News Cuttings
HSET Committee releases IADC definition for serious injuries and fatalities
The IADC Health, Safety, Environment & Training (HSET) Committee recently published a document defining a serious injury and fatality (SIF). It serves as a practical guide to help IADC members assess and identify SIF events and potential events. The purpose is to strengthen the understanding of what constitutes a SIF and ensure the industry’s focus remains on the incidents and exposures that truly have the potential for life-ending/altering outcomes.
The document emphasizes a balanced, realistic approach to evaluating SIF potential — one that looks beyond theoretical possibilities and considers real-world conditions and context surrounding each event. By applying this approach, the HSET Committee hopes to improve the quality and consistency of SIF reporting, prioritize resources toward the highest-risk scenarios and continue building a culture that learns from these events.
Jennifer Medcalf receives IADC Exemplary Service Award
IADC publishes well control guidelines for geothermal
In May, the IADC Geothermal Committee published well control guidelines for geothermal wells, specified by the 2025 IADC Geothermal Well Classification document. The guidelines cover geothermal projects from sub-hydrostatic conditions to those capable of unassisted flow. They are intended to protect personnel, the public and the environment, enhance operational safety and provide a consistent framework for well control, site procedures, equipment testing, operational planning and personnel training.
It addresses well control across the well lifecycle, including barrier philosophy, drilling, completion, stimulation, workover, well servicing, well intervention and permanent abandonment; non-standard well control operations are excluded.
Southeast Asia Chapter holds safety award gala
Members of the IADC Southeast Asia Chapter (SEAC) gathered on 1 April in Kuala Lumpur at its fourth Annual Safety Awards Gala. The award recipients were:
Best Safety Initiative (all members)
- 1st place: Vantage Drilling
- 2nd place: Velesto Energy/Velesto Drilling
- 3rd place: Conntrak Catering Services
Best Statistical Safety Performance (drilling contractor members)
- Best recordable incident rate (offshore company): Velesto Energy/Velesto Drilling
- Best recordable incident rate (offshore rig): T-11 (Vantris Energy/Drilling)
- Years recordable incident-free (offshore rig): Velesto Naga 6 (Velesto Energy/Velesto Drilling)
- Onshore excellence: PT Pertamina Drilling Services Indonesia for best recordable incident rate, years recordable incident-free, onshore company and rig.
Student Chapters, SCAC hold joint event in India
The second IADC Student Chapter Technology Meet was held at the MIT World Peace University in Pune, India, from 16-18 April. The event was jointly organized by three student chapters in India – MIT, the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) and the Pandit Deendayal Energy University – as well as the IADC South Central Asia Chapter (SCAC) and the IADC SCAC Young Professionals Subcommittee. The event featured drilling simulator workshops with well control scenarios; sessions on AI in drilling, deepwater exploration and leadership; and a networking dinner.
