Level 4 Drilling Well Control Preparatory Course

Upcoming Sessions

Classroom sessions
Online sessions

Course Introduction

The Level 4 Drilling Well Control Preparatory Course provides essential competency development for professionals in supervisory and office‑based roles who influence operational decisions during drilling activities. This well control training course strengthens the ability to take full responsibility for well control actions, ensuring participants can confidently lead teams during routine and critical drilling operations.

This Drilling Well Control Course enhances advanced decision‑making skills, improves understanding of complex well control scenarios, and reinforces knowledge of well control equipment and safety leadership.

Participants gain the capability to manage high‑risk situations, interpret technical data, and maintain operational integrity in demanding drilling environments.

Key features of this training course include:

  • Focus on supervisory responsibilities for wellsite decision‑makers
  • Coverage of advanced well control challenges including subsea BOPs, deepwater, and HPHT wells
  • Emphasis on leadership, crisis management, and rapid decision‑making
  • Strengthened understanding of well control equipment and barrier management
  • Practical case studies and exercises to reinforce real‑world application

Objectives

This training course aims to equip participants with the advanced competencies required to lead and manage well control operations safely and effectively.

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

  • Ensure well control competency at a supervisory level
  • Strengthen kick prevention strategies and early detection capabilities
  • Execute safe and effective well shut‑in procedures
  • Apply appropriate well kill methods in various operational scenarios
  • Develop advanced problem‑solving and analytical skills
  • Enhance understanding of well control equipment and barrier systems

Training Methodology

This Drilling Well Control Training Course uses a combination of proven adult learning techniques to ensure strong comprehension and long‑term retention. Participants engage in structured lectures, interactive presentations, and guided discussions that reinforce theoretical knowledge and practical application.

Case studies, scenario‑based exercises, and video demonstrations are integrated throughout the course to simulate real‑world well control challenges. These activities help participants practice decision‑making, analyze operational data, and apply well control principles in a controlled learning environment. The methodology ensures participants gain both confidence and competence in handling complex well control situations.

Who Should Attend?

This training course is designed for experienced drilling professionals responsible for supervising and making critical decisions during well control operations. It is ideal for individuals seeking to strengthen their leadership and technical capabilities in advanced well control environments.

This training course will greatly benefit:

  • Drilling Supervisors
  • Toolpushers and Senior Rig Supervisors
  • Drilling Engineers
  • Wellsite leaders involved in operational safety
  • Operations advisors and superintendents

Course Outline

Day 1: Foundations of Well Control

Principles and procedures 

Overview

  • Well control incidents
  • Well control training and assessment  

 Introduction to Well Control

  • Hydrostatic pressure
  • Formation pressure
  • Fracture pressure
  • Primary well control
  • Secondary well control
  • Secondary well control equipment

Barriers

  • Barrier concept
  • Barrier management

Risk management

  • Well control and emergency drills

Exercises and Case Study 

Day 2: Kick Causes, Detection, and Shut‑In Procedures

Causes of kicks

  • General Loss of hydrostatic pressure
  • Hydrostatic effect
  • Gas cutting
  • Lost circulation
  • Swab and surge effects
  • Tripping

Kick warning signs and kick indicators

  • Kick warning signs and first actions
  • Kick indicators
  • Shallow gas

Circulating system

  • Definition and principles
  • Slow circulation rates (SCR)
  • Fracture pressure and MAASP

Influx characteristics and behaviour 

  • Principles
  • Influx behaviour

Exercises and Case Study

Shut-in procedures

  • General principles
  • Procedure Hang off
  • Wireline operations
  • Interpretations Observations
  • Influx migration 

Day 3: Well Control Methods, Operations, and Contingency Planning

Well-control methods

  • Principles
  • Kill method principles
  • Choke line friction
  • Driller’s method and wait and weight method
  • Kill sheet calculations (pre-tour)
  • Perform kill sheet calculations (post kick)
  • Volumetric methods
  • Lubricate and bleed method
  • Stripping

Well control during casing and cementing

  • Running and pulling casing and liner
  • Cementing casing and liner
  • Shut-in procedures when running casing 

 Well-control management

  • Well control drills

Contingency planning

  • Recognition of problems and first actions
  • Pressure gauge failure
  • Mud/gas separators (mgs)
  • Bop failure
  • Hydrate formation
  • Lost circulation during a well-controlled event

Exercises and Case Study

Day 4: Well Control Equipment: Blowout Preventers

Well Control Equipment Blowout Preventers (bops)

  • Bop stack configuration
  • Ram type preventers
  • Blind/shear ram preventers
  • Annular preventers
  • Side outlet valves
  • Connections
  • Diverters

Day 5: Associated Well Control Equipment & IWCF Assessment

Associated well-control equipment 

  • Inside bops (ibops) and drill pipe safety valves (dpsvs)
  • Choke manifolds and chokes
  • Routing of lines
  • Manual and remote chokes
  • Auxiliary equipment
  • Mud gas separators (mgs)
  • Vacuum degasser
  • Testing
  • Bop and equipment testing
  • Inflow testing
  • Bop control systems
  • Bop control systems
  • Subsea bop control systems

Providers and Associations

Anderson
Aztech Training
Coventry

Certificate

  • COPEX Certificate of Attendance will be provided to delegates who attend and complete the course

Material published by Copex shown here is copyrighted. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized copying, distribution, use, dissemination, downloading, storing (in any medium), transmission, reproduction or reliance in whole or any part of this course outline is prohibited and will constitute an infringement of copyright.

Whats Makes Copex Courses Unique?

COPEX Training is your gateway to professional growth, with over 20 years of experience turning potential into success. Each year, we deliver over 1,000 courses in 50+ countries, earning a stellar 98% satisfaction rate. Trusted by global giants like BP, the United Nations, and HSBC, we partner with top certification bodies to provide career-focused training that empowers individuals and drives organizational breakthroughs. Our mission? To transform the way professionals learn and grow in today’s fast-changing industries. Through expert insights, cutting-edge methods, and hands-on approaches, we equip you with the skills and confidence to tackle challenges, seize opportunities, and thrive in your career.

Led by a passionate leadership team and supported by a network of world-class trainers, COPEX Training connects professionals worldwide with life-changing opportunities. We are committed to excellence, ensuring every participant leaves with the tools, expertise, and confidence to conquer an ever-evolving world.

Related Categories

Petroleum

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Our cancellation policy varies depending on the circumstances presented. Generally, cancellations must be initiated in formal writing at least 14 days prior to the commencement date of the training course. Further, the option to shift an existing registration to another training course on a later date is possible. Otherwise, a full refund will be initiated.

Our training courses courses are being held at five-star hotels in prime and iconic destinations across the globe. Cities such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dubai, Geneva, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, London, Houston, New York, Paris, Vienna, Zurich, etc.

Our training courses will run for 5 hours per day. The standard daily timing is from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm including the coffee/tea breaks and lunch.

The training course fee can be settled by either:

  • Bank transfer
  • Credit Card

Published training course fees are inclusive of the training venue, training manual, writing materials, lunch and coffee breaks with refreshments over the entire duration of the training course.

Upon successful registration, processing window will take not more than 24 hours from the time of registration. An email including the registration confirmation, invoice and joining instructions will be sent to the provided email address.

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