IWCF Reviews on Courses, Pricing, Features & Career Impact
About IWCF
IWCF, or International Well Control Forum, is an independent association that certifies and offers training programmes on regularised oil and gas well-control techniques. The focus areas are Drilling Well Control and Well Intervention Pressure Control. Both are covered in five certifiable course levels. The syllabi at all levels follow the latest best practices of the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP), notably Report 476, standardised in October 2012 and later revised in August 2016 and April 2023.
Only a few of the IWCF courses or levels are available in the online learning mode. The rest of the levels require hands-on learning and CPDs at any of its 200 accredited training centres. There are eight training locations in India, including Ahmedabad, Duliajan, and Delhi.
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Provider Name |
IWCF |
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Established In |
1992 |
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Official Website |
https://www.iwcf.org/ |
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CEO |
Zdenek Sehnal |
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Popular For |
Well Control, drilling, pressure control |
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Online courses at IWCF |
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Learner base |
100,000+ in 170 countries |
Commonly asked questions On Highlights
Both exist in the oil and gas industry but differ in the following ways.
IADC, or International Association of Drilling Contractors, is a global trade association for drilling contractors, offering advocacy, research, and technical services.
IWCF offers well control training and certifications that are standardised the world over.
IWCF’s Level 1 and Well Operations Crew Resource Management certifications do not have any expiry date. The Level 2 certificate is valid for five years. On the other hand, certificates for levels 3 and 4 are valid for two years. Again, the Level 5 certificate is valid for five years.
IWCF Course Levels and Training
IWCF’s training programmes qualify certification holders for various roles in the oil and gas industry.
There are two broad training areas at IWCF, which are provided across five levels.
- Drilling Well Control
- Well Intervention Pressure Control (WIPC)
For these two types, the training is categorised into the following.
Level 1: It is a free training module for graduates or new beginners willing to learn about the standardised methods. It has seven modules, including Life Cycle of a Well, Drilling Rigs, and Well Control During Drilling Operations. A certificate assessment exam for Level 1 requires the student to obtain 70% or more.
Level 2: This is Drilling and Wells Personnel Basic Training for any role, ranging from Barge Engineer to Wellsite ROV Supervisor. The training is online or in the classroom, and it comes with two written assessments at accredited IWCF centres, where the student needs to score 70% for each to obtain the certificate. Also, the minimum time required for the course is 20 hours, excluding the exam.
Level 3 & 4: These two levels come with written and practical assignments. The training also focuses on principles and practical usage of equipment. Topics among many include Fracture Pressure, Circulating System, Influx Migration, and Choke Line Friction. Learners require classroom training and CPDs for these levels.
Well Control in Design and Lifecycle Management (fka Level 5): This mandatory 32-hour training is for senior levels, including Senior Drilling Engineers, Senior Intervention Engineer, and Drilling Project Managers. Case studies and one project come with this in a classroom setting.
Commonly asked questions On Others
There are five levels of training and certifications at IWCF. They are provided from foundational level training to advanced levels that cater to different roles in the oil and gas industry.
To pass the IWCF exams, candidates must complete required training periods (online or offline), prepare for written and practical assessments with MCQs, sit for exams at accredited centres, and score at least 70% marks. For all levels, the passing percentage is 70%, along with the required training hours.
IWCF states that the candidates must cross Level 2 and complete CPDs to get into training and exam for Level 3. The same applies to Level 4, where one has to pass the Level 3 exam. The training at levels 2 to 4 is officially designed in a sequence.
Why IWCF?
IWCF training and certifications are beneficial compared to other programmes in the oil and gas industry. Some key benefits include the following.
Focuses on Enhanced Safety
IWCF training prioritises safety in various aspects of well control operations. Learners acquire comprehensive knowledge of well control principles. These align with the latest International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) benchmarks, updated in April 2023.
Rigorous Assessment Standards
The assessments of IWCF are known for their rigour, which includes written exams and practical exercises. The certifications also have a 70% cut-off mark. That applies to all levels - be it foundational or advanced.
Comprehensive Syllabi
Its curriculum is specifically tailored to address various aspects of well control, including drilling operations and well intervention. Professionals with different designations gain targeted skills within the industry. Both freshers and advanced personnel benefit from IWCF level-based training.
Commonly asked questions On Additional Details 1
The IWCF Level 1 certificate does not expire. In fact, you can come back to learn again at your own volition. The other certificates of IWCF, however, have a validity period of 5 years.
This is a free course. IWCF also mentions that it is the oil and gas industry’s first-ever to provide comprehensive training that covers the outcomes of well control procedural risks and how to prevent them.
IWCF states different criteria for exam resits.
66-69%: Instant resit available on the same day or within 90 days.
65% or below: Must attend further training and resit within 90 days.
The paper assessments of the resits will be subject to availability.
Registering at IWCF
Those wishing to register at IWCF, should visit the link: https://www.iwcf-forum.org/newcandidate
After providing personal and employer details, the candidates will receive a Candidate Registration (CR) number.
This CR number will be used for all successive training and assessments at IWCF-accredited centres.
IWCF FAQs Related To IWCF
IWCF offers only two free online courses. These are the Level 1 programme and the Well Operations Crew Resource Management (WOCRM) course.
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Updated on Jan 21, 2025
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