IADC: Year in Review

By Katie Carr, Senior Coordinator – External Communications

Accreditation & Credentialing

IADC’s Accreditation and Credentialing programs are designed to enhance safety and increase competence across the global drilling industry’s workforce. Developed and maintained by IADC members, these training programs reflect real-world industry needs and practices. So far this year, 65 training providers have been accredited, bringing the total number of accredited training providers to 600+. Notably, more than 103,000 total trainees have passed an IADC-accredited course up to this point in the year.

For the 19th consecutive year, IADC’s accreditation efforts achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification. This milestone reflects an ongoing commitment to quality management systems that align with internationally recognized standards.

A project to update the IADC Knowledge Retention and Education for our Workforce (KREW) system and content is under development. Earlier this year, Drilling Systems was chosen as the vendor to help redesign the platform. The new KREW system will provide continuous learning opportunities to improve well control knowledge retention and enhance critical on-the-job skills between recertification periods. It will include advanced functionality, expanded capabilities, and novel content that will be centrally owned by IADC for the first time.

Along with this updated program, trainees will have the opportunity to maintain and build skills between recertification periods. Upon completing all modules and meeting other requirements during the two-year recertification period, trainees may qualify for a streamlined, hybrid recertification course upon renewal. This two to three-day WellSharp Hybrid Learning Pathway will infuse new content focused on high-probability, low-impact events that are not covered in the five-day course.

Throughout the year, members have been working on repurposing the WellSharp Driller and Supervisor level courses by identifying content that can be utilized in the Hybrid Learning Pathway. Additionally, all six WellSharp Well Servicing courses were revised.

The accreditation team is currently piloting a new program called Empower, which will be refined into a more focused initiative heading into 2026. Empower is a collaborative training quality project that centers on relationship building and continuous improvement. IADC will offer training quality visits that help training providers strengthen outcomes through observation, conversation and shared reflection. The goal is to strengthen IADC’s engagement with accredited providers, gather real-world feedback and identify opportunities to enhance the learner experience.

Government & Industry Affairs

One of the reasons IADC was originally established is to be a united voice of the drilling industry. The job of the IADC Government & Industry Affairs (GIA) team is to ensure that voice is heard by key decision makers and important entities within the US.

Direct engagement with lawmakers remains a cornerstone of this work. Throughout the year, IADC representatives participated in joint industry trade association meetings with newly elected members of Congress and supported key legislative allies by hosting and attending fundraisers for legislators who champion our industry. In August, IADC’s political action committee, DrillersPAC, invited Senator Ted Cruz as a guest speaker for a luncheon hosted at Transocean.

The 2025 Spring Fly-In was another example of the direct advocacy approach in action. A delegation of 16 IADC members and staff descended on Washington, DC, for two intensive days of Capitol Hill meetings, conducting face-to-face discussions with 22 members of Congress. These sessions brought the drilling industry perspective directly to lawmakers’ offices, with member companies spanning offshore and onshore drilling contractors and drilling service companies. While IADC provides the platform and coordination for such advocacy efforts, it’s the members themselves — dedicating their time and expertise — who truly amplify the industry’s unified voice and drive meaningful engagement with policymakers.

On the regulatory front, the team advanced member interests through strategic written advocacy. IADC submitted a letter to the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to advocate for expanded offshore oil and gas leasing and exploration. The association pressed House Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman for swift action on permitting reform through targeted correspondence. Working alongside other industry organizations, IADC helped craft coordinated comments in response to the May 2025 deadline for resolution of the US District Court’s decision to vacate Endangered Species Act permitting procedures. In another collaborative effort, the team joined fellow trades in warning Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about the threat to industry caused by tariffs.

Beyond Washington, the GIA team strengthened community ties through events that married industry advocacy with charitable giving. The third annual DrillersPAC 3-Gun Competition took place in October, benefiting DrillersPAC and Camp Hope, a Houston-based interim housing facility operated by the PTSD Foundation of America. Earlier in the year, the inaugural 2-Gun Match took place in May. Thanks to member participation, the event raised $5,000 for Magnolia Independent School District’s Navy JROTC Program, empowering students to build character and leadership skills.

