Enhancement to Well Control Training
An overview of IOGP “Recommendations for enhancements to well control training, examination and certification”
In response to the Mocondo and Montara well control incidents, the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) formed three Global Industry Response Groups (GIRG’s) to address well control incident management through prevention, intervention and response respectively. The Wells Expert Committee (WEC) was established out of the Prevention GIRG to enhance well control incident prevention through better improvements in well engineering design and well operations across the oil and gas industry.
The Key Recommendations in OGP Report
- Training on barrier management and risk management is included in well control training.
- Training on well influx detection and immediate response is improved.
- Training is adapted to better suit the well operations, rig type and role of person involved with a well operation.
- Minimum levels of training are specified for personnel that may contribute to the avoidance of, response to, or mitigation of a well control situation.
- Scenario or simulation based training is evolved and adopted to complement existing training.
- General improvements are made to the technical content of the training syllabuses.
- Learning, examination and certification processes are improved.
- A more systematic auditing process is adopted to assure training goals are consistently achieved.
Summary of Changes Made
As per the new recommendation, Well Control certification will be done in five levels. Level 1 is for general awareness and is not mandatory to pursue. Level 2 is the introductory level and is a must to appear for Level 3. Once completed, the certification remains valid for 5 years. Level 3 is equivalent to the previous Driller Level and is valid for 2 years only. Level 4 is equivalent to the previous Supervisor Level. To appear for Level 4, Level 3 certification is must. Level 5 is an optional program. Level 4 is must to acquire Level 5 certification. A detailed overview has been tabulated below.
Where we Stand?
Drilling Mentor strongly adheres to the recommendations made in OGP Report 476. All well control programs offered by Drilling Mentor are in line with the OGP recommendations. Our team constantly works on updating the study modules to keep the syllabus up to date with the industry requirement and practices. We consider our self as a standard Well Control training provider.
Learn More
The International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) was formed in 1974 and was originally named the E&P Forum. The IOGP is a global forum in which members identify and share best practices to achieve improvements in every aspect of health, safety, the environment, security, social responsibility, engineering and operations within the oil and gas industry. You can find out more about the IOGP by visiting their website:
IOGP Website [ http://www.iogp.org/ ]
There are several findings been incorporated in OGP Report 476. The report is free for public review. One can download the report utilizing the link provided below.
| Level | Designed For | Recommended Training | Validity of Certification | Provided by Drilling Mentor? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level1 | For personnel that are non-critical to well control operations, but may have secondary involvement in well operations and reasonable capability to aid the avoidance or mitigation of a well control event. | The Level 1 training may be achieved as a four hour introductory classroom course or as an interactive online self-study module of equivalent content. | ||
| Level2 | Assistant to Wellsite Supervisor or Wellsite Drilling Engineer; Wellsite and ofice based Operations Geologist; Roughneck, Derrickman; Barge Engineer; BOP/Subsea Engineer, Dynamic Positioning (DP) Operator and LMRP Engineer; Drilling Contractor wellsite Rig Engineer; Wellsite ROV Supervisor; Wellsite Drilling Fluids, Mud and Completion Fluids Engineer ; Wellsite Cementing Engineer / Operator; Wellsite based Wireline or Slickline Crew Supervisor, Crew Chief or Lead Engineer not involved with controlled pressure operations; Coiled tubing & intervention services Wellsite Supervisor (Non Pressure Operations); Wellsite personnel supervising Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) operations or Underbalanced Drilling (UBD) Services; Wellsite Casing Crew Supervisors; Wellsite Directional Driller; Fishing Engineer or Fishing Tool Operator (Not supervising Pressure Operations); Mud Logger or wellsite Drilling Data Engineer responsible for monitoring drilling operations at the wellsite | A twenty hour introductory classroom course, OR, an interactive online self-study module of equivalent content to a twenty hour introductory classroom course, OR, an on-the-job mentored training programme of equivalent content to a twenty hour introductory classroom course. Verified with a pass-fail examination. No practical assessment on simulator. | 5 Years | Yes |
| Level3 | Driller, Assistant Driller and equivalent positions in well-servicing or intervention operations | A classroom based training course with a recommended minimum duration of twenty eight hours not including examination time. Verified with a pass-fail examination, including practical assessment on a simulator | 2 Years | Course design currently under review. Details to be confirmed. |
| Level4 | Drilling/Intervention Wellsite Supervisor; Superintendent or Company Man (Day and Night); Office based Drilling/Intervention Supervisor or Superintendent (Not involved with well design approval); Tool Pusher; Well site Well Testing Supervisor; Well site Completions Supervisor; Intervention Supervisor; Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) for offshore units with a primary function for drilling or well intervention; Drilling Contractor Rig Manager; Supervisors or Crew Chiefs for special service operations such as wireline, slick-line and coiled tubing operations, that provide specific well control equipment for these activities; Fishing engineer if supervising well kill operations or pressure controlled operations | A classroom based training course with a recommended minimum duration of twenty eight hours not including examination time. Verified with a pass-fail examination, including practical assessment on a simulator | 2 Years | Course design currently under review. Details to be confirmed. |
| Level5 | Drilling Engineer/Senior Drilling Engineer, Completion Engineer/Senior Completion Engineer , Petroleum Engineer/Senior Petroleum Engineers, Well Service Engineer/Senior Well Service Engineer , Intervention Engineer/Senior Intervention Engineer, Drilling/Intervention Superintendent (if involved with well design), Drilling Manager (up to first line drilling management), Drilling Project Manager (up to first line drilling management) , Well Operations Manager (up to first line drilling management) , Well Services Manager (up to first line drilling management) | A classroom based training course with a recommended minimum duration of twenty eight hours not including examination time. Verified with a pass-fail examination, including practical assessment on a simulator | 2 Years | Course design currently under review. Details to be confirmed. |