Historical background

The Digitalcore story: from rock samples to global technology.

The strongest historical association of the Digitalcore name is not a generic marketing blog. It is an Australian research commercialisation story involving digital rock analysis, X-ray microtomography and pore-scale simulation.

Timeline

Australian research, commercialised.

This page keeps the history factual while allowing the new site to become a modern resource about technology foundations.

ANU research publications described digital core laboratory work using high-resolution X-ray micro-CT to derive reservoir rock properties from 3D images.

Digitalcore was formed to commercialise technology based on X-ray microtomography and rock data analysis for oil and gas applications.

The work received major recognition, including energy and commercialisation awards connected with Digitalcore, ANU and UNSW.

Digital Core Pty Ltd merged with Numerical Rocks AS to form Lithicon.

Lithicon was acquired by FEI, with public reporting valuing the deal at approximately A$76 million.

Thermo Fisher Scientific completed its acquisition of FEI Company.

What “digital core analysis” means

Digital core analysis turns physical rock samples into 3D digital models. The technique can reveal pores, grains, flow paths and material structure at a scale that helps researchers and engineers understand how fluids move through rock.

This site is independent and is not presented as the former Digitalcore, Lithicon, FEI or Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Further reading