News Cuttings

Beware of false HSE Rig Pass cards in Mexico

IADC has received reports of training providers selling counterfeit HSE Rig Pass Cards in Mexico. The IADC Accreditation and Certification Department (ACD) has begun an investigation. In the meantime, IADC members are strongly urged to verify the validity of any suspicious HSE Rig Pass cards. As there is no easy way of distinguishing between an official card and a false one, contacting IADC ACD staff is the surest means of verifying a card’s validity. For credential verification, please contact Lauren Rouhana or LaDonna Thierry at +1/713-292-1945 or send an e-mail to records@iadc.org.

Hubler, Koceic receive Exemplary Service Awards

IADC recently presented Exemplary Service Awards to two long-time and active members: Warren Hubler, Helmerich & Payne IDC, and Marin Koceic, ED-INA.

Mr Hubler, H&P vice president HSE, received his award at the IADC Drilling Onshore Conference & Exhibition on 20 May in Houston. Throughout the years, Mr Hubler has been active in multiple areas with IADC, including leading industry efforts against mismatched hammer unions, as well as efforts on fall protection and developing the IADC environmental reporting guidelines.

Mr Koceic, technical manager for ED-INA, was presented with his award during the IADC World Drilling 2010 Conference on 16 June in Budapest. Mr Koceic joined the IADC community in 1992 and has worked extensively to help promote the association’s activities in Eastern Europe. “Our first World Drilling conference in Croatia … came about almost solely due to the initial and joint efforts of Marin and his colleagues at Crosco,” IADC president Dr Lee Hunt said. Mr Koceic has also served on the IADC Executive Committee, board of directors, World Drilling program committees and the European Operations Forum.

IADC to brief Cuban authorities on offshore safety

The US Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has approved IADC’s application for a travel license to Cuba to discuss safety and mitigation of environmental hazards with Cuban authorities. The trip is tentatively scheduled for late August. IADC has been appealing to OFAC the urgency of beginning a dialogue with Cuba as the country begins to examine offshore drilling prospects. IADC explained that such drilling would take place adjacent to US waters. The IADC delegation will brief Cuban authorities on global drilling standards and best practices, environmental protection, safety procedures, hurricane preparation and personnel training.