Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Rig Well Experience
Timeline
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NIC SOO OON LAM

Drilling & Completion Fluids Specialist
Kuala Lumpur

Summary

Senior Drilling Fluids Specialist with over 16 years of offshore international and local experience in rig auditing, monitoring, design, evaluation, and execution of drilling and completion fluid systems. Proven expertise across a wide range of challenging environments, including HPHT, ERD, deepwater, conventional, and high H2S operation. Demonstrates strong commitment to safety and environmental standards, with extensive experience working in multinational teams to achieve shared operational goals. Skilled in reviewing mud system performance and providing proactive, data-driven recommendations to optimize drilling operations and address potential issues prior to project execution.

Overview

14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Language

Work History

Fluids Specialist

Halliburton – Baroid, Malaysia
06.2022 - Current
  • Act as the technical focal point for HPHT and deepwater fluids design, execution, and cost performance across multiple assets, including total system integration with solids control and waste management. A single point Fluids accountable owner for client such as Eneos Xplora and Petronas.
  • Prepared & optimized mud program and chemical selection, achieving measurable cost savings for clients through efficient product utilization and reduced waste generation.
  • Collaborated with drilling engineers and mud loggers to ensure safe and effective drilling & pressure management.
  • Coordinated LMP activities in Labuan/ KSB for multiple rigs with LMP Personnel & Petronas LMP Representatives, ensuring accurate mud formulation / management, density control, and timely delivery of drilling fluids.
  • Managed stock levels of base oil, brine, and chemical additives within the Rig & LMP to meet operational demands.
  • Conducted / Planned comprehensive laboratory fluids testing to ensure compliance with operator and API specifications.
  • Prepared and analyzed mud samples to monitor quality control during drilling operations.
  • Prepared comprehensive technical proposals and tender submissions for HPHT and conventional drilling/completion fluids, ensuring full technical compliance and cost competitiveness during the tender phase.
  • Delivered real-time technical support to ensure seamless fluids performance, achieved zero non-productive time (NPT), and improved operational efficiency.
  • Oversaw chemical inventory and cost optimization while ensuring strict HSE and environmental compliance.
  • Conducted training and competency development for junior engineers and rig-site personnel.
  • Supervised HPHT and deepwater fluid operations from design through execution, optimizing fluid rheology and stability for maximum performance.
  • Identified cost-saving opportunities by streamlining product blends and recycling base fluids, reducing material waste by up to 20% without compromising quality.
  • Delivered HPHT (BHST > 170C) and conventional fluid performance evaluations and post-well analysis / After Action Review (AAR) to optimize future campaigns and highlighting fluids performance KPIs.
  • Key Achievement:
  • Successfully drilled through the loss-prone Beryl Formation (Eneos Xplora, Sapura Berani TADU) with zero fluid losses, zero NPT, and zero HSE incidents under unexpected, elevated temperature and pressure conditions. Engineered combination of Wellbores Strengthening Materials used to provide positive impact in smoothing wellbores during liner run HL1ST1 as well as wellbores stability.
  • Tepat-2 Ultra-Deepwater Exploration (TotalEnergies, Noble Viking) – KCl-Glycol / Inhibitive WBM; reduced chemical consumption through real-time rheology control.
  • Kikeh PX-12 Development & Simphu Beludu-1 Exploration (PTTEP, Noble Viking & Borr Gunnlod) – HPHT SBM & Completion Fluids; optimized oil-water ratio and weighting strategy on the field, leading to cost savings and improved hole cleaning efficiency.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to achieve project goals on time and within budget.

Senior Drilling Fluids Specialist / Project Coordinator

SLB – M-I SWACO, Malaysia & Abu Dhabi
04.2021 - 05.2022
  • Delivered multiple HPHT SBM wells for Carigali HESS (Naga 8 Jack-Up), ensuring stable rheology and minimal product loss under extreme temperature and pressure.
  • Key Technical Project: Temporarily assigned to coordinate drilling and completion fluids operations, overseeing planning, logistics, and field execution to ensure continuity during staff rotation and project transitions.
  • Developed customized LCM and Wellbores Strengthening Materials blends with clients, which reduced overall fluid costs and achieved zero Fluids NPT through effective loss mitigation and improved formation integrity.
  • Key Achievements:
  • Led drilling fluids operations for an HPHT well in BUMI A, effectively managing well control events, downhole losses and ballooning. Successfully mitigated losses using a planned LCM Strategy and optimized barite inventory management during vessel delays, preventing potential rig shutdown and maintaining drilling continuity.

