IWCF and IADC Well Control Programs Scheduled Weekly

Simply put, The Australian Well Control Centre (AWCC) was founded by Drilling and Workover Experts as an Oil & Gas Well Control Centre FIRST. In the beginning the IWCF/IADC Well Control Programs were our company’s Core Products. For this to be possible the company had to have industry experts with many years of experience in key roles to deliver such high quality, High Risk style training. Quality Well Control Training requires experience and nothing depicts this more than our company’s General Manager having spent some 34 years in the Oil and Gas Industry working in both Senior Field and Corporate Roles, he himself, has become a highly successful International IWCF/IADC Well Control Instructor and Speaker on the subject. This is the AWCC difference, not many, if any, in similar Managerial Positions can state this as a matter of fact.

Quality, Proficiency Focused Training is our company’s goal. The team at AWCC insist that all of our expert facilitators have worked in the Drilling and Workover Sectors and have the required supervisory experience that the IWCF made mandatory for NEW Trainer/Assessors in 2016. This commitment to quality sets AWCC apart due to the fact that not all Training Providers delivering IWCF and IADC Programs comply with these rules. We here at AWCC believe that “High Risk Training” is just that “High Risk” and Training Providers that allow Instructors without industry experience to teach from a book does not amount to quality. In fact, this situation could be detrimentally affecting your field operations, costing you money, renewed contracts and of course your company’s reputation.

Put simply, A Driller who is not trained correctly and unwittingly exceeds the Maximum Well Bore Pressure (MAASP) for that section of open hole will cost your company Time, Money and possibly Contract Renewals! What price can you place on Quality Training?

Rob Challinder, General Manager, AWCC.

AWCC  Becomes “The Game Changer”

In 2013 AWCC conducted studies auditing the quality of Well Control Training in the region. The subjects of the study were the current providers in South West Queensland at the time. The interviews and research revealed that there were a number of flaws regarding client satisfaction and problems with the delivery of both Theory and Practical elements of the program.

We have listed some but not all of our findings below:

1. Inexperienced or Disinterested Instructors – Well Control Facilitated by Instructors that had never worked on Rigs, let alone drilled holes or of course shut one in?
2. Programs Rushed causing the lack of Well Control Concept Explanations
3. Large Groups of Students with Inexperienced Instructors compounded very little student support
4. Very Little Simulator Time ahead of Practical Assessments
5. Low Quality Home Work Issued – Papers without Answers or Explanations to assist students while away from the Centre
6. 3 to 4 Day Well Control Program Schedules which reduce learning and comprehension time which compounded the pressures of passing Exams
7. Sitting Theory Practice test after Practice test with very little feedback or Instructor support as they were out of the room conducting practical assessments.
8. Centres Managed by Administrators not Drilling Industry Professionals compounding the organisations lack of understanding regarding what support is required in this High Risk area training.

Some of you reading this may be able to relate or have had these experiences your self?

All Training Providers should aim to deliver Quality Training however this is especially important for those given the responsibility of providing Internationally Accredited Well Control Programs.

Rob Challinder, General Manager, AWCC.

What is the Impact of a Blow Out or Loss of  Well Control? For those of you working in the industry that don’t know, the following consequences apply:

1. Well Control Events make the news for all the wrong reasons!
2. They Cause Environmental Damage
3. They Cause Equipment Damage
4. Worst Case Scenario its quite common to experience Human Damage and/or Fatality and/or Multiple Fatality.
5. Wells that have Blown Out are very Difficult and Expensive to Repair, Operating and Contracting Companies have been known to face litigation proceedings along with Senor Management having been Jailed.
6. Employees Directly Involved, Drillers, Tool Pushers and Rig Managers have been known to face prosecution for negligence.
7. Industry Reputation Suffers leading to Tighter Regulations and Control on Drilling and Exploration Activities meaning less work for Rig Crews and the industry as a whole.

A five (5) day Well Control Program unlike others is quite possibly the most difficult that a Field Rig Professional will attend and quite rightly so. When you get Oil and Gas Well Control wrong, the consequences in most cases are very serious not only for the Contracting Company through fines and litigation, but also the individuals directly involved can be judicially prosecuted for negligence affecting them and their families both financially and emotionally. Lets face it, well control events happen and the employees directly involved are always effected in one way or another for long periods of time.

On a global scale, Well Control events do happen, and far to often! There are many documented cases of personnel directly involved being personally prosecuted due to lack of Quality Training leading to judicial findings of incompetency! 

