IWCF Drilling Well Control Level 4 (Surface Stack)

Course overview

This course is intended for personnel who supervise well control operations and are responsible for ensuring that the correct actions are planned, instructed, monitored and verified. It builds on driller-level knowledge and develops a stronger understanding of well control decision-making, shut-in data interpretation, well kill planning, equipment limitations, contingency response and supervision of the kill operation.

Typically 5 days, with a minimum of 32 instructional hours excluding assessment time.

Why this course matters

At supervisory level, the candidate must do more than recognise and shut in a kick. The supervisor must understand the well condition, validate the data, decide how the well will be killed, direct the crew and respond correctly if the operation does not follow the expected trend. The course therefore places strong emphasis on interpretation, planning, communication and management of the complete well control response.

Who should attend

• Toolpushers and drilling supervisors
• Drilling engineers
• Company representatives
• Superintendents and drilling foremen
• Other personnel responsible for supervising or planning well control operations

Prerequisite

Candidates should have the drilling experience and well control background appropriate to a supervisory role and should be competent in the knowledge expected at Driller Level.

Course content

• Well control risk management, operational planning and barrier assurance
• Pressure fundamentals, formation pressure, fracture pressure and well control calculations
• Mud and pit management and interpretation of pre-recorded well data
• Kick prevention during drilling, tripping, casing and cementing operations
• Abnormal pressure warning signs, kick indicators and influx behaviour
• Shallow gas, water flows and top-hole well control
• Surface-stack shut-in procedures and verification of well status
• Collection and interpretation of shut-in pressures and pit gain
• MAASP / pressure limitations and equipment operating envelopes
• Kill sheet preparation and selection of appropriate well kill methods
• Driller's Method, Wait and Weight and management of kill operation pressures
• Gas migration, trapped pressure and other post shut-in considerations
• Well control complications, losses, equipment problems and contingency response
• Surface BOP, choke manifold, control system and pressure-control equipment
• Supervisor decision-making, crew direction, communication and handover
• Practical simulator exercises in the Level 4 supervisor role

Assessment and certification

• Surface Equipment theory assessment.
• Surface Principles & Procedures theory assessment.
• Role-specific practical simulator assessment in the supervisor role.
• Minimum pass mark: 70% in each assessment.
• Certificate validity: IWCF certification is normally valid for 2 years.