Deepwater Well Control: Training and Education in a State of Transition

Abstract

Well Control Well control training programs for deepwater drillers and key rig personnel are undergoing a major overhaul that has been years in the making. It is hoped that introducing new well control courses and exams will address recent incidents and new technologies. The overarching goal is to better prepare drillers for the challenges of deepwater wells. The changes were made by the industry’s two largest well control certification bodies: the International Well Control Forum (IWCF) and the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC). The IWCF began rolling out new programs last year and is continuing to add new changes. The IADC introduced its updated program in April and also said it has more work to do. The IWCF’s new program is based on the recommendations made in a 2012 review by the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) that found the certification process needed improvements in a number of key areas. The report, which serves to redefine well control training, was drafted in response to the 2010 Macondo subsea blowout and the lesser known Montara blowout that occurred offshore Australia a year earlier. The IADC began reviewing its program in 2009 and said it accelerated the process after Macondo. To address shortcomings, the organizations have added a long list of new courses and requirements that seek to strengthen a driller’s ability to deal with well control issues. Some of the new topics cover physical barriers, kick prevention and detection, shut-in procedures, and well kill procedures. Additional focus has been placed on the instructors through new “train-the- trainer” and assessor training programs. The IWCF also conducted an internal audit of its accredited assessors and instructors. “As a result of the audit process, IWCF has suspended assessors and instructors at training centers who are not competent in conducting practical assessments or delivering courses to the required standard,” said Antony Quin, general manager of the IWCF. In June, the group also appointed its first chief technical officer, Dave Conroy, previously of Schlumberger. On the organization’s website, Conroy said he plans to make more “significant changes.” A Time for Change For some veteran deepwater drilling experts, the changes are long overdue. Aside from a few exceptions, they argue that because the industry’s training and education programs have failed to reflect deepwater challenges, rig crews and drillers have been less prepared. They say this deficiency has led to major cost overruns and delays in deepwater projects around the world.