Facility Resources and Fees

The Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education at Western Michigan University has extensive resources that make it possible to carry out its mission and goals of student training, basic and applied research, continuing education and outreach programs. The MGRRE facility is equipped with:

• 20,000 square feet of warehouse storage for samples cores and data
• A 2,000 square foot sample examination and preparation area
• Two state-of-the-art microscope and testing labs
• A conference area and 30-seat training and seminar room
• 6,500 square feet of offices
• A library

Examining our Cuttings and Core

Please contact the Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education and give at least one week’s notice and we will make sure that the requested samples are available for you to examine.

Sample Cuttings

The mounted cuttings are glued down to long strips of light-weight cardboard, so they can’t be sampled. The cuttings marked “vials” are in small glass vials and cannot be sampled because there is so little material. Even though those types of cuttings cannot be sampled, they
are very easy to view (unlike the samples in paper envelopes). All cuttings in paper envelopes can be examined. If enough material is available, these cuttings can also be sampled. Please let us know which intervals you would like us to sample; we do the sampling ourselves while you are here and give you as much as we can (usually one to four grams), while keeping enough sample for future use. If you need a large number of cutting samples, we may have to mail those to you after your visit.

The footage range identified in our inventories for well cuttings shows what was written on the boxes. Because we have thousands of boxes, the contents inside the boxes are not known with certainty
until we open them. Sometimes large footage intervals were not sampled at all, even though those intervals fall within the range indicated on the outside of the box. This is especially true with shales. We cannot guarantee cuttings within the entire interval shown—it’s more of a top and bottom indication. Also, we never know if the cuttings have been lagged, so the marked footages may be off from actual vertical depths by more than a few feet.

Sampling Cores

The staff at MGRRE can sample cores if we have sufficient material. We can take small (10 gram) or larger (20 gram) chips and make one inch plugs. We can do some sampling while you are here, but experience
has taught us that we often end up mailing the majority of samples after your visit. Simply let us know where you would like the samples taken from and we will do our best to service your needs. Please note that core footages can be off from the log. Also, we rarely have copies of core gamma rays and we can’t do those here.

Well Records

When available, additional well records can be provided for your use while you are at MGRRE. Because it is helpful to look at the cuttings and cores alongside well records, we will lend you available copies of our well
completion reports, wireline logs and mudlogs for your use while on site. There is no extra charge for these items unless you would like digital copies of them.

Additional Data

To view a list of our mudlogs and wireline logs and additional data, please refer to the section of this website dedicated to cores, samples and data.

Please let us know what you want to examine a week in advance of your visit. For scheduling assistance or to request additional information, please contact Jennifer Trout or call (269) 387-8633.

Core and Cuttings Sample Policies

All core and cuttings sampling is completed by MGRRE personnel only. We will do our best to provide samples while you are here.

Data and Sample Return Requirements

When you accept samples from MGRRE, you agree that you will:

• Return any unused portion of core or cuttings samples.
  Plugs not destroyed during testing must also be returned to MGRRE. Thin sections must also be returned along with any residual material from the sample.
• Provide all data or analytical results generated from sample analysis to MGRRE within one month of your visit. We will keep this information in confidence for 8 months after being received if a written request is submitted.
• Acknowledge that samples were provided by the “Michigan Repository for Research and Education” in any publications using this data. You must also provide MGRRE with the publication reference.
• Pay all outstanding invoices within 30 days.