Coring Engineer

1)       Job Summary

The Coring Engineer is responsible for planning, preparing and supervising coring services to obtain representative formation samples safely and with the required recovery and quality. The role reviews geological and drilling objectives, selects the coring system and bottom-hole assembly, verifies equipment preparation and provides rig-site engineering support throughout the coring run. The incumbent also controls core handling records, resolves operational problems and prepares accurate post-job reports and recommendations.

2)       Key Responsibilities

Coring Programme & Formation Review

• Review the coring objectives, target interval, lithology, expected formation strength, pore pressure, temperature, trajectory, hole condition and drilling-fluid properties.
• Confirm required core diameter, interval length, recovery target, orientation or preservation needs and interfaces with the drilling and geological programmes.
• Identify missing well or formation data and obtain clarification before final equipment selection and procedure release.

Coring System & BHA Engineering

• Select the conventional or wireline coring system, core head, inner and outer barrels, core catcher, stabilizers and approved accessories for the planned application.
• Design and verify the bottom-hole assembly, dimensional clearances, connection compatibility, hydraulics, circulating rate, weight-on-bit, rotary speed and operating limits.
• Prepare equipment lists, assembly drawings, calculations, running procedures, parameter sheets, hold points and contingency actions for technical approval.

Equipment Preparation & Quality Control

• Verify equipment identity, dimensions, connection condition, inspection status, maintenance history, material records and certification before assembly.
• Supervise cleaning, gauging, assembly, functional checks, pressure tests where applicable, preservation, packing and load-out of the coring equipment.
• Confirm that measuring and test equipment is calibrated and that assembly, inspection, tally and traceability records are complete.

Rig-Site Coring Operations

• Lead pre-job meetings and provide rig-floor direction for pick-up, make-up, running, circulating, coring, retrieval and lay-down activities.
• Monitor torque, drag, weight-on-bit, rotary speed, flow rate, pump pressure, penetration rate, vibration and other job-specific parameters during the coring run.
• Maintain clear communication with the driller, directional-drilling team, mud engineer, geologist and client representative throughout execution.

Core Recovery, Handling & Preservation

• Supervise core-barrel opening, core recovery and transfer using approved handling methods that protect personnel and preserve sample quality.
• Measure, orient, mark, describe, photograph, package and preserve recovered core in accordance with the approved client and geological requirements.
• Maintain accurate depth, recovery, loss, orientation, sample and chain-of-custody records through handover to the authorized recipient.

Troubleshooting & Risk Management

• Diagnose low recovery, jamming, plugging, vibration, poor penetration, pressure anomalies, tool damage and retrieval problems using actual operating data.
• Recommend parameter, assembly or recovery changes within approved limits and obtain the required client and management-of-change approval.
• Stop and secure the operation when well conditions, barriers, equipment response or operating parameters indicate unacceptable risk.

Reporting, Inventory & Improvement

• Prepare daily reports, run records, parameter logs, core-recovery calculations, equipment tallies, service tickets and final job reports accurately and on time.
• Report equipment damage, non-conformities and service-quality events and support root-cause analysis, corrective action and lessons learned.
• Monitor coring equipment, consumables and critical spares and support technical proposals, procedures, forecasts and competency development.

3)       Authorities

• Stop equipment preparation or coring execution when well data, barriers, equipment condition, certification or controls are inadequate.
• Recommend the coring system, bottom-hole assembly and operating parameters within qualified equipment and approved programme limits.
• Reject damaged, out-of-tolerance, incorrectly assembled or uncertified coring equipment from the job.
• Verify coring calculations, assembly records, operating data, core-recovery records and final service documentation before submission.

4)       Qualifications & Requirement

• Education: Degree, Master's degree or PhD in Petroleum, Mechanical, Drilling, Geological or another relevant Engineering discipline.
• Experience: Minimum five (5) years' directly relevant experience in coring equipment and services, regardless of the accepted Engineering qualification pathway.
• Language: Good command of English and Bahasa Malaysia (written and spoken).
• Technical Knowledge: Strong knowledge of conventional and wireline coring systems, core barrels and heads, bottom-hole assemblies, drilling hydraulics and parameters, core recovery, sample handling and preservation, equipment QA/QC and well-barrier requirements.

5)       Preferred Skills and Competencies

• Ability to select and engineer coring systems and bottom-hole assemblies for defined formation and well conditions.
• Strong understanding of weight-on-bit, rotary speed, flow, pressure, penetration rate, vibration and their effect on core recovery.
• Competence in coring-tool inspection, assembly, gauging, testing, tallying and material traceability.
• Careful core measurement, orientation, marking, preservation, documentation and chain-of-custody control.
• Methodical troubleshooting and disciplined application of approved contingency and management-of-change processes.
• Clear rig-site leadership, client communication, technical reporting and multidisciplinary coordination skills.
• Ability to work offshore, on rotation, at night or at remote well sites when required.
• Valid offshore medical, BOSIET/FOET, H2S, well-control and other client-required certificates, where applicable.