delicate operations, such as core cutting and recovery. Achieving zero non-productive time (NPT) as a result of well-planned tripping and obtaining a higher core recovery percentage while maintaining the quality of cores are difficult tasks. This paper describes the successes of an extended lip core head bit design used in nine wells in all blocks of the Orinoco oil belt. The expertise and knowledge used during the coring operations of the Orinoco belt in Venezuela focused on selecting the core head and core barrel length and exercising proper control of drilling parameters. In addition, accurate and timely decisions optimized coring time by reducing tripping and producing core samples while maintaining hole integrity. The use of the extended lip core head minimized the turbulence caused by the contact of the fluids with the formation and helped to ensure the highest recovery rates historically obtained in the Orinoco heavy oil belt. The extended lip core head has produced more than 4,055 ft of core samples with greater than 87% recovery in nine wells over the last two years. This outcome represents an increase in recovery of more than 20% in the zone of interest (unconsolidated sandstones) above the overall recovery in the area. The extended lip design has minimized the effects of turbulence caused by fluids during cutting and reduced washout of the formation before getting the sample into the inner tube of the coring assembly. This, in conjunction with proper drilling parameters, has resulted in better core recovery percentages. This paper discusses the core head design features that help improve recovery in unconsolidated sandstones, which includes a continuous process of gathering and processing information related to previous core head design development, drilling parameters, dull grading conditions, and core sample integrity. In addition, this paper describes the performance results and upcoming modifications to the core head design to improve the recovery percentage in the lithology of the Orinoco belt