Single International Standard

• The International Association of Drilling Contractors and the International Well Control Forum officially launched the International Alliance for Well Control program in May 1997.

• The International Alliance for Well Control (IAWC) is a joint program that is intended to provide a uniform training and certification standard in Well Control.

Combining Training and Certification

• Combining training and testing will ensure that recognized standards of instruction and certification are used throughout the industry.

• Clearly focused training and certification will enable drilling personnel to acquire and develop appropriate knowledge and skills.

Benefits

• Uniformity in standards of training and testing in the drilling industry.

• Application of the same training and testing method in every country, fully acceptable to regulators and each other, and meeting the common requirements of competence systems.

• The impartiality of independent testing.

Consistency

• The Alliance will provide a unique opportunity through joint membership committees to review training curriculum and test content concurrently.

• The Alliance program will enable the industry to adopt through common training and testing programs:

Best practices Best procedures Common terminology

The Training Element

• IADC's WellCAP offers a blueprint for rig crew training by emphasising the knowledge and skills critical to successful well control. WellCAP measures training schools against quality benchmarks for adherence to industry developed core curriculum, appropriateness of facilities and instructional staff and consistency of operations.

• An accreditation system for well control training schools, WellCAP is the product of joint working committees of operators, drilling contractors, professional trainers and well controls specialists.  WellCAP currently has 35 accredited organizations teaching in 10 languages from 106 locations in 34 countries.

The Certification Element

• Reaching out to over 40 countries and translated in more than 10 languages, the IWCF certification program has become a globally accepted practice.  The Certification Standards cover the basic aspects of well control. The practical assessment methodology and written tests derived from the associated Performance Criteria provide a solid milestone in ascertaining the presence of basic skills and knowledge.

Quality Assurance Measures

• The Alliance will pursue the development of distance learning methods, including pre-assessment techniques, that prepare students, and identify strengths and weaknesses in advance of focused classroom training, practical simulation exercises and competency testing.

• The Alliance is considering the development of independently administered methods to monitor student reactions on completion of the training program.

• The Alliance will also pursue opportunities to include other drilling activities in advanced programs and other well-site activities such as Well Intervention in alternative programs.

Economics

• The Alliance will endeavor to reduce the combined administrative costs to all participating companies.

Link to IWCF website

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