Throughout the year, IADC maintained engagement with the US Coast Guard. The association spearheaded a response to the Coast Guard’s Cybersecurity Final Rule issuance and hosted a joint discussion with other interested stakeholders to assess implications for applicability to vessels operating on the US Outer Continental Shelf. Staff representation at the Heartland District’s Change of Command ceremony at New Orleans District headquarters further demonstrated the team’s commitment to maintaining these crucial relationships.

International Development

With an industry as vast and wide as drilling, local areas are certain to present their own unique sets of challenges and opportunities. As a global association, IADC’s International Development team plays a vital role in advancing the interests of the drilling industry on the macro and micro level. Much of this is accomplished through a network of regional representatives and chapters spread across Brazil, Latin America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Australasia.

This network helps ensure that IADC is representing drilling contractors’ best interests when it comes to regional issues. To this end, the association collaborated with its members to address regional concerns and problem-solve with local stakeholders and other industry partners. IADC met with the Brazilian National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels to discuss regulators’ concerns with gas dispersion studies and methodologies as they may impact safety and the environment. IADC members also facilitated advocacy efforts in Mexico, resulting in a crucial reclassification of drillships as “naval artifacts,” allowing drilling contractors to sustain necessary business ownership interests that encourage continued offshore oil and gas development. IADC representatives also met with Mexico’s Secretariat of Economy and the Undersecretary of Hydrocarbons to discuss key developments in the country’s drilling sector with a view toward optimizing energy development and production opportunities in Mexico.

In the Middle East, IADC met with Oman oil and gas representatives to discuss how the association could assist with the facilitation and support of national oil and gas operations through IADC advocacy and training resources. In the African country of Namibia, IADC met with government officers to discuss infrastructure and workforce development considerations to continue to lay the groundwork for meeting immediate and longer-term industry challenges. Moreover, the association met with officials in India to provide support and feedback after a recent field incident required assistance with certain mitigation efforts.   

In June, IADC representatives traveled to Suriname to meet with officials from the country’s offshore regulatory agency to discuss ways IADC could assist as the country’s burgeoning offshore industry continues to take shape with prolific potential. The team proceeded to attend the 2025 Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit & Exhibition to network, participate and moderate a safety and well control technical session.

Throughout the year, the International Development team has maintained critical relationships with other key stakeholders and organizations. In its 50th year as a recognized non-governmental observer, IADC continued its engagement with the International Maritime Organization. This work has included participation in committees, subcommittees and working group sessions covering a variety of topics, including underwater radiated noises, cybersecurity and appropriate application of greenhouse gas measures. Along with the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, IADC continued to participate in discussions with members of the International Regulators’ Forum as opportunity statement initiatives continued to take shape. The team also initiated its intention to the European Commission to engage with the European Sustainable Shipping Forum to assert IADC offshore stakeholder interests pertaining to potential EU emissions and energy efficiency compliance provisions in development.

Regional Chapters

IADC’s 16 Regional Chapters are spread across the world and deliver value to members by organizing impactful forums and events. This year, members came together to discuss the potential formation of an IADC Mediterranean/Black Sea Chapter.

Throughout the year, our regional chapters remained committed to advancing professional development and industry knowledge through a diverse array of educational programming and workshops. The IADC South Central Asia Chapter hosted its 40th Technology Meet in Mumbai, India, in August, where attendees explored the latest advancements and innovations in drilling technology. In Nigeria, chapter members convened for a 2025 Business and Economic Outlook session discussing the theme “Navigating the Shifting Landscape: Strategic Outlook for Nigeria’s Oil & Gas Sector in a Global Context.” Meanwhile, the Permian Basin Chapter brought together industry leaders for the 2025 Permian Driller’s Panel to review regional plans, concerns and outlooks.

Chapters held signature networking events that fostered meaningful connections while celebrating our industry’s collaborative spirit. The Southern Arabian Peninsula Chapter’s annual golf tournament drew 500+ golfers, as well as 1,500+ guests at the accompanying gala dinner. With 85 member companies involved, this event served as an excellent occasion for networking and camaraderie across the industry. Similarly, chapters including the North Sea Chapter, Houston Chapter and Northern Arabian Gulf Chapter also hosted golf tournaments for members. Beyond the greens, the IADC Brazil Chapter organized another edition of its “IADC Family Day,” bringing together families, colleagues and associates in a relaxed environment. Throughout the year, the IADC Houston Chapter convened its series of quarterly luncheons covering topics such as “Effective Safeguards” and “The Underappreciation of Oil & Gas.”

