An Interactive 5-Day Training Course
Root Cause Analysis for Drilling Incidents
Finding Causes of Drilling Incidents
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Duration
5 Days
Price
$ 3,000
Starting From
17 Jan 2027
Root Cause Analysis for Drilling Incidents
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Root Cause Analysis for Drilling Incidents - DC-RCA-PEA27
| Code | Date | Time | Duration | Location | Currency | Early Bird Fee Per Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC-RCA-PEA27 | 17 - 21 Jan 2027 | 10 AM CST | 4 Hours / Day |
Online |
USD |
3000 |
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Root Cause Analysis for Drilling Incidents
This course covers root cause analysis for drilling incidents. Participants study investigation method and triggers, evidence collection from rig data and equipment, interviews, analysis techniques, equipment and well failure analysis, human and organisational factors, corrective action design, reporting, regulatory interfaces and the learning systems that prevent recurrence.
Description
Drilling incidents range from stuck pipe and lost sections to well control events and injuries, and most of them have happened before somewhere in the organisation. Investigating them properly, finding the causes rather than the obvious triggers, and acting on what is found is what stops them repeating.
This course covers that process for drilling operations. It starts with investigation triggers, scope and team composition, then covers evidence collection: rig data, daily reports, equipment, documents and the time-critical steps that preserve them. It covers interview technique in an operational setting, and the analysis methods used, including causal factor charting, fault trees and the five whys, with their strengths and limits. It then covers technical failure analysis for drilling equipment and well failures, human and organisational factors including procedures, competence, fatigue and supervision, corrective action design, reporting and regulatory interfaces, and the learning systems that turn investigations into changed practice.
The trigger is not the cause. Pipe stuck because the hole was not cleaned; the hole was not cleaned because the flow rate was reduced; the flow rate was reduced because of losses; the losses were not managed because the mud weight was higher than needed. Stopping at the first answer produces a finding that nobody can act on.
Evidence disappears quickly on a rig. Real-time data is overwritten, equipment is repaired or shipped, the crew rotates and memories reconstruct. The first few hours after an incident determine how much can be established later, which is why preservation steps should be defined in advance rather than improvised.
Human factors findings need care. An investigation that concludes with operator error has usually stopped too early, because the next question is why a competent person did that in those circumstances. Procedures, workload, supervision, equipment design and time pressure are the answers that lead to effective corrective actions.
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
- Define investigation triggers, scope and team composition for drilling incidents.
- Preserve and collect evidence from rig data, equipment and documents.
- Conduct interviews effectively in an operational environment.
- Apply causal factor charting, fault trees and other analysis techniques.
- Carry out technical failure analysis of drilling equipment and well failures.
- Analyse human and organisational factors without stopping at operator error.
- Distinguish triggers, contributing factors and root causes.
- Design corrective actions that address the causes found.
- Produce investigation reports and manage regulatory interfaces.
- Operate learning systems that prevent recurrence across the organisation.
The course is instructor-led and case-based. Participants investigate real drilling incidents from the evidence available, build causal analyses, identify causes and design corrective actions, then compare with the original investigations and outcomes. Cases include investigations that reached the wrong conclusion. Participants are encouraged to bring their own incidents for discussion.
Organisations sending participants to this training will:
- Find the real causes of drilling incidents rather than the obvious ones.
- Reduce repeat incidents and their cost.
- Improve evidence preservation and investigation quality.
- Produce corrective actions that change practice.
- Meet regulatory expectations for incident investigation.
Participants will:
- Be able to lead a drilling incident investigation.
- Be able to preserve and analyse evidence from rig operations.
- Be able to apply structured analysis techniques.
- Be able to address human and organisational factors properly.
- Be able to design and track effective corrective actions.
- Drilling engineers and supervisors
- Drilling superintendents and managers
- HSE and technical investigation staff
- Drilling contractor technical personnel
- Well integrity and operations engineers
- Technical authorities for drilling
Module 1: Incident Investigation in Drilling
- Incident types and their consequences
- Investigation triggers and thresholds
- Scope, team and independence
- Timeline and regulatory deadlines
- Common investigation failures
Module 2: Evidence Preservation and Collection
- Immediate preservation steps
- Real-time data capture before overwriting
- Equipment preservation and inspection
- Documents, programmes and procedures
- Chain of custody
Module 3: Rig Data as Evidence
- Drilling parameter records
- Mud logging and pressure data
- Survey and directional data
- Daily reports and handover records
- Reconstructing the sequence of events
Module 4: Interviews
- Interview planning and setting
- Open questioning and avoiding leading
- Managing blame and defensiveness
- Reconciling conflicting accounts
- Documenting interviews
Module 5: Analysis Techniques
- Causal factor charting and timelines
- Fault tree analysis
- Five whys and its limits
- Change analysis
- Selecting a technique for the incident
Module 6: Technical Failure Analysis
- Drillstring and tubular failures
- Equipment and tool failures
- Cement and barrier failures
- Well control equipment failures
- Using laboratory analysis
Module 7: Human and Organisational Factors
- Error types and their precursors
- Procedures and their usability
- Competence and training
- Fatigue, workload and shift patterns
- Supervision and communication
- Organisational and management system causes
Module 8: Corrective Actions
- Designing actions that address causes
- Hierarchy of controls
- Practicality, ownership and cost
- Avoiding procedure-only responses
- Approval and implementation
Module 9: Reporting and Learning
- Investigation report structure
- Regulatory reporting and interfaces
- Sharing findings across the organisation
- Tracking actions to closure
- Measuring whether actions worked
- Building a learning system
Upon successful completion of this training course, delegates will be awarded an official Certificate of Completion issued by the Petroleum Engineers Association (PEA), an ISO 9001:2015 certified training organization. The certificate carries 10 Credits and formally records the total learning hours completed.
Each certificate is signed by the Course Facilitator and the CEO of the Petroleum Engineers Association, and serves as verifiable proof of professional training that delegates can present to employers and professional bodies worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
All course bookings made through PEA are strictly non-refundable. By registering for a course, you acknowledge and accept that all fees are payable in full and are not subject to refund under any circumstances, including changes in personal or professional commitments or partial attendance.
PEA reserves the right to make reasonable adjustments to course content, trainers, or schedules where necessary, without entitling delegates to a refund. Comprehensive details of each course — including objectives, target audience, and content — are clearly outlined before enrolment, and it is the responsibility of the delegate to ensure the course's suitability prior to booking.
For any inquiries related to cancellations or bookings, please contact our support team, who will be happy to assist you.
