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Driller training course offers IWCF Level 4 well-control instruction

Netherlands – The Well Academy and Lloyd’s Register Energy’s Drilling Training Academy have launched an IWCF-certified drilling well-control training course.

The enhanced course, delivered in February in The Well Academy’s Netherlands facility, combines scenario-based well-control training and Lloyd’s Register’s advanced well control equipment training, said Lloyd’s Register Energy, an international engineering, technical and business services organization, in a news release.

“The purpose of this new training initiative is to improve the well-control knowledge for senior personnel at a higher level above and beyond the current IWCF Level 4 Well Control training and assessment. I have witnessed first-hand what can be achieved when two leading industry institutes combine forces to gain accreditation for enhanced well-control training through IWCF. As the leading well control certification body, this enhanced program meets our requirements and high standards,” said David Conroy, IWCF’s chief technical officer, who participated in the first enhanced program.

The five-day course gave delegates from TAQA Energy, KCA Deutag and Swift Drilling an immersive experience in obtaining IWCF certification at the highest competency level 4 by introducing an interactive learning environment on a high-fidelity simulator combined with an extensive well-control equipment curriculum. Based on the outcome of International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) report 476, the mandatory course was developed specifically to adopt the recommendations for advanced well control training, while providing a more interesting and challenging course, Lloyd’s Register said in a new release.

“This combined course creates a more challenging learning environment for those persons responsible for supervising drilling operations and ensures they are much better prepared for dealing with a well control situation should it arise,” said Jeroen Bergevoet, academy training manager and technical knowledge manager for Lloyd’s Register Energy.  

Course participants were experienced oilfield professionals who had been recertified at level 4 several times during their careers. A level 4 IWCF certification, which is valid for two years, is endorsed by the IOGP, and has a stronger focus on human factors since the 2010 Macondo incident in the Gulf of Mexico.

By combining The Well Academy’s IWCF accredited Level 4 Supervisor’s certificate course with Lloyd’s Register’s Advanced Well Control Equipment training, participants can gain from both companies’ well-control training in one integrated program. This has significant financial benefits during times that training budgets are scrutinized.

“This enhanced course is the first of several combined training programs under development via our collaboration with Lloyd’s Register Energy’s Drilling Training Academy and we look forward to rolling out more programs across different locations,” said Ivo Nijhuis, director of The Well Academy.

For more information, visit www.thewellacademy.com or www.lredacademy.org.