50 D R I L L I N G C O N T R A C T O R November/December 2004

gram. It is the only interactive comput-er-based program that has full IADCWellCAP approval, according to MsSauvage. The web-based version is inbeta testing presently and the companyhopes to launch the commercial versionby the beginning of 2005.

“The student will be able to select thetype of certification he wants to receive,for example, WellCAP training,” MsSauvage said, “and the program willbuild the course based on the options heelected to take.”

When he completes the course he takesa test that is processed at WCS’s office,and if he passes he receives a certificateof successful completion. The test isalso taken via the Internet. The studentcan take the course at his own pace. Ifthey choose the full course coveringdrilling and well control, it generallytakes five days with 8-hour days.

WCS has offered its System 21 interac-tive computer-based program for sever-al years but this method forced the com-pany to be in the hardware business aswell, since it supplied the laptop com-puters that contained the preinstalledprograms.

Being able to take well control coursesvia the Internet has several advantages,Ms Sauvage noted. The biggest value isthe fact that crew change does notbecome an issue. The crew can completetheir training while they are on the rigor platform, and at their own pace, andwon’t have to use some of their off timeto train.

Another advantage, she said, is thatcompanies won’t have to fly the crew tothe schools, which eliminates theexpense of staying in a hotel, meals andother travel-related expenses duringtraining.

Still another advantage is being able tocontinue the course at a later time if thestudent is called away to take care ofother business.

For example, if a student is in the middleof the course and he is called away totake care of a situation he can continuethe course where he left several days orweeks later.

The System 21 computer and web-basedcurriculum is offered in English andSpanish, with a Portuguese version pos-sibly being offered in the future. n

IADC CONNECTION

DRILLINGCONTRACTOR

THE IADC HOUSTON CHAPTERdistributed $87,000 in scholarships to27 petroleum engineering universitystudents for the 2004-2005 school year,including 24 individual $3,000 scholar-ships. For the first time, the chapterawarded $5,000 grants to 3 universitiesfor deserving freshmen interested inpetroleum engineering. The 3 universi-ties are Texas A&M, University of Texasat Austin and Texas Tech University.

The IADC Houston Chapter funds itsannual scholarship program primarilyfrom revenues generated by its annualgolf tournament, typically held in mid-September. n

Texas A&M IADC Houston Chapter scholarshiprecipients pictured with petroleum engineeringdepartment head Dr Stephen A Holditch (farleft). Standing (from left) are Cecil Shipman,Mark Cooper, David Miertschin, Frank Belveal,Doug Dreher and Kristen Schrag. Shown seatedare (from left) Paul Ryza and Payton Lumpkin.

IADC Houston Chapter goes all outwith engineering scholarships

THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENTS of theIADC Distinguished Service Award areCharles H “Buddy” King, Vice Presi-dent-Special Projects, Noble Drilling(retired), and Donald R Ray, ExecutiveVice President-QHSE, Transocean Inc(retired).

Mr Ray strongly supported and guidedthe IADC Offshore Operations Divisionfor many years. He also representedIADC and the offshore drilling industryon the US Coast Guard's National Off-shore Safety Advisory Committee(NOSAC) from 1995 through 2002.

Mr King formed and managed NobleEngineering & Development as a fullyowned division of Noble Drilling todevelop drilling technology and technol-ogy products. He holds several drilling-related patents, and assisted in the for-mation of a tubular expansion JointIndustry Project (JIP). n

King, Ray receive 2004 IADCDistinguished Service Awards

From left are IADC President Lee Hunt, CharlesH “Buddy” King and Donald Ray.

THE ANNUAL IADC HOUSTONChapter Dinner, Dance and Silent Auc-tion will be held 4 Feb 2005 at the West-in Oaks Hotel in Houston. The Chapteris seeking support for the silent auction.The entire proceeds will once again ben-efit the T H Rogers Middle School forchildren with disabilities. Last year,IADC Houston Chapter was able todonate $40,000 to the school. The Chap-ter will be contacting companies and

vendors for donations to the silent auc-tion. One hundred percent of the pro-ceeds will go to the Just Like Us Fundthat helps children at the TH RogersMiddle School.

For more information or to donate to theevent and the silent auction, contactJim Nowotny, Atwood Oceanics, at281-749-7855, or Paul Kessler, NaborsOffshore, at 281-775-4837. n

IADC Houston Chapter dinner, dance and silent auctionwill benefit school for children with disabilities