Course Levels

Course Levels

IWCF follow IOGP recommendations as to what course levels candidates should sit. Please note that this will vary depending upon the operation, environment and location. The recommendations should be taken as a general overview and should be considered on a case by case basis. Download a copy of the latest IOGP 476 Levels Guidance Chart (April 2023 edition) here.

Level 1 Well Control Awareness programme

Well control basic awareness programme

Delivery: Online

Duration: Self paced – approximately 8 hours to complete

Recommended for personnel that are non-critical to well control operations. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Office based staff including:
  • Logistics coordination personnel
  • Logistics supervisors
  • Operations coordinators
  • Well planning and well scheduling personnel
  • Other roles:
  • Offshore Installation Managers (OIMs)
  • Production Offshore Installation Managers
  • Roustabouts
  • Deck Crew
  • Crane Operators
  • Rig move Captains
  • Rig Move Offshore Installation Managers
  • Supply and support vessel Watch Officers
  • Supply and support vessel Captains
  • Non-critical wellsite personnel responsible for downhole and surface well equipment repair, inspection and operations including:
  • Remotely Operated Vehicle personnel (non-supervisory)
  • Wireline/slickline personnel (non-supervisory)
  • MPD/UBD wellsite service personnel (non-supervisory)
  • Coiled tubing and intervention services personnel (non-supervisory)
  • Casing running personnel (non-supervisory)
  • Directional surveying/MWD/LWD personnel
  • Wellsite oilfield equipment repair personnel
  • Tubular and rig inspection personnel
  • Other well non-supervisory drilling or intervention personnel
  • Other wellsite non-critical drilling or intervention personnel

Find out more about this programme here.

Level 2 Drilling and Well Intervention Pressure Control programmes

Delivery: Online (modules)/classroom based instructor led

Duration: 20 hours

Roles included but are not limited to:

  • Assistant to Wellsite Supervisor or Wellsite Drilling Engineer
  • Wellsite and office-based Operations Geologist
  • Roughneck
  • Derrickman
  • Barge Engineer
  • BOP/Subsea Engineer, Dynamic Positioning 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
  • Wellsite based Wireline or Slickline Crew Chief or Lead Engineer
  • Coiled tubing and intervention services Wellsite Supervisor
  • Wellsite personnel supervising Managed Pressure Drilling operations
  • Wellsite personnel supervising Underbalanced Drilling services
  • Wellsite Casing Crew Supervisors
  • Wellsite Directional Driller
  • Fishing Engineer or Fishing Toop Operator
  • Mud Logger or wellsite Drilling Data Engineer

Level 3 Drilling and Well Intervention Pressure Control

Delivery: Classroom based instructor led

Durations:

Drilling Well Control: 32 hours

Well Intervention Pressure Control:
– 3 optional disciplines: 28 hours
– 2 optional disciplines: 24 hours
– 1 optional discipline: 20 hours

Roles include but are not limited to:

  • Driller
  • Assistant Driller
  • Equivalent positions in well servicing
  • Equivalent positions in intervention operations

Level 3 Enhanced Drilling and Well Intervention Pressure Control

Delivery: CPD and classroom

Durations:

Drilling Well Control: 32 hours*

Well Intervention Pressure Control:
– 3 optional disciplines: 28 hours
– 2 optional disciplines: 24 hours
– 1 optional discipline: 20 hours

*Please note the duration of enhanced depends on the number of the topics chosen.

Roles include but are not limited to:

  • Driller
  • Assistant Driller
  • Equivalent positions in well servicing
  • Equivalent positions in intervention operations

Level 4 Drilling and Well Intervention Pressure Control Programmes

Delivery: Classroom

Duration:

Drilling Well Control: 32 hours

Well Intervention Pressure Control:
– 3 optional disciplines: 28 hours
– 2 optional disciplines: 24 hours
– 1 optional discipline: 20 hours

Roles include but are not limited to:

  • Drilling/Intervention Wellsite Supervisor, Superintendent or Company Man
  • Office based Drilling/Intervention Supervisor
  • Office based Drilling/Intervention Superintendent
  • Tool Pusher
  • Wellsite Well Testing Supervisor
  • Wellsite Completions Supervisor
  • Intervention Supervisor
  • Offshore Installation Manager (OIM)
  • Drilling Contractor Rig Manager
  • Supervisors or Crew Chiefs for special service operations
  • Fishing engineer (if supervising well kill/pressure controlled operations)

Level 4 Enhanced Drilling and Well Intervention Pressure Control Programmes

Delivery: CPD and Classroom

Duration:

Drilling Well Control: 32 hours*

Well Intervention Pressure Control:
– 3 optional disciplines: 28 hours
– 2 optional disciplines: 24 hours
– 1 optional discipline: 20 hours

*Please note the duration of enhanced depends on the number of the topics.

Roles include but are not limited to:

  • Drilling/Intervention Wellsite Supervisor, Superintendent or Company Man
  • Office based Drilling/Intervention Supervisor
  • Office based Drilling/Intervention Superintendent
  • Tool Pusher
  • Wellsite Well Testing Supervisor
  • Wellsite Completions Supervisor
  • Intervention Supervisor
  • Offshore Installation Manager (OIM)
  • Drilling Contractor Rig Manager
  • Supervisors or Crew Chiefs for special service operations
  • Fishing engineer (if supervising well kill/pressure controlled operations)

Well Control in Design and Lifecycle Management

Delivery: Classroom, project and case studies

Duration: 32 hours

Roles include but are not limited to:

  • Drilling engineer / senior drilling engineer
  • Completion engineers / senior completion engineer
  • Petroleum engineers / 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 managers (up to first line drilling management)
  • Well operations managers
  • Well services managers
  • Office-based design personnel
  • Senior wells personnel, e.g., team leader and general manager wells