International Association of Drilling Contractors

WellCAP Program Change Proposed	A recommendation to revise the method for combining WellCAP courses is proposed. Members' comments are requested. Please click here to review the proposal. Comments may be sent to WellCAP@iadc.org no later than 5 November 2010
MMS Subpart O Hands-on Testing Results Reported	The US Minerals Management Service (MMS) began enforcement of 30 CFR 250.1507 (c) Subpart O testing requirements on 1 April 2008. Under the testing program, MMS inspectors can conduct oral, written or hands-on testing of rig and platform site personnel required to have well control testing. Testing began with a pre-pilot phase in October 2008 and a pilot phase since. Results of the pre-pilot and pilot phase were reported at a MMS Subpart O Testing Workshop in New Orleans, Louisiana on 19 February 2009. For a synopsis of the testing program and testing results presented at the Workshop, view the attached presentation (link below). Post-pilot phase (with enforcement) goes into effect 1 April 2009. Subpart O Hands on Testing of Rig Personnel
Well Control Committee News	Well Control Committee Official Voting Procedures Changes to or decisions that will impact the WellCAP Curriculum Guidelines and/or Accreditation Criteria must undergo extensive review and be approved by the Well Control Committee. The official IADC Well Control Committee Voting Procedures describe this process. Follow the link to these procedures. Proposed changes to WellCAP Instructor Qualifications Document
IADC Well Control Online Materials	IADC's Well Control materials available for online purchase.
NEW -- WellCAP Killsheets NOTICE -- New Draft versions of IADC WellCAP Killsheets are available.	IADC is pleased to announce the release of its first set of standardized kill sheets. The official version of the Wait and Weight method killsheets are now available, for surface and subsea stack in a variety of units of measurement. Please click here to view. In addition, the first draft versions of the Bullheading killsheet are available for comment. Please click here to view.
NOTICE - WellCAP Plus Application Materials now available for download.	A set of materials for programs interested in applying for WellCAP Plus accreditation is now available for download. Click here for details.
MMS seeking industry thoughts on "Hands-On" Testing	Joseph Levine, Chief of the Operations & Engineering Division of the US Minerals Management Service, addressed the IADC Well Control Committee in January regarding the agency's possible plans to pursue "hands-on" testing of rig employees. MMS training regulations provide for hands-on safety, simulator, or live well testing to assess the effectiveness of training for field personnel. Mr. Levine discussed several options that may be considered by MMS for hands-on testing, including live well tests at dedicated facilities and tests using simulators and computers at facilities operated by training providers. Another option open to MMS would be to formalize well control drills required by the current regulations to satisfy the hands-on testing needs, he stated. MMS is request comments from operators, contractors, training providers and other interested parties regarding the issue. Contact information is available in Mr. Levine's presentation, available at the link below. Click here to access the MMS Presentation (PDF file, approx 500 KB) Updated presentation on MMS Implementation Process (PPT file, approx 204KB)
Regulatory Notice (U.S.)	On 14 August 2000, the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) published a new final rule regarding the training of employees working on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The new Subpart O rule became effective on 13 October 2000, and provides for a two-year transition period from existing MMS regulations. All lessees on the OCS will be required to comply as of 15 October 2002, or may do so earlier provided they notify MMS. With this rule, MMS has shifted to a "performance-based" type of regulation which extends a great deal of flexibility to operators in determining how their employees (and their contractors' employees) are to be trained. The rule largely does away with existing requirements for well control training, leaving it to operators to determine the best way to accomplish this. IADC recommends that operators and contractors adopt WellCAP as their company standard for well control training. General acceptance of WellCAP will avoid conflicting training requirements between operators, and would ensure operators that their contractor personnel have been trained to acceptable standards as defined by industry experts. In the 14 August 2000 Federal Register, MMS wrote: "MMS commends IADC for the WellCAP program and acknowledges the value WellCAP could bring in providing minimum well control training requirements to lessees and contractors worldwide." MMS stated they intend to publish a proposed rule which would incorporate WellCAP into the Subpart O regulations. On 5 November 2001, MMS issued a Notice to Lessees clarifying certain parts of the training rules. This NTL discusses validity of training certificates during the transition period, and addresses questions concerns over "alternative training methods." Click here to download the NTL (PDF format, 70K) Click here to download the MMS Subpart O Guidance Document (PDF format, 218K) (Third Edition, February 2005) MMS recently opened a discussion board for operators and contractors to post questions regarding Subpart O regulations. The board is located at http://www.mms.gov/subpartODiscussion/ Additional information on Subpart O can be accessed from the Lessee Training section of the MMS web site.