International Well Control Forum

News from the Forum

page last updated 29 September, 2005

Following their introduction just one year ago 'The Rounding Rules' for well control calculations have not proved as popular as members had hoped.  It has therefore been decided to withdraw the 'specific' rules and return to current international field practice.

The IWCF, which has been accredited under ISO: 9001/1994 since September 2000, has gained accreditation under the new ISO: 9001/2000 standard.

The QA programme accredited under the standard covers the development and delivery of Well Control Certification programmes, the registration of Members, Accredited Centres and Assessors, Administration Units and Invigilators, and the maintenance of records.

IWCF Secretary-General, Michael Cummins, told the IWCF International Board Meeting that the IWCF Secretariat, in collaboration with IWCF National and Regional Branches, has completed the 14th Language translation of the IWCF Rotary Drilling Well Control Question Bank and 'Automated Test Paper Generator', and the 4th language translation of the Well Intervention Pressure Control Question Bank and 'Automated Test Paper Generator'.

See appropriate web pages for details.

At their December meeting the IWCF Board approved Revision No.11 of the Grading Sheets and Guidance Notes for Surface and Combined Surface/Subsea BOP Practical Assessment exercises.  The new procedures, which are being delivered to accredited drilling centres during December 2002, become effective from 1st January 2003.

Assessment Centres can download copies of IWCF-QA-RD4, RD4C, RD6 and RD6C from the 'Programme Forms' page in the Members Website.

IWCF has introduced 'Rounding Rules' for application to Written Test Papers.  The rules are based on current field practice and will provide a 'common' standard applicable to question authors and examination candidates alike.

Candidates for IWCF Drilling and Well Intervention Assessment and Certification programmes will be restricted to a maximum of two 'Re-sits' sessions in a 'two calendar month' period from the date of their initial test session.

Candidates who fail the programme completely will have to wait a minimum period of one month from their last failure before registering as 'new candidates'.

The recently formed Russian Regional Branch was inducted into Board Membership at the IWCF Board Meeting in Paris.

Following a recent visit to Brazil by Secretary-General - Mike Cummins, Welcon Treinamento e Consultoria has been accredited for the IWCF Rotary Drilling Well Control Assessment and Certification programme.

Welcon, staffed by former Petrobras Drilling Engineers and Trainers has developed its own drilling simulator.  The simulator, built around an advanced deep water well model, may be used in screen mode, panel mode or as a mixed screen and panel system.

Welcon joins Transocean SedcoForex as the second IWCF accredited school in Macae.

Didier Brigant re-elected as Chairman of IWCF for a further two year term.

Didier Brigant is currently Manager-Training for ENSPM Formation Industrie, Pau, France, the drilling and production training division of Institute Francais du Petroles.  Didier is a seasoned drilling professional with over 20 years world-wide experience gained with Forex and latterly Sedco Forex.  Didier has represented the IWCF-France Branch on the IWCF International Board since 1992.

Didier retains his responsibility for Practical Assessment Methodology and Assessor Criteria.

Three member companies in Russia met in Moscow today and formed the Russian Regional Branch.  Dr Oleg Markov of the Gubkin Academy, Moscow, Well Control School was elected Chairman and Mr Nicolai Iakovenko, General Manager of Gazobezopasnost L.L.C, Moscow, was elected Vice-Chairman.

Following a recent visit to Russia by Secretary-General - Mike Cummins, the Astrakhan Training Centre of Gazobezopasnost L.LC has been accredited for the IWCF Surface BOP Rotary Drilling Well Control Assessment and Certification programme.

Gazobezopasnost is the Well Control & Blowout Prevention Unit for the Gazprom group and has five training centres located close to major gas production areas in Russia.

Following a recent visit to China by Secretary-General - Mike Cummins, the Drilling Staff Training Centre of the Shengli Petroleum Administration Bureau, Dongying City P.R. China has been accredited for the IWCF Surface BOP Rotary Drilling Well Control Assessment and Certification programme.

At their June meeting the IWCF Board approved Revision No.1 of the Practical Assessor application criteria and procedure.  The new procedures, which are being delivered to accredited drilling centres during July/August become effective from 1st September 2001.

Assessment Centres can download copies of the new IWCF-QA-RD2 from the 'Drilling Forms' page on the website.

At their June meeting the IWCF Board approved Revision No.10 of the Grading Sheets and Guidance Notes for Surface and Combined Surface/Subsea BOP Practical Assessment exercises.  The new procedures, which are being delivered to accredited drilling centres during July/August 2001, become effective from 1st September 2001.

Assessment Centres can download copies of IWCF-QA-RD4, RD4C, RD6 and RD6C from the 'Drilling Forms' page on the website.

The recently formed Middle East and European Regional Branches were inducted into Board Membership at the IWCF Board Meeting in Dubai.

Four member companies from Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Poland met in Vienna and formed the European Regional Branch.  Dr Imre Federer of University of Miskolc Well Control School was elected Chairman and Mr Joseph Storcz of Oil & Gas Exploration Co, Krakow was elected Vice-Chairman.

IWCF Board agreed to increase the National and Regional Branch travel and accommodation allowance for Board Meetings from £500 to £2000 per meeting for financial year 2001.

Jens Melchiorsen of DONG (formerly DANOP) joined the Board representing Denmark.  Jens replaces Paul Jorgensen of DONG who has moved to a new position in the company.

Nine member companies met in Abu Dhabi and formed the first of the new regional branches.  Gerard de Blok of FSEC Oman and Mario Nahas of GTSC Abu Dhabi elected first two representatives to IWCF Board.

IWCF is accredited by NQA (National Quality Assurance Ltd) to UK, US and Netherlands ISO: 9001 (1994) certification.

The IWCF Main Board has agreed a programme to extend Main Board representation to those parts of the world where there are no current national branches.

The programme will initially involve the creation of an additional seven regional branches.

Following a series of pilot tests during the first quarter of the year, the first English language test papers generated by the new Question Bank/Test Paper Generator programme were introduced to candidates in the U.K. this week.

These new papers will be rolled out to all English language testing locations during the next three months.

Translation of the Question Bank Database into French, German, Norwegian, Italian, Dutch and Hungarian is currently ongoing and test papers in these languages are expected to be implemented by the end of 2000.

Paul Jorgensen of Danop has joined the Board representing Denmark.  Paul replaces Neils Peter Oegerlund of Maersk Oil & Gas who has moved to a new position in the Middle East.

A revised edition of the syllabus incorporating over thirty changes. (See Well Intervention page).

Following a successful series of pilot tests in five countries during October and November 1999, the IWCF has approved a NEW Practical Assessment Grading Methodology with effect 1st January 2000.

Didier Brigant replaced Dick Malkowski who has left KCA Drilling Company to pursue personal interests.

Didier Brigant is currently Manager-Training for ENSPM Formation Industrie, Pau, France, the drilling and production training division of Institute Francais du Petroles.  Didier is a seasoned drilling professional with over 20 years world-wide experience gained with Forex and latterly Sedco Forex.  Didier has represented the IWCF-France Branch on the IWCF International Board since 1992.

Didier retains responsibility for Practical Assessment Methodology and Assessor Criteria.  Other Board Members retain the following responsibilities: -

Michael J Miller, Shell UK Expro, Aberdeen - Maintenance of Syllabuses and Question Banks.
Christian Weineck, Deutsche Bohrmeisterschule, Celle - Quality Assurance Procedures.
Oystein Ekeli, Phillips Petroleum Co, Norway - Identification of Industry Needs.

Didier Brigant will also be responsible for relationships between the Board and Branches, Members, Industry and Governmental Organisations.