor coupled to the carriage, a fixing plate coupled to the carriage, to rotatably support a drive shaft of the motor, a pivoting plate fastened to the fixing plate under the condition that a pivot angle of the pivoting plate is changed, a drive pulley coupled to the drive shaft, to be rotatable by the drive shaft, four driven pulleys rotatably mounted to the pivoting plate near corners of the pivoting plate, four driven shafts rotatably mounted to the pivoting plate and coupled to the four driven pulleys, to be rotatable by the driven pulleys, a belt mounted around the drive pulley and the driven pulleys, to transmit rotation force of the drive pulley to the driven pulleys, and four core bits coupled to lower ends of the driven shafts.

A four-hole core drilling machine of the invention includes a vertically reciprocating carriage mounted to a body, a motor coupled to the carriage, a fixing plate coupled to the carriage, to rotatably support a drive shaft of the motor, a pivoting plate fastened to the fixing plate under the condition that a pivot angle of the pivoting plate is changed, a drive pulley coupled to the drive shaft, to be rotatable by the drive shaft, four driven pulleys rotatably mounted to the pivoting plate near corners of the pivoting plate, four driven shafts rotatably mounted to the pivoting plate and coupled to the four driven pulleys, to be rotatable by the driven pulleys, a belt mounted around the drive pulley and the driven pulleys, to transmit rotation force of the drive pulley to the driven pulleys, and four core bits coupled to lower ends of the driven shafts.

A method and apparatus for recovering cores from downhole environments where downhole environmental parameters are measured during coring operations to maximize the success of core recovery.

A method and apparatus for recovering cores from downhole environments where downhole environmental parameters are measured during coring operations to maximize the success of core recovery.

A retrievable core sampling assembly for latching to or relative to a rotatable tubular housing of a core sampling apparatus to allow the capture and retrieval of a core from a subterranean formation, the assembly comprising or including: a core catcher barrel for a core, the barrel being rotationally isolated from the tubular housing and cooperable with a core taking bit coupled to the rotatable tubular housing to retain a core, and a hammer for providing impact to the core taking bit along a longitudinal impact path that is or is substantially decoupled from the core catcher barrel so that when latched, rotation and impact of the core taking bit captures and passes core material from the formation to the core catcher barrel in manner that isolates a core in the core catcher barrel from rotation and impact forces.

A retrievable core sampling assembly for latching to or relative to a rotatable tubular housing of a core sampling apparatus to allow the capture and retrieval of a core from a subterranean formation, the assembly comprising or including: a core catcher barrel for a core, the barrel being rotationally isolated from the tubular housing and cooperable with a core taking bit coupled to the rotatable tubular housing to retain a core, and a hammer for providing impact to the core taking bit along a longitudinal impact path that is or is substantially decoupled from the core catcher barrel so that when latched, rotation and impact of the core taking bit captures and passes core material from the formation to the core catcher barrel in manner that isolates a core in the core catcher barrel from rotation and impact forces.