Overview
A combined subsea and surface course at driller or supervisor level (Levels 2, 3 and 4). It builds understanding of well control techniques for surface or subsea BOP installations to International Well Control Forum (IWCF) standards. Please state the required test level when booking.
Designed to fulfil the requirements for the IWCF Combined Surface/Subsea Well Control Qualification. Content follows the IWCF syllabus and prepares candidates for the IWCF examinations and assessment.
Learning objectives
- Apply the principles and procedures of well control operations with a subsea BOP stack, per the IWCF syllabus
- Use the equipment for well control operations with a subsea BOP stack
- Demonstrate control of a well control situation on the simulator to IWCF standards
- Gain sufficient knowledge to pass the written tests with a minimum score of 70%
Course agenda
Day 1
- Well barriers and standards for barriers
- Well barrier elements and acceptance criteria
- Responsibilities for well control and well integrity
- Well control definitions and concepts
- API Recommended Practices and API Specifications
- U-tube analogy for well pressure calculations
- Kick tolerance
- Kick causes, prevention and detection
- Shallow gas
- Well control preparation
- Well shut-in procedures and first actions
- Practical: simulator overview and demonstration of well control load cases
Begins with registration and a check of prerequisite certifications. Classroom sessions cover well barriers, barrier standards and testing, then use the U-tube analogy for well pressure calculations, with a focus on oil, gas and water kicks and shallow gas. Participants then move to the simulator to review well control load cases.
Day 2
- Gas behaviour in WBM and OBM
- Conventional and unconventional well control procedures
- Well control complications
- Compensating for choke line friction
- Riser margin
- Workshop: Driller's Method
- Difference between vertical and deviated well control
- Practical: full scenario simulations (kick detection, shut-in, circulating out the kick)
Gas behaviour in drilling fluids, followed by a detailed workshop on well control procedures and the complications that can arise. Participants practise a full well control scenario on the simulator.
Day 3
- Well control equipment review, selection, installation and testing
- Practical: full scenario simulations with unexpected events
Detailed coverage of rig-site well control equipment, then a full simulator scenario complete with unexpected events.
Day 4
- Practical assessment on the simulator
- Self-study using the question bank
- Group study and discussion before the written examinations
Day 5
- Assessment: Principles and Procedures
- Assessment: Surface Well Control Equipment
- Assessment re-sit (as required)
Topics covered
- Well barriers
- Roles and responsibilities
- Well control definitions and concepts
- API Recommended Practices and Specifications
- Compensating for choke line friction
- Riser margin
- Kick tolerance
- Kick causes
- Shallow gas
- Well control preparation
- Well shut-in procedures
- Gas behaviour
- Well control procedures
- Vertical vs deviated well control
- Well control equipment
Assessment and certification
- Practical assessment on simulator equipment
- Principles and Procedures written examination
- Surface/Subsea Well Control Equipment written examination
- IWCF certificates are valid for 2 years