Senior Drilling Fluids Specialist

SLB – M-I SWACO, Malaysia & Abu Dhabi
07.2015 - 03.2021
  • Managed & executed multiple HPHT/ERD wells for ADNOC & OMV Group, ensuring fluids performance and cost efficiency across all phases. Optimized drilling fluids systems for various well conditions, including high angle and depleted well.
  • Executed high-performance HPHT fluids systems with superior thermal stability up to 190C BHST, optimizing product concentration and minimizing waste.
  • Prepared and applied mud capping brine systems for top hole and lost circulation control operations at Simsima formation.
  • Key Achievements:
  • Delivered Abu Dhabi's longest ERD well (+/- 38,000 ft TD) with zero fluid-related NPT and a 15% reduction in total fluid cost (~ +/- USD 150K).
  • Authored Breaker Mixing Procedure on rig, improving operational efficiency and reducing chemical consumption — later adopted as an SLB Abu Dhabi execution guideline to apply for effective mixing and execution as its function on the downhole.
  • Pioneered HPWBM Ultradril Fluids deployment on an aging rig for HTHP well, achieving stable performance and extended mud life, resulting in measurable cost savings per well (+/- USD 20K – 50K).
  • Contributed to Rig of the Year 2018 (AD67) for outstanding fluids management and operational performance. Achieved no mud related NPT.

Drilling Fluids Specialist

SLB – M-I SWACO, Malaysia & Abu Dhabi
04.2012 - 06.2015
  • Supported drilling of HPHT and conventional wells for HESS, Talisman, Shell, JX Nippon, and Petronas, providing on-site fluids management and operational troubleshooting.
  • Focused on maintaining fluid stability, density control, and solids removal efficiency, which helped reduce dilution requirements, minimize waste generation, and lower overall fluid costs.
  • Collaborated closely with rig teams to streamline fluid treatment practices, resulting in improved mud quality, achieved zero NPT, and enhanced drilling efficiency across multiple wells.
  • Gained extensive Liquid Mud Plant (LMP) experience, including mud preparation, storage, blending, and quality control for offshore and onshore operations.
  • Supervised mud mixing, transfer operations, and fluid reconditioning in compliance with company and HSE standards.
  • Key Achievements:
  • Contributed to HESS Rig of the Year 2013 through effective fluids management and operational support that improved drilling consistency and cost performance.

Education

Bachelor of Chemical Engineering - Petroleum Engineering

University Technology Petronas (UTP)
Malaysia
01-2009

Skills

HTHP Fluids Design & Optimization (Mud Systems: WBM /SBM/Brine)

Wellbores Strengthening / Stress Caging for Geomechanics Fractured/Depleted Formations

Managed Pressure & Underbalanced Drilling (MPD/UBD)

Executed mud capping operations using brine for well control and loss zones

Experienced in Solids Control Equipment Performance Monitoring

Fluid Rheology & Thermal Stability Management

Hydraulics Simulation & Real-Time Fluids Monitoring

Formulation of Lubricant to reduce frictional forces in long and ERD wells

Lost Circulation Material (LCM) Strategy / Design & Application

Experienced in multiple of Hesitation Squeeze job

Well Control Principles and Procedures

Technical Proposals, Tendering & Cost Estimation

HSE Leadership & Risk Mitigation

Contamination and Waste Management

Perform rig assessments to ascertain suitability and compliance in accordance with drilling and development activities

