All plugs are cut and trimmed from suitable core using either simulated formation brine or base oil as lubricant. Chemical damage to core material is thus minimized by using compatible fluids. Friable core needs to be handled delicately, GeoCore have developed this ability to cut plugs using clean air as the lubricant to score out a plug. Where the core is unconsolidated all attempts are made to cut a plug using rotating tools, however plunge cutting a sample may be the only feasible way to recover a fresh-state sample.