Welcome to the
National Drilling & Well Control Program
The School of Petroleum Engineering at the University of New South Wales has been providing training and assessment to oilfield professionals through the National Drilling & Well Control Program (NDWCP) since 1998. The Program is a joint venture between the School and the International Association of Drilling Contractors - Australasian Chapter (IADC-AC) and is managed by School.
The major objective of the Program is to provide the core knowledge and job-related skills which drilling personnel require to handle well control situations with competency. Through the provision of expertly written teaching materials and computer-based simulated training, industry personnel are able to obtain qualifications that are both current and applicable to this ever changing industry.
The Program is recognised and accredited by industry bodies such as the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) and the International Well Control Forum (IWCF). Excellence in training is achieved and maintained via a rigorous quality assurance process.
Major benefits to industry include confidence that rig crews have consistent quality instruction by high standard industry trainers; internationally-recognised training; and documentation of training and certification of records to meet safety case requirements.
The Program provides some 40 five-day BOP training courses a year from training centres located in Brisbane and Perth (see BOP course schedule). Courses are also offered in Adelaide and other cities.
In addition to our BOP courses we offer the following:
- Preliminary Well Control Training
- IADC Rig Pass Training
- Coal Bed Methane Drilling
- Air Drilling Induction Training
- High Pressure High Temperature Well Control
- Well Control for Underbalanced Drilling
Since the formation of the National Drilling & Well Control Program in 1998, hundreds of drilling professionals have enjoyed the practical, relevant and professional training that they have received.


