Unwashed cuttings (bags)

The sampling of 100 grams of cuttings spread out over an interval of 15 meters is authorized (i.e. from 3 adjacent bags when the sampling interval is equal to 5 meters), as long as the quantity of cuttings available is sufficient.

Washed cuttings (vials)

No sampling from washed cuttings (glass or plastic vials) is authorized. These samples can only be used for microscope examination, and cannot be wetted.

Cores

In order to assure sample continuity, sampling can only be carried out by removing with a rock cutting saw 50% (1/2) of a full core or 25% (1/4) of a half core, with a maximum of 10% of the core length interval being sampled (i.e. maximum of 10% per core box); core sampling is also dependant on the availability and quality of the core. Take note that the rock cutting saw must be operated by a MERN employee.

When more than on set of core is available for the same interval, sampling must be carried out on the same set.

Other considerations

All sampling activities must be carried out under the supervision of the person in charge of the core library and employed by the Direction du bureau des hydrocarbures of the Ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources naturelles (MERN).

In the case when the integrity of the sample is affected, sampling will be authorized only if the importance of the study justifies it.

The MERN rock cutting saw cannot be used by a company to saw half of the full core it sampled during drilling, and that in order to fulfill the requirement given by section 39 of the Regulation respecting petroleum, natural gas and underground reservoirs, which is written as follow :

39. A well drilling licensee shall, as soon as the analysis is completed, submit to the Minister at least half the core cut lengthwise.

A copy of the written report (and data table) containing all the analytical results of the collected samples must be sent electronically (email) to the Direction du bureau des hydrocarbures (bureau.hydrocarbures@mrn.gouv.qc.ca), within one (1) year of the date of the sampling. The report will become public (1) year after its reception to the Direction du bureau des hydrocarbures.