Calling all members! Save the date for our Annual General Meeting (AGM)!

The virtual event will be held on 23 November 2022 and will take place in webinar format. The webinar access will be available for every member.

Add the date to your diary today, and more information will follow in the coming months! 

Please contact us at membership@iwcf.org if you have any questions. 

We are delighted to announce the launch of a new Well Control and Pressure Control Calculations eLearning resource which is available for free on the IWCF website here.

Previously the website hosted three downloadable PDF documents related to drilling calculations. These PDFs consisted of more than 500 pages.

We worked to adapt this content into an online platform, making the content much more interactive and accessible for candidates.

The platform offers basic, awareness-level modules on the following topics.

• Module 1 – Introduction to calculations
• Module 2 – Volumes, capacities and displacements
• Module 3 – Tripping and wellbore geometry
• Module 4 – Gas and gas laws
• Module 5 – The circulating system.

The structure allows for targeted study, so that candidates can leave and return to the modules in their own time.

Although the platform aims to help candidates understand basic oilfield calculations, it is not a substitute for instructor-led training. It can be used as a useful resource to help candidates before they attend well control training.

We would like to thank IWCF’s UK Branch who funded this new resource. Clive Battisby, UK Branch Chairperson commented on the introduction of the new initiative.

“The UK branch are delighted to be able to fund and support this exciting new initiative that is available for free on the IWCF website. Well control calculations are a vital part of candidates’ learning and these modules will offer great benefits to not only users, but employers and the industry.

The modules can be accessed at any time to refresh knowledge, so can be incorporated easily into users on-going learning throughout their certification cycles.

I would encourage candidates to access the modules to see the variety of topics they cover and discover how the resource can be applied or incorporated into their roles.”

The free resource can be accessed on the IWCF website here.

Virtual AGM 2021

Our 4th Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held in webinar format on Tuesday 23 November 2021 at 0800 hrs GMT.

Mr Zdenek Sehnal (pictured below) has informed the IWCF Board of his retirement from his role as IWCF Board Chairman. 

Mr Sehnal has held the position of IWCF Board Chairman since 2016, while also representing the Norwegian Branch as Branch Chair. He has led the organisation through a period of substantial change, most recently navigating the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of virtual training and assessments.  

Mr Jamie Wilson, Vice Chair of the IWCF Board of Trustees will adopt the role of Acting Board Chair, effective immediately.  

IWCF’s Board and administration would like to thank Mr Sehnal for his hard work and dedication as we’ve worked towards furthering our mission and vision.  

Mr Wilson commented. “Zdenek assumed the Chairman’s role at a pivotal time of the IWCF’s direction. With his calm manner and diplomacy, coupled with very considerable personal effort, he enabled the Board to enjoy a period of effective and harmonised activity. Furthermore, he has been instrumental in leading the development of IWCF’s strategy to deliver well control training to a standard expected by the global industry.  

The Board has requested Mr Sehnal to assume a consulting role with the IWCF Administration to continue assisting with the implementation of the strategy and support the CEO with various technical and training matters.

IWCF introduced virtual training and assessments in 2020 due to the impact that COVID-19 had upon face-to-face training. Piloting this alternative method of training enabled well control personnel to maintain competency despite travel restrictions and social distancing measures that have been in place.

To help us maintain and assure the high standards of quality and integrity expected at IWCF, we have been conducting extensive analysis of data throughout this period. This evaluation has demonstrated the efficacy of IWCF virtual classroom training and remote assessments.

This evidence-based approach has also been utilised to measure performance, monitor success and identify opportunities for improvement. One of the key findings from the analysis, supported by statistical evidence, show that there is no functional difference in candidate assessment results between those who completed an IWCF virtual classroom course versus IWCF face-to-face classroom training.

Accrediting and supporting our members to deliver virtual classroom training and assessment has allowed us to work towards our mission, while enabling our members to provide an accessible and cost-effective solution during the pandemic.

The results of the analysis performed allow us to continue to offer virtual training and assessments as an option for all IWCF accredited training providers, subject to compliance with IWCF guidelines and requirements.

Due to the successful implementation of this initiative, we will close the process for eCert extensions for both renewing and resit candidates from 31^st March 2021.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

The French Branch elections were recently held following on from the retirement of the French Branch Chair, Alain Jost.

Alain worked with IWCF since the company formed in 1992, with over 16 years’ experience as the vice-chair of the IWCF Board. We would like to thank Alain for his long service and wish him well in his retirement from his position.

Fabien Manuel from IFP Training was elected as the new chairperson, and Raphael Alonso from Ecole Francaise de Forage elected as the new vice-chair.

In the UK, the vice-chair elections were also recently held with Jamie McHattie from Maersk Training UK appointed to the vice-chair position.

We would like to welcome Fabien, Raphael and Jamie into their branch chair and vice-chair positions and look forward to working with them all in 2021.

If you would like to see our full board structure you can download the structure chart here.

The UK branch chair election was held recently, with Clive Battisby of Drilling Systems elected as the new chairperson.

We would like to welcome Clive onto our board of directors and look forward to working with him in the future.

If you would like to see our full board structure you can download the structure chart here.

We have created a dedicated Coronavirus (COVID-19) page where all our updates will be published. You can find this on our home page, menu bar or by clicking here.

Certificate Extension Update – July 2020

Since March 2020, IWCF have continued to closely monitor the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and have worked closely with our members globally to follow regional advice.

With worldwide restrictions being imposed, we have worked to ensure the safety and wellbeing of employees and well operations crews are maintained by introducing the virtual classroom training option. IWCF virtual classroom training is now widely available at accredited training centres globally (see links below).

Certificate extensions have been granted for eligible candidates who were unable to re-certify between 17 February 2020 and 31 July 2020.

After carefully assessing the latest developments affecting our global membership, IWCF’s Board of Trustees have agreed to introduce a new eligibility criteria and dispensation process for the small population of individuals that continue to be affected by COVID-19 restrictions beyond 31 July 2020.

We will continue to closely monitor the situation and keep you updated with any future developments.

Information for candidates

Candidates that have an eCert expiring between 1 August 2020 and 30 September 2020 and meet the below criteria will be eligible to apply for an extension.

• The candidate must be booked to attend a virtual classroom training course at an IWCF accredited training provider.
•  The candidate’s employer must provide a written request for extension.

The booking details and employer request must be submitted by email to certification@iwcf.org.

Once IWCF has reviewed the dispensation request, eligible candidates will be granted a 90-day eCert extension.

Candidates who do not meet the above criteria will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Useful links

We have introduced a COVID-19 hub on the IWCF website for centres and candidates to use.

Open Training Centres – This page lists IWCF accredited training centres by region who are open for training and assessments, or their expected opening dates.

Virtual Training Providers – This page lists training centres by region who are accredited to offer virtual classroom training.

COVID-19 Updates – This page is updated with all COVID-19 news and updates.

COVID-19 FAQs – This page answers the most frequently asked questions from centres and candidates.

Please contact us at certification@iwcf.org if you have any questions.