Rig Well Experience

  • Operator / Client: JX Nippon
  • Rig / Location: Nabors 503 – Adong Kechil West (Onshore, SK333)
  • Period: Apr 2012 – Dec 2012
  • Well Type / Description: HPHT Exploration (Land)
  • Depth (m): 3,170
  • Mud System: HPWBM Klashield (16.0–18.5 ppg)
  • Key Highlights: First Miri onshore HPHT well using HPWBM Klashield; improved stability, zero losses.
  • Operator / Client: Carigali HESS
  • Rig / Location: Rowan EXL-IV (Bulan/Suriya)
  • Period: Dec 2012 – Mar 2013
  • Well Type / Description: Development – Horizontal
  • Depth (m): 3,048
  • Mud System: KCl-Glycol / SOBM (Paratherm, VersaPro)
  • Key Highlights: Reduced mud losses and enhanced hole cleaning efficiency.
  • Operator / Client: Petronas
  • Rig / Location: Drillship DDKG-2 (Deepwater PMU)
  • Period: Mar 2013 – Apr 2013
  • Well Type / Description: Deepwater Appraisal
  • Depth (m): 3,000
  • Mud System: HPWBM Ultradril/ SOBM.
  • Key Highlights: Supported deepwater fluids operation with consistent rheology under 1,200 m water depth.
  • Operator / Client: HESS
  • Rig / Location: West Courageous (North Malay Basin)
  • Period: Apr 2013 – Sep 2013
  • Well Type / Description: Exploration / Batch Drilling
  • Depth (m): 4,000
  • Mud System: SOBM VersaPro / Versaclean
  • Key Highlights: Contributed to Rig of the Year 2013 for effective mud performance and cost efficiency.
  • Operator / Client: Talisman Energy
  • Rig / Location: West Vigilant (PM3-CAA)
  • Period: Sep 2013 – Sep 2014
  • Well Type / Description: Development / Exploration
  • Depth (m): 4,500
  • Mud System: SOBM MegaDril / VersaPro
  • Key Highlights: Optimized solids control and achieved lower dilution rates.
  • Operator / Client: Shell
  • Rig / Location: West Vigilant (South Furious)
  • Period: Sep 2014 – May 2015
  • Depth (m): 3,280
  • Mud System: Inhibited WBM / VersaClean with Stress Caging.
  • Key Highlights: Introduced wellbores strengthening technique; improved ROP and stability.
  • Operator / Client: ADMA / ZADCO / ExxonMobil
  • Rig / Location: UAE Offshore & Artificial Islands
  • Period: Jul 2015 – Jan 2021
  • Well Type / Description: HPHT / ERD / Development
  • Depth (m): Up to 9,500
  • Mud System: Brine Cap/ KCl/Polymer/PHPA / SBM VersaPro / Versaclean ./ HPWBM Ultradril
  • Key Highlights: Managed 30+ wells; implemented optimized mud capping and completion fluids with strong cost control.
  • Rig / Location: Naga-8 (Bulan & Bumi A Campaigns)
  • Period: Mar 2021 – Jun 2022
  • Well Type / Description: HPHT ERD Wells
  • Depth (m): 6,000–7,000
  • Mud System: SOBM w/ WBS & HPHT Rhadiant SBM
  • Key Highlights: Designed WBS blends for fractured carbonate formations; improved integrity and reduced losses.
  • Operator / Client: TotalEnergies
  • Rig / Location: Noble Viking (Tepat-2)
  • Period: Aug 2022 – Oct 2022
  • Well Type / Description: Ultra-Deepwater Exploration
  • Mud System: KCl-NaCl GEM GP / LAM Mud
  • Key Highlights: Delivered stable HPHT fluid performance at 2,839 m water depth.
  • Operator / Client: PTTEP
  • Rig / Location: Noble Viking & Gunnlod
  • Period: Nov 2022 – Apr 2023
  • Well Type / Description: HPHT & Deepwater Development
  • Depth (m): 3,500
  • Mud System: KCl-NaCl GEM GP/ ENVIROMUL SBM / MB-DIF
  • Key Highlights: Optimized OWR and rheology; reduced fluid cost through efficient base oil management.
  • Operator / Client: Petronas Carigali
  • Rig / Location: Naga-6 (Nahara-2)
  • Period: Oct 2023 – Jan 2024
  • Well Type / Description: Appraisal – Vertical
  • Mud System: LAM Mud with Lime / ENVIROMUL SBM /WBS
  • Key Highlights: Enhanced solids control efficiency and reduced chemical consumption.
  • Rig / Location: TADU Sapura Berani (HPh3R Campaign)
  • Period: Feb 2024 – Mar 2025
  • Well Type / Description: ERD Appraisal Wells
  • Depth (m): ~7,000
  • Mud System: KCl/ Polymer Mud/ ENVIROMUL SBM / WBS
  • Key Highlights: Coordinated multiwell campaign; achieved zero NPT with efficient fluids management.
  • Rig / Location: Naga-5
  • Period: Apr 2025 – Ongoing
  • Well Type / Description: HPHT Horizontal Appraisal Exploration
  • Depth (m): ~3,500
  • Mud System: ENVIROMUL SBM w/ WBS
  • Key Highlights: Lead / Night Drilling Fluids Engineer /Supervisor.

Timeline

Fluids Specialist

Halliburton – Baroid, Malaysia
06.2022 - Current

Senior Drilling Fluids Specialist / Project Coordinator

SLB – M-I SWACO, Malaysia & Abu Dhabi
04.2021 - 05.2022

Senior Drilling Fluids Specialist

SLB – M-I SWACO, Malaysia & Abu Dhabi
07.2015 - 03.2021

Drilling Fluids Specialist

SLB – M-I SWACO, Malaysia & Abu Dhabi
04.2012 - 06.2015

Bachelor of Chemical Engineering - Petroleum Engineering

University Technology Petronas (UTP)
NIC SOO OON LAMDrilling & Completion Fluids Specialist