I never imagined I would get the opportunity to go offshore this soon, especially for an international assignment. Even more, my first experience was directly on a drilling rig, not a producing platform.
Where It All Began
Coming from a humble background and being raised near an oil and gas operation area in Riau, Indonesia, I finally became an engineer in this industry. What makes this journey even more meaningful is that I received the job offer on my 22nd birthday—the most precious birthday gift I have received. At that time, the final semester of my studies at Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) had not even started, and I had already received a formal bond from the company. It was truly a blessing made possible by consistent efforts throughout my university journey.
Looking back, the story began when Petronas visited the petroleum engineering department at ITB in September 2025 to scout for future talent under the Upstream Petroleum Engineering Excellence program. That was the first time the idea of joining this company crossed my mind. I remember sitting in the front row, asking questions, and eventually being appointed as liaison officer during their campus visit. The recruitment process happened in February, and now I have started working in Twin Tower, Kuala Lumpur.
As a fresh graduate from Indonesia, I’m grateful for the opportunity to begin my career abroad in Malaysia.
My First Offshore Experience
At the beginning, I felt quite overwhelmed. Everyone around me seemed to know exactly what they were doing, while as a trainee, I was still trying to understand everything and take it all in. Even though I was hired as a reservoir engineer, I also have the chance to rotate to other divisions related to petroleum engineering. During this assignment, I worked as an operation petrophysicist in the petrophysics department, directly involved in a full-wireline logging campaign.
Petrophysics: Assessing the Reservoir in Real Time
I was fortunate to be part of a project where a comprehensive set of formation evaluation data was acquired in this well, including:
- Triple Combo (Gamma Ray, Neutron, Density, Resistivity)
Triple combo logging is designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of formation properties, including lithology, porosity, and fluid saturation. Gamma ray identifies shale content, while neutron and density logs are used to estimate porosity and detect gas zones. Resistivity measurements are used to determine fluid saturation and differentiate between hydrocarbon‑bearing and water‑bearing formations. Together, these logs form the foundation of formation evaluation in most wells. - Modular Formation Dynamics Tester (MDT) (Pressure Test, Fluid Identification, Sampling)
MDT is used to measure formation pressure, assess reservoir mobility, and collect downhole fluid samples. Through pretests, MDT determines pressure gradients and fluid contacts, while advanced modules enable fluid identification and contamination monitoring in real time. Clean and representative samples can then be collected for detailed PVT (pressure/volume/temperature) analysis, making MDT essential for reservoir characterization and decision‑making. - Image and Sonic Logging
Image and sonic logging combine high‑resolution borehole imaging with acoustic measurements to evaluate formation structure and mechanical properties. Image logging provides data to identify bedding and lithological variations, while sonic measures compressional and shear wave velocities for geomechanical analysis. This combination allows for structural interpretation, fracture detection, and assessment of rock properties. - Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
NMR logging measures the response of hydrogen nuclei in formation fluids to determine porosity, fluid distribution, and permeability. Unlike conventional porosity logs, NMR provides lithology‑independent porosity and distinguishes between bound and movable fluids. It also enables estimation of permeability and fluid typing, making it particularly valuable in complex reservoirs such as tight formations and carbonates. - Sidewall Coring (SWC)
SWC involves retrieving small core samples directly from the formation using wireline‑conveyed tools. These samples provide direct measurements of rock properties such as porosity, permeability, and mineral composition through laboratory analysis. SWC is especially useful when conventional coring is not feasible, and it plays a key role in validating petrophysical interpretations. - Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP)
VSP is a borehole seismic technique used to correlate well data with surface seismic and improve subsurface imaging. By placing receivers in the well and generating seismic signals at the surface, VSP provides accurate time‑depth relationships and enhanced resolution near the wellbore. It is essential for seismic calibration, velocity model refinement, and identifying structures beyond the reach of surface seismic data.
My role included monitoring wireline operations, ensuring QA/QC readiness of both main and backup tools, witnessing surface and shallow tests, and tracking run-in-hole and pull-out-of-hole activities together with the service provider.
I was also responsible for updating the project team onshore and the drilling supervisor on the overall progress. From both rush (quick-look) and calibrated log data, I had the opportunity to have my own initial interpretations and identify potential pay zones.
Beyond logging operations, I had the chance to learn about other critical activities such as drilling, casing while drilling, cementing, mud logging, and basic geomechanics. A part of me that once wanted to become a geologist was truly excited to see wellsite geologists analyzing cuttings and identifying hydrocarbon shows in real time.
Discussions with wells team and pore pressure specialists during the operations were also eye-opening, especially in understanding the balance between risk and reward when deciding whether to penetrate certain formations.
Final Reflection
Safety is always the top priority offshore. One principle that stayed with me is: slow is fast. Taking the time to do things properly is what keeps everyone safe.
I am truly grateful to everyone who supported me during this first offshore experience. Hopefully, our paths will cross again in future projects. One piece of advice from a senior really stayed with me. He once said his dream was simply to jog on the helipad of an offshore rig. But he later realized that was not his finish line, it was just the beginning.
So I did the same. I went for a jog on the rig, not as a finish line, but as a reminder that this is only the start of a much longer journey. Getting this level of exposure early in my career is something I truly value, and I don’t take it for granted.
I am excited for what lies ahead.
