The Core Storage and Research Centre (CSRC) is probably the best kept secret of the Canada – Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB). The facility opened in 1989 to fulfill the requirement under the Atlantic Accord to curate and archive material derived from drilling in the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Area. Operators who explore our Offshore Area are required to submit a portion of all materials collected while drilling a well to the CSRC for future geoscientific research.

The CSRC can be considered a “library of rock and fluids” with materials from over 400 wells drilled offshore. Stored items include more than 8000 meters of core samples, 200 fluid samples, 40,000 geological slides, 5000 boxes of cuttings samples and 7500 sidewall core samples. Once the material has passed the privileged period it is made available to the public for viewing, research and use in geological studies. Any reports or new material generated as a result of that work are also submitted to the Board and in turn made available to the public for use in offshore geoscience studies. One of the greatest benefits of working at the CSRC is the opportunity to be part of a busy facility that plays a key role in supporting exploration offshore Newfoundland and Labrador.

Upgrades to the facility are ongoing in order to accommodate the amount of materials we receive and to enable clients to access those materials more efficiently. A major expansion in 2012 significantly increased the warehouse storage capacity and core viewing space. A third core viewing room was added in 2016 to provide additional space for the number of clients interested in examining core. Board staff are currently working on upgrades to the warehouse and processes to increase safety and efficiency when accommodating clients.

Although the general public may not be too familiar with us, we are well known to academia and industry, locally and world-wide. Our clients range from students and researchers from academic institutions, including Memorial University, to government and international industry researchers. The CSRC also hosts professional conferences during the year and opens its doors each year to students at the junior and high school levels. We enjoy these events as they provide us with the opportunity to immerse young people in the array of materials housed at the CSRC and give them a glimpse into the oil and gas industry. These events foster interest in the industry for our future workforce in Newfoundland and Labrador by showing the impact the CSRC has on studies related to potential future discoveries.

For me, one of the best parts of working at the CSRC is being able to connect with other professionals from all over the world and to showcase this world-class facility and the highly capable and professional staff, here in Newfoundland and Labrador and at the C-NLOPB. I have developed some great professional relationships and friendships with people who have passed through the CSRC over the years and I look forward to creating many more.

Blog 2017