Recognizing that safety remains our industry’s highest priority, chapters around the world honored outstanding achievements and reinforced dedication to safer workplaces and operations. In May, the IADC Southeast Asia Chapter celebrated its 40th anniversary at the chapter’s annual safety awards gala presentation and banquet in Bangkok, Thailand. For the North Sea Chapter’s 52nd annual safety awards, 460 of the chapter’s members and partners gathered in Aberdeen to recognize outstanding safety practices.

Our chapters demonstrated the strength of collective action by engaging in charitable initiatives that made a lasting impact in the communities they serve. The Latin America Chapter, which operates out of Houston, volunteered and bagged over 3,800 macaroni meals at the Houston Food Bank. In response to devastating floods in Texas, the IADC Houston Chapter joined other industry associations to contribute $60,000 to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. The Southern Arabian Peninsula Chapter hosted the Liter of Light Workshop, a hands-on initiative where participants built solar-powered lamps for communities without access to electricity.

Student Chapters

Launched in 2017, IADC Student Chapters connect the next generation directly to our industry through first-hand experiences and networking that complement their academic education. Today, 20 chapters operate at universities and educational institutions worldwide.

Building on last year’s success, the IADC Student Chapter Scholarship Program was renewed for 2025. Twenty students received $5,000 each to support their academic careers.

Chapters around the globe brought industry experts directly to campus. The Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) in Malaysia partnered with professionals to deliver training on SLB Petrel reservoir engineering and Halliburton’s Landmark software. Meanwhile, the University of Boumerdès and University of Louisiana at Lafayette were among chapters that hosted IADC WellSharp Well Control training sessions, giving students foundational knowledge on this critical topic. At the University of Texas at Austin, the IADC and AADE chapters partnered with Noble Corp on the eight-week Noble Drilling Innovation Competition.

Several chapters organized significant technical programming throughout the year. The IADC Maharashtra Institute of Technology Student Chapter in Pune, India, hosted the International Workshop on Emerging Technologies, exploring how innovation is transforming our sector. The IADC University of Boumerdès Student Chapter launched its inaugural IADC Energy Forum, covering topics such as safety, digitalization, AI and sustainability. The Suez University Chapter held its first Petroleum Engineering and Advancements Summit alongside its second IADC Suez Technical Exhibition, while UTP delivered Drilling Week 2025 and the International Rig IQ Showdown.

Field visits brought classroom concepts to life. At the University of Wyoming, IADC and AADE chapters coordinated a petroleum simulator day where students gained experience with cutting-edge simulators, including an offshore drillship, two onshore rigs, a wireline unit and a coiled-tubing unit. The IADC University of Texas Permian Basin Student Chapter attended a lunch-and-learn followed by a mud plant tour hosted by AES Drilling Fluids. In Nigeria, the Petroleum Training Institute Student Chapter visited a rig to examine the five major drilling systems and toured a flow station for firsthand observations.

Students represented their chapters at premier industry gatherings throughout the year, building professional networks that will serve them throughout their careers. So far in 2025, IADC has sponsored over 220 students to attend an industry conference, and 250 students were present at the Managed Pressure Drilling workshop hosted at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City.

Communications

IADC maintains robust connections with its worldwide membership across multiple platforms — from its flagship Drilling Contractor magazine and digital newsletters to its growing presence on social media channels. Drilling Contractor magazine once again distinguished itself by offering comprehensive coverage of the technical challenges and innovations shaping the drilling industry. The magazine also continued to bring information to its readership through video interviews at facilities, including capturing perspectives at the opening of Baku Drilling School in Azerbaijan, during the HMH innovation showcase in Houston, and during a tour of rig being used for carbon capture and storage drilling in Iceland. Video interviews were also captured during various events, such as one where students shared their experiences at the 2025 SPE/IADC International Drilling Conference, and another with IADC Geothermal Committee Chair Scott Farmer at the inaugural IADC Geothermal Conference in Vienna, Austria.

This year, IADC launched an Instagram account (@iadc_global) to connect with a broader audience, particularly young professionals and industry newcomers. The association’s LinkedIn presence also continued growing, surpassing 60,000 followers. Throughout the year, IADC’s 85th anniversary campaign, “Many Stories, One Voice,” unfolded across Drilling Contractor magazine, the DrillBits newsletter and social media platforms, celebrating the association’s rich history and the members who continue to shape its journey. DC