Revolutionising Subsurface Evaluation with Advanced Core Digitalisation

The effective exploration and development of subsurface resources require detailed, continuous rock characterisation to understand reservoir heterogeneity and optimise resource recovery. Traditional core analysis techniques often rely on destructive, fragmented testing, which leaves significant gaps in the spatial resolution of rock properties and can lead to biased interpretations of subsurface conditions. This article introduces CoreDNA™, an innovative non-destructive core digitalisation platform that transforms conventional core analysis by creating high-resolution, multidisciplinary digital logs along the entire length of a core.

By integrating advanced imaging, geochemical, petrophysical, and geomechanical data, CoreDNA™ generates a ‘digital twin’ of the core. This approach bridges the gap between broadscale wireline logging and detailed core subsample analyses, enabling precise lithofacies identification, optimised subsample selection, and robust data upscaling. A case study from Well 15/12-20 S in the Norwegian Central North Sea demonstrates how the solution accelerates rock property characterisation, identifies reservoir heterogeneity, and enhances the resolution and reliability of reservoir quality assessments.

This cutting-edge workflow reduces uncertainties in reservoir modelling by providing a scalable, objective, and cost-effective methodology for subsurface evaluation. By complementing existing analytical techniques, the tool establishes a new paradigm in core analysis, paving the way for safer and more efficient resource exploration.