Method and system for enabling at surface core orientation data transfer

A method (100) of enabling at surface orientation data transfer from a contactless orientation system (11) coupled with an inner core tube (12) to one or more record carriers on or associated with a core sample (14) held in the core tube, the core sample (14) having a longitudinal core axis (16) and a core face 18 accessible from an end of the inner core tube (14), involves three broad steps. A first step is to couple an instrument guide (20) to the end of the core tube (12) from which the core face (18) is accessible so that an axis (26) of the guide is parallel to the core axis (16). A second step is to generate correlation information between a rotational orientation of a known point P on the instrument guide (20) or an instrument (28a) supported by the instrument guide (20) about the guide axis (26) and core orientation data known to the contactless orientation system (11). A third step is to use or otherwise operate the instrument (28a) to: act as the record carrier; or generate the record carrier provided with the correlation information enabling orientation of the core sample (14) to its in-situ orientation when released from the core tube (12).