A system 10 and method 50 of enabling the acquisition of borehole survey data and core orientation data in a single instrument trip in a core drill 12 having a drill string 18 and an inner core barrel assembly 16. The method uses a borehole survey tool 14 that is arranged to at least log its position in three-dimensional space. The borehole survey tool 14 is run down the drill string 12 in which the inner core barrel assembly 16 is installed. The inner core barrel assembly 16 is arranged to either provide or facilitate detection of an indication of tool face of a core sample 24 held in the inner core barrel assembly 16. The indication of tool face is then transferred mechanically or electronically to the visiting borehole survey tool 14.

A system 10 and method 50 of enabling the acquisition of borehole survey data and core orientation data in a single instrument trip in a core drill 12 having a drill string 18 and an inner core barrel assembly 16. The method uses a borehole survey tool 14 that is arranged to at least log its position in three-dimensional space. The borehole survey tool 14 is run down the drill string 12 in which the inner core barrel assembly 16 is installed. The inner core barrel assembly 16 is arranged to either provide or facilitate detection of an indication of tool face of a core sample 24 held in the inner core barrel assembly 16. The indication of tool face is then transferred mechanically or electronically to the visiting borehole survey tool 14.

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 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 device for orienting core samples relative to the position thereof with respect to the subsoil before being extracted is intended to remain coupled during operation in a core bit, that is, in the bit used to drill and extract the core sample from the subsoil. The proposed device includes a tubular body couplable to an inner tube and/or to a head assembly of a core bit, detector is arranged in the tubular body configured to detect the orientation of the inner tube and/or of a core sample provided in said inner tube, and an electronic control unit arranged in the tubular body configured to receive and process data from the detector relating to the orientation of the inner tube and/or the core sample provided in the inner tube, and configured to wirelessly transmit the data.

A device for orienting core samples relative to the position thereof with respect to the subsoil before being extracted is intended to remain coupled during operation in a core bit, that is, in the bit used to drill and extract the core sample from the subsoil. The proposed device includes a tubular body couplable to an inner tube and/or to a head assembly of a core bit, detector is arranged in the tubular body configured to detect the orientation of the inner tube and/or of a core sample provided in said inner tube, and an electronic control unit arranged in the tubular body configured to receive and process data from the detector relating to the orientation of the inner tube and/or the core sample provided in the inner tube, and configured to wirelessly transmit the data.

A tool, system and associated method orient core samples extracted during borehole drilling intended to be coupled to a core barrel and/or to the cable of a head assembly, which at least include electronic processing means provided with at least one processing unit and orthogonally coupled triaxial accelerometers communicated with the processing unit, configured to record data on the movement and/or instantaneous vibration of the tool, which further includes orthogonally coupled micromechanical gyroscopes, configured to rotate relative to an axis of rotation of the tool and transmit the orientation data to the processing unit, wherein the processing unit is configured to, from the data of the set of triaxial accelerometers and the set of micromechanical gyroscopes, calculate the orientation of the core sample with respect to true north and the trajectory of the drilled borehole.

A tool, system and associated method orient core samples extracted during borehole drilling intended to be coupled to a core barrel and/or to the cable of a head assembly, which at least include electronic processing means provided with at least one processing unit and orthogonally coupled triaxial accelerometers communicated with the processing unit, configured to record data on the movement and/or instantaneous vibration of the tool, which further includes orthogonally coupled micromechanical gyroscopes, configured to rotate relative to an axis of rotation of the tool and transmit the orientation data to the processing unit, wherein the processing unit is configured to, from the data of the set of triaxial accelerometers and the set of micromechanical gyroscopes, calculate the orientation of the core sample with respect to true north and the trajectory of the drilled borehole.

A core barrel head assembly having at least one electronic instrument that is configured to obtain orientation data; a power source; and a communication means to receive and/or transmit orientation data for use in a core sample down hole surveying and sample orientation system that is configured to provide an indication of the orientation of a core sample relative to a body of material from which the core has been extracted, and also to a method of core sample orientation identification.

A core barrel head assembly having at least one electronic instrument that is configured to obtain orientation data; a power source; and a communication means to receive and/or transmit orientation data for use in a core sample down hole surveying and sample orientation system that is configured to provide an indication of the orientation of a core sample relative to a body of material from which the core has been extracted, and also to a method of core sample orientation identification.