The chief executive of the International association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) said the drilling indsutry must become a “high reliability sector”.
Steve Colville said drilling in a number of regions was currently “uneconomic” and needed some “substantial readjustments” in its cost base as a result.
Speaking at Offshore Europe at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) Colville said other industries including aviation and nuclear could provide many learnings for the sector.
He said:”The mission of IADC is catalysing improved performance of the drilling industry.
“That’s three things for us, the first to greatly enhance safety where there’s much more for us to do and the other two parts is driving out costs from our industry.
“Right now in many parts of the world it’s just uneconomic and there’s got to be some substantial readjustments to our cost base. This ties into the third one which is increasing efficiency.
“There are several core objectives at IADC, one of them is this fitness to operate what I mean by that is a fitness to operate by drilling contractors and service companies and equipment manufacturers.
“If we’re to obtain and retain that licence to operate we must be trusted and there has to be some objective measures by which they can tell we are fit to come and undertake operations.
“Our drilling industry needs to become a high reliability industry we certainly have much to do and much to learn there are other industries aviation, civil aviation, the nuclear industry.
“Industries where there can be total reliance that top to bottom they’ve got system processes, they’ve got training.
“All of those industries are urging us to become a high reliability industry.
“In the hydrocarbon chain through to exploration I think there’s no more challenging space than drilling and within that well control is probably the most critical element we have. Well control training lies at the nexus of everything we’ve got to do.”
IADC was at Offshore Europe discussing its IADC Wellsharp training programme which is set to enable drilling companies to reduce non-productive time, minimise incidents and eliminate injuries.