Wim Kooij is one of our first Sonic operators and has gained experience with the technique since 2007. First in the workshop, then in the field. He has drilled all over the world and trained dozens of drillers.
You need to have a flexible attitude. Planning schedules tend to change and you might have to deal with setbacks. An open mind is also important, to new things and other cultures. It helps if you have a certain level of technical knowledge, but this is not a requirement; we train people from all backgrounds.
Wim with 2 LRS 275 rigs
Make sure you gain a lot of experience in the field. Work with different drill masters for a while, because everyone has their own way of drilling. Be proactive, ask if you can be at the controls yourself, show interest. And remember, it's your business. You’re not just in charge of the drilling, you have to manage everything - including the people around you.
Also be aware that it is a tough profession, physically and mentally. Workdays are long and you’re often away from home. On the other hand, you get to travel, see a lot of variety, technical challenges, and new developments, and have lots of different experiences.
We will train you to work properly with our machine and specific parts, such as the ManipAll and SPT hammer. But we also teach people how to work together as a team on the job site.
After the training, we are available for support. We must have seen about 90% of the possible technical issues, so we can help you quickly.
I foresee a focus on data and predictions, for example for preventing damage, improving the quality of the samples and identifying the geology based on the behaviour of the drill. Our Monitoring While Drilling system can play a major role in this!
