PROTOCOL FOR SAMPLING CUTTINGS AT THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
1. All sampling must have prior approval by USGS facility staff.
2. Prior to submitting sampling request, it is strongly recommended that the customer look through the well analysis files to see if analyses and/or thin sections have already been made for the cuttings in question.
3. Sampling is allowed if the envelope contains more than 15 milliliters (ml) of material, and then only 5ml of material may be sampled.
4. If there is insufficient material in an envelope to sample, ask the facility staff if there is a duplicate set available.
5. Facility staff has the right to verify the amount being sampled and if it is found that sampling protocols are not being followed, the sampler will be made to correct the sample size of all samples that are out of compliance.
6. No high-grading, (picking out the good parts) all samples taken must be representative of the well.
7. All materials available at the facility and open to public viewing and/or sampling are public property. Any data obtained directly from these materials are also considered to be public property, even if the processing or analyses is paid for with private funds. Any interpretations and implications of the data, however, are considered to be derivative from the data and not directly obtained from the sample material; therefore, need not be submitted with the data.
8. Copies of any analytical results (i.e. chemical, paleontologic, petrophysical, and petrographics reports, etc.), and/or any thin sections made from sampled core or cuttings must be submitted to the USGS within SIX months. Analytical data must be in specified digital format for analysis described in the Data Return Policy. Thin sections made must be clearly labeled with the facility library number, well name, and depth.
9. Any unused portion(s) of sample material (along with appropriate labeling and a list of what separations and/or tests may have been performed) must be returned to the USGS within SIX months of sampling unless prior arrangements have been made with the facility staff.
10. Prior to removing samples from the USGS, a completed sampling form must be signed by a facility staff member and the individual taking the samples. The name of the individual’s supervisor, company/organization name, business address, email address, telephone number, and date must legibly written on the form.
11. The USGS must be acknowledged as the source of the sample material and/or provider or related analytical data in any publication produced by the sampling individual or representative. The well name, Township-Range and Section as well as sample depths must also be listed in the publication.
12. Bulk cuttings and entire cutting wells will not be removed from the facility.
