News Cuttings
IADC celebrates 70th anniversary in Copenhagen
IADC celebrated its 70th anniversary on 18 March in Copenhagen. On behalf of 2010 chairman Louis Raspino, Pride International, and president Dr Lee Hunt, IADC invited representatives of the European drilling community and members of the IADC Executive Committee to a reception and dinner at Copenhagen’s NIMB restaurant. Guests of honor were IADC’s past European chairmen:
• Claus Hemmingsen, 2009 chairman, Maersk Drilling.
• Claus Chur, 2006 chairman, KCA DEUTAG.
• Frits van Riet, 1997 chairman, Neddrill/Noble.
• Alain Roger, 1991 chairman, Sedco Forex/Transocean.
Dr Hunt delivered a brief speech looking back at 70 years of IADC. Mr Hemmingsen and Mr Chur both praised IADC and its staff for the significant work they have done over the years for the global drilling industry.
IADC will continue the celebration of its 70th anniversary at this year’s Annual General Meeting, to be held 10-12 November in San Antonio, Texas.
OISD, MMS hold cooperative safety workshop
On 25-26 February, IADC participated in a workshop organized by India’s Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD), in association with the US Minerals Management Service (MMS), to foster cooperative activities between the two agencies. The agenda included technical presentations comparing deepwater activities in India and the US Gulf of Mexico. Presentations reviewed OISD’s offshore safety regulations and associated guidance notes. Topics included requirements for bridging documents between contractors and operating companies and fitness verification for drilling rigs. IADC is working with OISD to provide clear and useful direction on key elements of the regulations. IADC’s delegation included Marcelo de Azeredo, Transocean; Chirag Shah, Essar Oilfields Services India; and Ken Fischer, IADC regional vice president – Middle East & Africa.
Otto Santos, Petrobras University, receives IADC Exemplary Service Award
IADC group vice president – operations & accreditation Steve Kropla (left) presents an Exemplary Service Award plaque to Dr Otto Luiz Alcantara Santos, senior technical advisor for Petrobras University, during the IADC International Deepwater Drilling Conference & Exhibition in Rio de Janeiro on 2 March. Dr Santos was recognized for his role in establishing Petrobras as the first producer WellCAP training provider and first WellCAP provider in Latin America. Among other efforts, he also contributed to the IADC Deepwater Well Control Guidelines.
UBO & MPD Committee draft best practice, create selection tool
The IADC Underbalanced Operations & Managed Pressure Drilling Committee held its first-quarter meeting in Houston on 9-10 March to continue work on a draft best practice document for MPD and an MPD technology selection tool. The selection tool will guide drilling engineers through a series of queries and provide MPD options based on specific drilling objectives and downhole challenges. The more detailed best practice document will provide guidance on implementing various MPD techniques.
The committee is also revising its training standards for underbalanced operations. The IADC UBO Rig Pass accreditation program is being broadened to include MPD topics. The supervisory-level WellCAP curriculum for UBO is being revised, and a one-day introductory-level course is being designed. Training providers interested in UBO and MPD courses are encouraged to participate in this important initiative. The committee’s next meeting will be held in Budapest on 14-15 June. Details can be found online at www.iadc.org.
