System, Method and Apparatus for Determining the Disposition of Structural Features Present in Borehole Cores

A method of determining the disposition and or orientation of structural feature(s) present in a borehole core, wherein the method comprises:

• holding an apparatus by hand;
• moving or orienting by hand the apparatus, or part thereof, relative to a structural feature present in the core;
• capturing data on the movement or orientation of the apparatus, or the part thereof, as or when it is moved or oriented in relation to the structural feature and core, by using a movement or orientation arrangement of the apparatus;
• and
• determining, by using a processor, the orientation or disposition of the structural feature in relation to the core, by utilizing the captured data.

An apparatus for capturing data on structural features present in a borehole core sample having a circular outer periphery defining an outer surface and a central longitudinal axis defining a core axis, wherein the apparatus comprises:

• an orientation arrangement which is configured to determine the orientation, or change in orientation, of the apparatus, or part thereof;
• a data-capturing arrangement which is configured to capture orientation data generated by the orientation arrangement;
• an alignment arrangement operable to align the apparatus with a structural feature;
• and
• a body that houses the orientation arrangement and the data-capturing arrangement, wherein the body is arranged to be held, moved and manipulated by a hand of a user.

A system for determining the disposition or orientation of structural features present in a borehole core, wherein the system comprises:

• an apparatus having an orientation arrangement which is configured to determine the orientation, or change in orientation, of the apparatus, or part thereof;
• a data-capturing arrangement which is configured to capture orientation data generated by the orientation arrangement;
• an alignment arrangement operable to align the apparatus with a structural feature;
• and
• a body which houses the orientation arrangement and the data-capturing arrangement, and wherein the body is arranged to be held, moved and manipulated by a hand of a user;
• and
• a processing arrangement which is connected to, or forms part of, the apparatus, and which is configured to determine at least the orientation of the structural feature in relation to the borehole core, by utilizing at least the captured data.