News Cuttings

IADC accreditation audit efforts zero in on Mexico

The rapid growth of IADC accreditation programs in Mexico has prompted the association to undertake a concentrated audit effort across that country. With 50 companies joining the ranks of IADC-accredited training providers in the first nine months of 2010 alone, the audit effort was deemed essential. The association hopes to reassure members, as well as students of IADC-accredited training programs worldwide, that these accreditation programs offer the same quality training outcome wherever the training is delivered, despite the accelerated pace of growth.

Mexican companies are primarily pursuing accreditation in HSE Rig Pass, WellCAP and Drilling Industry Training (DIT) Accreditation. Sixty-one Mexican companies are now participating in the HSE Rig Pass program, which is a staggering 150% growth in the number of Rig Pass programs in Mexico in 2010.

Mexican companies are also swelling the ranks of WellCAP and DIT training providers, with 17 WellCAP providers and 1 DIT provider offering 19 accredited courses. Mexico also boasts one UBO Rig Pass program; Siatesa achieved this accreditation in 2009.

The focused audit effort began in September and will continue until all training providers in Mexico have been audited.

Additionally, IADC has added a quality assurance/quality control coordinator to manage the audits of the more than 400 accredited training providers worldwide. Elfriede Neidert, who joined IADC in January 2010, moved to this position in August, bringing her experience as Weatherford International’s quality assurance/process improvement manager to all accreditation program audits and quality-control processes.

The IADC Southern Arabian Peninsula Chapter held its 2010 golf event on 24-25 March at the Emirates Golf Course in Dubai

More than 400 players participated, each playing two championship courses.

Middle East Operations Forum meets in Dubai

Weatherford Drilling International hosted the IADC Middle East Operations Forum (MEOF) meeting at their Dubai headquarters on 27 September. Delegates were welcomed by Niels Espeland, Weatherford group vice president and IADC Executive Committee member. Mr Espeland opened the meeting by focusing on the need for more competent crews and encouraging members to share training resources within the region. Ken Fischer, IADC regional VP – Middle East & Africa, reported on IADC activities and programs and gave a presentation summarizing IADC’s initiatives in the wake of the Macondo incident in the US Gulf of Mexico.

The next MEOF meeting is scheduled for 9 May 2011 in Dubai, to be hosted by Nabors Drilling International.

Amendments adopted for HSE Case Guidelines

The IADC HSE Case Users Group met in Amsterdam on 1 October 2010. The group adopted a number of minor amendments to the IADC HSE Case Guidelines for MODUs. The amendments provide clarifications and point to additional areas of emphasis, particularly with regard to bridging arrangements.  The amended guidelines will be available on the IADC website at www.iadc.org/hsecase/index.html, along with an information sheet to help identify the amended provisions. The next meeting of the IADC HSE Case Users Group is scheduled for 30 September 2011 in Amsterdam.

EPAP subcommittee to study benchmarking guidelines, calculations

The IADC Environmental Policy Advisory Panel (EPAP) discussed results of the benchmarking reporting system on 28 September in Amsterdam. Representatives from Noble Drilling, Pride International, Maersk Drilling, Helmerich & Payne, Seadrill, KCA DEUTAG, Rowan Companies and Transocean attended the meeting.

So far, 11 drilling contractors have submitted their 2009 environmental data on emissions and spills. EPAP decided to appoint a subcommittee, including technical experts, to fine-tune the guidelines and determine a standard data calculation method.

The committee also discussed the 2011 IADC Environmental Conference & Exhibition, to be held 12-13 May in Trinidad. The conference will consider significant policy implications, regulatory demands and operator concerns regarding environmental effects of drilling and completions.

Speaker/paper nominations for this event can be completed online at www.iadc.org. Deadline for submitting an abstract is 15 November 2010.

The next EPAP meeting is scheduled to be held in Trinidad on 11 May, in conjunction with the Environmental Conference.