IADC Announces Formation of the Well Control Institute

Houston, 26 August 2013 – The International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) recently announced the formation of the Well Control Institute (WCI), a new industry body which will provide the drilling industry with a single, universal well control training and assessment standard. The WCI is expected to be fully operational by mid-2014.

“Preventing the unwanted release of hydrocarbons is the primary process safety concern at all stages of a well’s life cycle. Proper personnel training is an essential element in preventing unwanted releases,” said Stephen Colville, IADC President and CEO. “The WCI is a cross-industry initiative to deliver a step-change in operational integrity and well control incident prevention. The goal is to develop a professional and consistent approach to ensuring competence and credentials of everyone involved in all aspects of well control.”

The WCI brings together all sectors of the drilling community to define and implement a new well control standard, which will build on the recommendations of the OGP Wells Expert Committee, IADC’s Well Control Advisory Panel and other industry stakeholders.

The training and assessment standard developed by WCI will focus on learning and learning retention and will provide rig-role-directed learning objectives with an emphasis on kick detection and well shut-in. It will focus on the use of realistic simulation in a team environment and provide a reliable, secure and trusted testing process. The flexible curriculum will cover all well construction disciplines and specialized practices and will offer continuous opportunities for new learning with an enhanced frequency of assessment.

“Existing well control training systems, including IADC’s WellCAP program, were originally based on decades-old regulatory frameworks.  The WCI presents a unique opportunity to rethink what needs to be focused on for effective well control training and to modernize the industry’s training efforts through new methods and technology. In addition, the WCI has the potential to perform as a resource for collecting data to help improve well control equipment and practices,” said Steve Kropla, IADC Group Vice President, Operational Integrity.

For more information, please contact Amy Rose at Amy.Rose@iadc.org.

About IADC

IADC is dedicated to enhancing the interests of oil-and-gas and geothermal drilling contractors worldwide. IADC’s contract-drilling members own most of the world’s land and offshore drilling units and drill the vast majority of the wells that produce the planet’s oil and gas. IADC’s membership also includes oil-and-gas producers, and manufacturers and suppliers of oilfield equipment and services. Founded in 1940, IADC’s mission is to improve industry health, safety and environmental practices; advance drilling and completion technology; and champion responsible standards, practices, legislation and regulations that provide for safe, efficient and environmentally sound drilling operations worldwide. IADC holds Accredited Observer status at the International Maritime Organization and the International Seabed Authority, specialized agencies of the United Nations. The Association is a leader in developing standards for industry training, notably its Well Control Accreditation Program (WellCAP)® and rig-floor orientation program, RIG PASS®. IADC is headquartered in Houston and has offices in Washington D.C., the Netherlands, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as chapters in the UK, Venezuela, Brazil, Australasia, South Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and across the United States. For more information, visit the IADC website at www.iadc.org.