Method and apparatus for alternating between coring and drilling without tripping operations

An apparatus for combined coring and drilling in a wellbore, comprising a core drilling assembly with a coring drill head, an outer tubing for conveying forces to the drill head, an inner tubing with an upper end connected to a bearing assembly and a lower end adapted for receiving a core sample, further comprising:

• a lifting device, for controlling the position of the inner tubing along the longitudinal axis of the core drilling assembly, that is connected to or is arranged as a part of the bearing assembly;
• closure elements with embedded cutting implements for cutting the core sample, and wherein the closure elements are connected to the core drilling assembly at the lower end and below the opening of the inner tubing such that, when in an open position the closure elements enable the core sample to enter the inner tubing, and when in a closed position the closure elements cut core material and prevent core material from entering the inner tubing, where the core material exits to the borehole annulus via drill head openings provided in a wall of the coring drill head, and
• one or more controller device(s) for controlling activation and deactivation of the closure elements.