Abstract A naturally fractured reservoir is composed by a system of fractures created by breakdown of the layers, caused by tectonic movements. Although all reservoirs have some fractured grade, only are considered naturally fractured, those where the system of fractures presents any effect upon flow of fluids. Whole core analysis is critical for characterizing directional permeability in heterogeneous, fractured reservoirs. Whole core measurements are essential for heterogeneous reservoirs because small- scale heterogeneity may not be appropriately represented in plug measurements. For characterization of multiphase flow properties in heterogeneous rock, routine and special core analysis in whole core is also required. In this paper, we provide an overview of routine and special core-analysis measurements on whole cores. Improved experimental equipments for measurement of routine core analysis on whole core (fluid saturation, clean, directional permeability, and porosity) under a maximum confining stress of 10,000 psi, were made in the ECOPETROL-ICP's routine and special core laboratories. The advantage of these equipments is that allows evaluating directional permeability (x, and, z) considering variations in permeability caused by fractures and other heterogeneities. Finally we discussed results from routine core analysis on whole cores for Colombian heterogeneous sandstone. Also in this paper the effect of scale (sample size) on the measured properties are also shown.