Well Site Preparation and Drilling Safety

Upon completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Manage well site preparation safely: pad construction (cut and fill, grading, compaction, drainage), environmental controls (containment berms, lined pits, spill prevention), access road construction, and the site preparation that creates a stable, environmentally protected drilling location.
• Manage rig mobilisation and rig-up safety: heavy lift planning for rig components, crane operations during assembly, structural connection verification, guy-wire tensioning, utility connections (power, water, fuel), and the systematic rig-up sequence that prevents assembly incidents.
• Identify rig floor hazards: rotary table and top drive (entanglement, rotating equipment), tongs and slips (caught-between, struck-by), pipe handling (suspended loads, dropped joints, pipe rack collapse), cathead operations (line entanglement, uncontrolled rotation), and the rig floor procedures that control each hazard.
• Understand well control fundamentals at awareness level: formation pressure concepts, causes of kicks (swab, surge, lost circulation, insufficient mud weight), kick indicators (pit gain, flow increase, drilling break, gas cut mud), BOP stack components (annular, pipe rams, blind/shear rams), and the basic shut-in procedures that well control events require.
• Apply H2S safety awareness: hydrogen sulphide properties (colourless, heavier than air, deadens sense of smell at high concentration), exposure limits (10 ppm ceiling, immediately dangerous at 100 ppm), detection methods (personal monitors, fixed detectors, wind direction indicators), escape routes, safe briefing areas, and the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) that is the only protection at high concentrations.
• Implement fall protection on drilling rigs: working at height on the derrick and monkey board, substructure access, rig floor edge protection, PFAS anchorage on rig structures, and the fall protection challenges unique to drilling rig geometry.
• Manage confined space entry on drilling locations: identifying confined spaces (mud tanks, cellar, shale shaker enclosures, pipeline sections), atmospheric testing (LEL, O2, H2S), entry permits, attendant duties, and rescue planning for drilling-specific confined spaces.
• Control fire and explosion hazards: ignition source management (hot work permits, non-sparking tools, classified electrical equipment), gas detection systems, hydrocarbon containment, and the hazardous area classification that determines equipment ratings around wellheads and mud systems.
• Manage pipe handling safely: pipe rack storage and restraint, pipe running operations (tongs, stabbing, making/breaking connections), casing running, and the struck-by and caught-between prevention that pipe handling requires on every connection.
• Execute emergency response on drilling locations: well control emergency procedures (kick detection, shut-in, notification), H2S release response (alarm, muster, evacuation, breathing apparatus), fire response, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and the emergency drills that verify response readiness.

Core Curriculum Topics

• Well Site Preparation: pad construction, environmental controls, access roads, site drainage
• Rig Mobilisation and Rig-Up: heavy lifts, structural assembly, guy-wires, utility connections
• Rig Floor Hazards: rotary table, top drive, tongs, slips, cathead, rig floor procedures
• Well Control Fundamentals: formation pressure, kick causes, kick indicators, BOP, shut-in
• H2S Safety Awareness: properties, exposure limits, detection, escape, SCBA, safe briefing areas
• Fall Protection on Drilling Rigs: derrick, monkey board, substructure, rig-specific anchorage
• Confined Spaces: mud tanks, cellar, shale shakers, atmospheric testing, permits, rescue
• Fire and Explosion Prevention: ignition control, gas detection, hazardous area classification, hot work
• Pipe Handling Safety: rack storage, running operations, casing, struck-by/caught-between prevention
• High-Pressure Systems: testing, fittings, hose management, bleed-down, pressure containment
• Environmental Protection: spill prevention (SPCC), waste management, containment, stormwater
• Emergency Response: well control, H2S release, fire, MEDEVAC, emergency drills

• No prior drilling experience required for safety awareness
• Suitable for new hires and experienced personnel needing refresher
• No academic degree required
• All instruction in English; working proficiency required

Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, wallet card, and transcript. Employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

• Drilling crew members (roughnecks, derrickmen, motormen) who work on the rig floor
• Drilling supervisors (tool pushers, drilling engineers) who manage drilling operations safety
• Well site supervisors and company men responsible for site safety
• HSE officers assigned to drilling operations
• Service company personnel who work on drilling locations (wireline, cementing, mud logging, directional drilling)
• Construction crews preparing well pads and access roads
• Anyone new to the upstream oil and gas sector who needs drilling safety orientation

• Well Site Preparation and Drilling Safety — YOU ARE HERE (drilling-specific safety awareness)
• Oil and Gas Career Ladder: 38hr Committee Member → 70hr Trainer → 112hr Specialist → 144hr Supervisor → 168hr Manager → 194hr Professional
• International Diploma in Oil and Gas Safety Management (480-hour academic diploma: 6 units covering regulatory governance, process safety, HSE management, contractor/logistics, emergency response, and occupational health)
• International Diploma in Process Safety Management (480-hour PSM diploma for process facilities)