Rob Challinder, General Manager, AWCC.

deepwater-horizon-accident-investigation-report-executive-summary

In the above Executive Summary regarding the findings of the Deep Water Horizon Event on April 20, 2010 suggests that points 3, 4 and 5 can be directly attributed to the drill crew not understanding pressure values and them demonstrating a basic failure to recognise well flow. This can only be attributed to the quality of training and has been a major driver to implementing improvements in IWCF and IADC Well Control Programs over the last decade.

All things considered, can your company afford not to be looking deeper into where you send your people? Choosing a High Risk Well Control Training Program on price and sending multiple employees to Discounted Well Control Schools that allow Inexperienced Instructors to facilitate High Risk subjects is a recipe for disaster. With little or no field experience unfortunately these Instructors simply “don’t know what they don’t know” and you by association could be unwittingly putting your operations and the future of your valued employees at risk.

Changes To Industrial Manslaughter Laws:

Training Coordinators and persons booking training need to consider the recent changes to Industrial Manslaughter Laws in QLD.

The question is, “If you were directly involved in a Well Control Incident would the training you had received stand up to an audit investigation into your competency during that event? How do you think an Auditor would would rule if it were uncovered that you had attended training by Instructors with little or no field experience, ones that did not meet the current IWCF Rules of having a minimum of two (2) years Supervisory Experience that the IWCF insist on for NEW Trainer/Assessors? Do you think an Auditor would consider that you had attended Quality, Proficiency Focused Training? These are the questions and points that need to be considered when you choose a Training Organisation based on price alone. Budgeted Training Products in known, High Risk Area’s of Oil and Gas Operations have been proven to reap negative consequences for both industry personnel and their employers alike!

The Industrial Manslaughter Offence Under Queensland Legislation: Know your Rights and Responsibilities.

1. AWCC’s Senior Management are IWCF/IADC Well Control Instructors and Assesses, the focuses on Quality Training in Well Control flows from the knowledge at the top down.
2. Guaranteed Oil and Gas Rig Professionals Instruct all of AWCC’s Programs. Collectively across our 5 IWCF/IADC Instructors there is a combined experience that exceeds 150 years. We are the experts!
3. AWCC offer the only Personalised Well Control Program that we are aware of in the world, this program was designed in house by AWCC’s team of expert Well Control Instructors. This incredibly unique approach to Well Control Training focuses on an individual needs and monitors the students progress from the start of the week through to Examination Day. You will at all times know where to be best focusing your energy and attention.
4. AWCC provide to each student during the program a minimum of 3 hours Simulator Practice ahead of your Practical Assessments allowing the participant to feel comfortable and familiar with our Simulators well before being assessed. Assessments are only conducted on the Thursday of each week unless otherwise requested. AWCC were the first in the region to introduce the Advanced Simulator Practice Concept for our students.
5. Personalised Homework Allocation, meaning, no one student works through the same homework, the program is designed around the individuals needs for maximum comprehension and concept absorption. All AWCC Homework has included worked answers and explanations on individual questions to allow the student to continue learning while away from the Centre in the evenings. This equals maximum use of time to absorb Well Control Content.
6. Tutor Support, AWCC have committed to providing weekly tutelage in our 5 Day Well Control Programs. This means even when the Instructor is out of the room Performing Practical Assessments the students in the class room remain fully supported by AWCC’s commitment to your success.

So now you know what “Quality Well Control Training” looks like, it should be apparent that it can only be brought to you by those who TRULY know the industry and exactly what participants need in a Well Control Training Provider. If your current training provider is not covering the above points (6) completely then you may need to consider your options!

1. What is the experience of the Instructor? An IWCF Instructor must have minimum of “two years” Supervisory Experience. A Training and Assessment Qualification and have passed an IWCF Train the Trainer Program. If they don’t have these qualifications and experience choose another provider that has. There’s Better!
2. Does the Homework have worked examples provided?
3. How much Practical Simulator Time will be facilitated prior to my Practical Assessment? Should be 3 hours each student, this is prior to your assessment.
4. Is Tutor Support provided in the cost of the program?, In fact do they provide this service at all? Discount Providers Will Not!
5. Is food and light refreshment provided throughout the day? All Premium Well Control Training Programs will provide food and refreshments.
   Note: Some Budget Well Control Providers will not.
6. What is the proximity of the Training Organisation to Accommodation, Amenities, Transport and Entertainment etc? A Well Control Centre should be close to affordable accommodation and all amenities for student convenience.
7. If its important to you? Does the Well Control Centre Provide useful Well Control giveaways for the Student Participants? Again the budgeted providers will not.

If your concerned about where to go for your next Well Control Program or need more information on where to send your people? Give AWCC a no obligation call for more information.

Contact us on  07 4638 0532  or email admin@wellcontrolcentre.com.au today to find out more!

You can view our Terms and Conditions here and our Student Handbook here before making a decision to train with us.