The BC Energy Regulator’s Core Research Facility archives and provides public access to inspect and examine petroleum well cores and drill cutting samples. We also allow for core removal from our warehouse for shipping to private laboratories.
Many groups can benefit from access to cores and drill cuttings, including:
- Oil and gas exploration companies.
- Academic institutions.
- General public.
- Other natural-resource-oriented groups.
Public access to the rock samples archived within the Core Research Facility is an important component in the Province's continued commitment to natural resource science, and helps to foster continued responsible oil and gas industry development.
The Oil and Gas Activities Act via Section 29 of the Drilling and Production Regulation (B.C. Reg. 249/2011) (DPR) specifies requirements for petroleum exploration companies to submit drill cuttings and core from wells drilled in the province to the Regulator. Core and cuttings at the facility are managed in accordance with Part 6 of the DPR which allows for core examination and temporary removals for testing. Drill cuttings and core samples are directed to the Core Research Facility, defined by the DPR as the facility for the storage and examination of well samples and cores.
Viewing Core/Cuttings and Reserving Tables
Our facility offers:
- Examination tables with a sliding table tray for microscope, examination tools, and note taking.
- Confidential examination areas can be reserved by company staff to view and examine confidential core.
Cores may be viewed at our Core Facility in Fort St. John, B.C. Please use the Core Examination Application Form to request a visit. Clients will need two weeks minimum notice when reserving for examination tables. Please provide notice of at least five business days when cancelling core examination requests.
Drill cuttings may also be viewed at the Core Facility, but please note they cannot be removed and can only be examined in-house.
Drill cuttings may also be viewed at the Geological Survey of Canada. For convenience to industry clients, the BCER provides the Geological Survey of Canada the drill cuttings for most wells drilled in British Columbia.
Core Research Facility Tour
Get a behind-the-scenes look of our Core Research Facility in Fort St. John.
Resources
Core Removal and Sampling for Offsite Analysis
With BCER approval, cores and samples may be removed from the well site or the Core Facility to third party locations (i.e. an analysis laboratory).
Please provide notice of at least five business days when cancelling core removal requests. Please note: Drill cuttings cannot be removed from the Core Facility, they can only be examined in house.
Shipping New Core and New Drill Cuttings to the Facility
A Notice of Shipment of Core Form or Notice of Shipment of New Drill Cutting Samples Form needs to be used when new core and new drill cuttings are submitted from the well site or laboratory to the Core Facility.
Please note: You do not need to submit this notice if returning core or samples which were previously archived at the Core Facility.
| Effective Date |
February 26, 2024 |
Facility Tour Requests
Facility tours can be arranged to accommodate geologists, corporations, the general public, and educational groups from elementary school to university level. Tour requests are by reservation only and must be pre-approved by the onsite Core Facility Supervisor. (Unscheduled drop-ins are not permitted.)
For further information on the core facility and the reservation of facilities, contact the Core Facility Supervisor.
Documentation, Guidance & Forms
Contact Information
Core Facility Supervisor
Email: corelab@bc-er.ca
Tel:250-794-5313 or 250-794-5200
Mailing Address
Core Research Facility
6534 100th Ave.
Fort St. John, BC
V1J 8C5
Research/Courier Location
6534 100th Ave.
Fort St. John, BC
V1J 8C5
Visitors
The Core Facility is located at our Fort St. John office:
6534 100th Ave.
Fort St. John, BC
V1J 8C5
Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. Closed 12:00pm-1:00pm.