IADC Well Control

Audit/Test Subcommittee

August 27, 2008

Joe Levine
MMS
 Today’s Discussion
► Status of Subpart O test program
 Written test development
 Hands-on scenario development
 Test/scenario structure
 Grading policies
► Timetable
 NTL No. 2008-N03
Well Control and Production Safety
Training
► Effective 3/31/08
 Clarifies terms (internal audit, production safety,
periodic, contractor)
 Discusses lessee and contractor responsibilities,
program evaluations, and employee verifications
 Announces MMS intent to conduct hands-on
testing in 2008 per 30 CFR 250.1509 (a)
Accomplishments Since 6/3/08 IADC
Meeting
► Received IADC/Chevron suggestions for hands-on
well control scenarios
► Completed development of draft tests/scenarios
 Three well control written tests
 Five production written tests
 Seven well control hands-on scenarios
 Ten production hands-on scenarios
► Participate in Diamond Offshore visit 9/2/08
 Gain experience implementing written & hands-on well
control tests/scenarios
 Pre pilot exercise – educational for all parties
 Identify glitches
► Arranging
another pre-pilot exercise mid
September
 Well Control Tests/Scenarios
► Open book
 All materials acceptable
►charts, guides, books, tables….
► No time limit
► Tests to be given onshore, offshore, office,
vendor, school
► Passing grade
 Written - 70% and above or in accordance
with operators criteria per training plan
 Hands on – pass/fail, all steps “critical”
 Written Well Control Tests
► Structure
 Three levels based upon position
►Level 1
 Floor hand, derrickman
►Level 2
 Driller, asst. driller
►Level 3
 Tool pusher, company man
 Written Well Control Tests
► Grading
 Level 1 (floor hand, derrickman)
►5 or 6 questions
► Passing = 70% on this section only
► Levels 2 and 3 not graded (encouraged)
 Level 2 (driller, asst. driller)
► 5 or 6 questions from Level 1 + 5 or 6 questions from
Level 2
► Passing = 70% on Levels 1 & 2 (10-12 questions)
► Level 3 not graded (encouraged)
 Level 3 (tool pusher, company man)
► 5 or 6 questions from Level 1 + 5 or 6 questions from
Level 2 + 10 questions from Level 3
► Passing = 70% on Levels 1, 2 & 3 (all test questions)
 Written Well Control Tests
► Questions
 Difficulty of test questions increases from Level 1 to
Level 2 to Level 3
 Level 1 questions
► basic well control concepts and equipment practices
 Level 2 questions
► more advanced well control theory and equipment concepts
 Level 3 questions
► deeper knowledge of well control techniques, operational
systems and calculations
► only level to contain calculations
Hands-On Well Control Scenarios
► Seven scenarios
 Used IADC/Chevron suggestions as starting
point
► Each scenario includes a series of Yes/No skill
based questions
 5 – 8 questions per scenario
► Employee/team needs to demonstrate competency
in a specific scenario(s) by demonstrating or
answering all questions in a correct manner
► Each question in a scenario deemed to be critical
► Scenarios focus on either an individual or a team
 Testing Pilot Program
► Effective 10/1/08 – 12/31/08
► No enforcement (INC)
► Goal
 Issue as many tests/scenarios as possible to gain a
better understanding of test administration and grading
process
► Areas of concern
 Consistency
► Test administration, test structure
 Level of difficulty
► Levels 1,2, 3
 Grading policies
 Beyond Pilot
► Test program with enforcement begins 1/1/2009
► G-856 DOES EACH EMPLOYEE UNDERSTAND AND PERFORM THE
ASSIGNED WELL-CONTROL OR PRODUCTION SAFETY DUTIES?
Authority: 30 CFR 250.1503(a) Enforcement Action: W/C

INSPECTION PROCEDURE:
Verify that lessee’s training plan provides a process to ensure that employees
understand and can perform their assigned well-control or production safety
duties.

IF NONCOMPLIANCE EXISTS:
Issue one warning (W) INC for an audit of one or more employees if the
training plan fails to provide a process to ensure that employees understand
and can perform assigned well-control or production safety duties.
Issue one component shut-in (C) INC for one or more employees that do not
understand or cannot perform the assigned well-control or production safety
duties.

Note: The employee is the component.

 Beyond Pilot
► D-291 IS A COPY OF THE COMPLETE WELL-CONTROL
DRILL PLAN POSTED ON THE RIG
FLOOR OR BULLETIN BOARD?

Authority: 462(a) Enforcement Action: W

INSPECTION PROCEDURE:
Verify that a complete well-control plan has been posted on
the rig floor and/or bulletin board.

IF NONCOMPLIANCE EXISTS:
Issue a warning (W) INC when plan is not posted.
INSPECTION COUNT/ INC COUNT:

Enter one item checked/ issue one INC for each inspection
 THANK YOU

# 703 787 1033

Joseph.Levine @mms.gov

Discussion …………