Skip to main content

AWCC Unveils Australia’s First Custom-Built Fluid Transfer Unit Ahead of Turbo Cert III Launch in 2026

A new chapter in Australia’s oil and gas workforce development is underway in Toowoomba, with the Australian Well Control Centre (AWCC) taking delivery of its custom-designed Fluid Transfer Unit — a purpose-built, full-scale training system developed exclusively by AWCC and the first of its kind in the country. Now in the final stages of assembly, the unit will be fully operational in early 2026, delivering a level of realism, capability and technical depth that has not previously existed in Australian training. 

Designed from the ground up by AWCC, the Fluid Transfer Unit was created to address a critical gap in hands-on competency development. Fluid movement sits at the heart of drilling, completions and well servicing operations, yet most personnel entering the industry only encounter these complex systems for the first time once they reach the field. AWCC chose to change that. 

The new unit integrates real, industry-grade equipment, including a mud separator, agitators, a single shaker, degasser, desander, a functional mixing hopper and operational trip tanks. This configuration replicates the full operational behaviour of a field-ready fluid system, allowing trainees to experience live circulation, equipment response, flow dynamics, solids removal, gas separation, pressure variations and system interactions in real time. 

While the system includes full mud-handling functionality, its capability extends far beyond traditional mud system training. The Fluid Transfer Unit enables instruction in fluid logistics, pump operations, transfer processes, flow path management, barrier interpretation, operational troubleshooting and emergency response — providing a comprehensive environment for developing both foundational and advanced skills. 

This innovation is set to become a cornerstone of AWCC’s upcoming Turbo Cert III Program, launching in 2026. Turbo Cert III combines and clusters two nationally recognised qualifications — RII32020 Certificate III in Drilling Oil & Gas (Onshore) and RII32220 Certificate III in Well Servicing Operations — to create a single, streamlined training pathway that results in dual qualifications. Traditionally delivered as separate programs, AWCC’s integrated approach significantly enhances learning efficiency, aligns training more closely with real field career progression and produces graduates who are competent across both drilling and well servicing disciplines. 

By incorporating the Fluid Transfer Unit into Turbo Cert III, AWCC ensures participants gain hands-on experience that mirrors the conditions and challenges they will face in the field. Trainees will see how fluid behaviour affects well integrity, how equipment interacts under differing operational loads, and how critical decisions must be made during fluid transfer and circulation activities. This practical learning model supports a stronger, more confident and more technically capable workforce — ready for deployment across both drilling and well servicing operations. 

Once commissioned, the unit will also be integrated into AWCC’s well control programs, drilling operations training and advanced competency modules. Training will be delivered face-to-face in Toowoomba, supported by remote learning components to ensure accessibility for regional and interstate workers. The system’s modular design also allows for future upgrades as operational technology and industry expectations evolve. 

Industry response to the project has been overwhelmingly positive. Operators and contractors have identified the unit as a vital step forward in improving operational readiness, hazard recognition, and workforce capability at a time when demand for skilled personnel across Queensland and the Northern Territory continues to grow. 

The arrival of the Fluid Transfer Unit demonstrates AWCC’s commitment to innovation, industry leadership and the development of training solutions that reflect real-world operations. It reinforces AWCC’s position as a forward-thinking training organisation dedicated to producing highly skilled, field-ready workers capable of supporting Australia’s energy and resources sector now and into the future. 

With Turbo Cert III and the Fluid Transfer Unit launching in 2026, AWCC is delivering the next generation of oil and gas training — designed by industry, driven by innovation and built for the future. 

← All AWCC Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *