Summary

The IWCF Level 4 Well Control course provides candidates with an advanced understanding of well control principals, practices and equipment to gain necessary knowledge required to apply safe Well Control practices in surface and subsea installations.
Emphasis on policies and specific procedures will form a major part of the course structure.

Who is it for

Recommended for personnel active in any operational or engineering role including well site supervisory and office based roles involved in drilling and work over operations such as OIMs, Drilling Superintendents, Drilling Engineers, Drilling Supervisors, Toolpushers, and Drillers.

The course aims to build on Level 3 course content (including kick detection and shut-in) and focus on more complex aspects of well control and well kill methodology.

To view the full list of recommended job titles, please refer to the IWCF website: www.iwcf.org/programmes 

Please note: IWCF training levels 2 to 4 are designed to be sequential and first-time candidates are expected to complete Level 2 before progressing to Level 3 or 4. However, the training levels are also designed to be role-specific and dependent on the candidate’s work experience. For guidance and advice on which level of training you are eligible for, please get in touch.

Roles that would benefit

Roles included but are not limited to:

• Drilling/Intervention Wellsite Supervisor, Superintendent or Company Man

• Office based Drilling/Intervention Supervisor

• Office based Drilling/Intervention Superintendent

• Tool Pusher

• Wellsite Well Testing Supervisor

• Wellsite Completions Supervisor

• Intervention Supervisor

• Offshore Installation Manager (OIM)

• Drilling Contractor Rig Manager

• Supervisors or Crew Chiefs for special service operations

• Fishing engineer (if supervising well kill/pressure controlled operations)

Contents of course

• Well Control Procedures and Responsibilities

• Pressure Regimes – Subnormal, Normal and Abnormal

• Primary Well Control

• Formation Fracture Pressure - LOT/FIT, MAASP, MAMW

• SCR’s and CLFL’s

• Annular Pressure Losses, ECD

• Top Hole Drilling, Shallow Gas, Diverting, Riserless Drilling

• Causes of Kicks

• Kick Indicators and Warning Signs

• Gas Behaviour – Circulating, Migration and Solubility

• Secondary Well Control, Shut In Procedures API RP59 and Company

• Permeability and Porosity

• Kill Methods – Drillers, Weight and Wait, and Volumetric - Theory and Practical

• Other Kill Methods presented and explained

• Well Control Problems

• Impermeable Gas Cap

• Riser Margin and Riser Collapse

• Accumulator Unit – Components / Function, API RP 53

• Annular Preventers – Components / Function

• Ram Preventers / Locking Devices / Piston Rod Mud Seal, Opening and Closing Ratios, Ram Assemblies

• Subsea Marine Riser Assembly

• Indirect Hydraulic Subsea Bop System

• Minimum BOP Requirements

• Mug Gas Separator / Liquid Mud Seal

• Safety Valves – FOSV, IBOP, Dart & Dart Sub, Float Valves

• Diverters

• Well Control Equipment – Minimum Closing Times and Testing Requirements

• Well Integrity / Double Barriers

Course delivery

A combination of interactive lectures, workbook theory, group discussion, and practical simulator exercises are used to optimise learning, and needs of individual candidates are identified and addressed to ensure all participants reach their potential. 

A maximum of 10 students per class ensures absolute interaction and sufficient simulator time for each candidate.

Level 3 training may be partly combined with Level 4 training for common modules and during simulator-based training with each candidate assuming their respective role as per normal drilling operations. Running in conjunction with Level 4 courses provides valuable and beneficial interaction with experienced supervisors.

Entry Requirements

The candidate must be pre-registered with IWCF and able to provide his/her 6-digit IWCF Candidate Registration (CR) Number. 

What is an IWCF CR Number? Click here to find out.

Prior certification is not required but previous experience in a supervisor role during drilling operations is assumed. Please contact us to discuss candidate suitability if you have any doubts or queries.

Certification

Candidates may select either “Combined” (Surface & Subsea) or “Surface Only” BOP Stack certification. Candidates will be required to sit two written assessments and one practical assessment using simulator equipment. Candidates must achieve 70% in all three assessment components to be successfully certified.
The certificate is valid for 2 years.