Drilling Operations Supervisor Surface Stack

Course overview

Advanced role-specific training for personnel who supervise drilling well control operations and make operational decisions during a well control event. The course builds on Driller-level knowledge and focuses on interpreting shut-in information, selecting and managing the appropriate well kill response, controlling risk, handling complications and supervising the drilling team through a surface-stack well control operation.

5-day course format (IADC minimum 32 instructional hours including simulator training/assessment; written assessment time additional).

Why this course matters

Participants strengthen the decision-making skills required at Supervisor level: validating well data, confirming barrier status, checking calculations, planning and directing kill operations, recognizing when the operation is moving away from plan and selecting an appropriate contingency response. Simulator work is used to develop communication, leadership and technical control under realistic well control scenarios.

Who should attend

• Toolpushers and Drilling Supervisors
• Drilling Engineers and Superintendents
• Drilling Foremen and Company Representatives
• Other personnel who supervise or make decisions during drilling well control operations

Prerequisite

Drilling contractor personnel should hold a valid recognized Driller certificate or provide evidence of previous Supervisor-level completion, as applicable under IADC requirements.

Course content

• Supervisor well control responsibilities and decision-making
• Pressure concepts and advanced well control calculations
• Mud and pit management
• Pre-recorded data and kill-sheet planning
• Kick prevention during drilling, casing and cementing
• Barrier management and verification
• Shallow gas, water flows and top-hole drilling
• Abnormal pressure warning signs and kick detection
• Well control drills and team coordination
• Surface-stack shut-in verification and monitoring
• Interpretation of post shut-in pressures and volumes
• Well kill methods and operational planning
• Well control complications and contingency actions
• Risk assessment, MOC and operational controls
• Surface well control equipment and BOP systems
• Simulator exercises and supervisory well control skills

Assessment and certification

• IADC knowledge assessment and simulator skills assessment.
• Candidates must achieve at least 75% in each assessment and correctly complete the required safety-critical simulator skills.
• Successful candidates receive IADC WellSharp Drilling Operations – Supervisor, Surface Stack certification.
• Certificate validity: 2 years.