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IWCF and IADC (WellSharp)

IWCF Drilling Well Control Level 3 and IADC WellSharp Driller (surface and subsea)

For drillers and assistant drillers: spot the kick, shut the well in fast and hold the kill sheet — surface and subsea.

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Written testIWCF L3: two papers — Equipment and Principles & Procedures with a kill sheet. WellSharp Driller: one computer-based exam
TimeIWCF L3: 1 h 10 min Equipment + 1 h 45 min P&P (2 h 15 min combined surface/subsea)
Pass mark70% in each IWCF paper and the practical; 70% on the WellSharp exam and simulator assessment
PracticalSimulator assessment on both programs — hands-on, at the training centre
OptionsSurface BOP, or combined surface and subsea (WellSharp also offers subsea only)
Who sits itDrillers, assistant drillers and others who operate well control equipment
Valid for2 years — then retake a full course and assessment

About the exam

This page prepares drillers and assistant drillers for the written well control test at driller level — IWCF Drilling Well Control Level 3 and IADC WellSharp Driller — with surface and subsea BOP content. You'll practise what the driller owns on the rig floor: reading kick warning signs, flow checks and trip monitoring, the shut-in sequence while drilling and tripping, recording SIDPP, SICP and pit gain, completing the kill sheet and holding the pump schedule on the Driller's and Wait and Weight methods.

Both programs certify by a written test plus a hands-on simulator assessment, each passed at 70%, and both certificates last 2 years. IWCF sets two written papers (Equipment, and Principles and Procedures with a kill sheet); WellSharp gives one computer-based exam per course. The simulator assessment is hands-on and isn't covered here beyond scenario questions that walk you through the same decisions.

Questions use oilfield (imperial) units — psi, ppg, ft, bbl, bbl/ft and spm — with the 0.052 constant. IWCF also offers SI, bar/litre and kg/cm2 kill sheets; if you'll test in those units, practise the arithmetic on that sheet too. Where IWCF and WellSharp conventions differ (rounding, slug volumes), the question tells you which rule to use.

How we track your progress

Every blueprint domain moves through five levels as you study:

  1. Not startedNo questions answered in this domain yet.
  2. Getting startedFirst questions answered — not enough yet to judge.
  3. DevelopingAt least 5 answered and 50% or better on your recent questions.
  4. ProficientAt least 15 answered and 70% or better on your recent questions.
  5. Exam readyAt least 25 answered, 80% or better recently, and holding up on hard questions.

The exam blueprint

IWCF Drilling Well Control Level 3 and 4 syllabus (TF-0020) and IADC WellSharp Drilling Operations curriculum; IWCF kill sheets effective 8 June 2026; WellSharp formula sheet rev 4 (March 2025) — 80 practice questions across 7 areas, weighted to the driller's role: kill sheet calculations, equipment, warning signs, shut-in and principles. Tap a domain to see its topics.

1 Principles and pressure concepts about 15% (est.) of the exam
Hydrostatic pressure, gradients and fluid densityFormation (pore) pressure and fracture pressurePrimary and secondary barriers and barrier elementsOverbalance, trip margin and ECDThe U-tube concept and pressure balanceLeak-off and formation integrity tests (LOT, FIT)MAASP and maximum allowable mud weightGas behaviour, Boyle's law and gas solubility in mud

44 practice questions in this domain so far

2 Kick causes and warning signs about 15% (est.) of the exam
Causes of kicks: insufficient mud weight and unfilled holeSwabbing and surgingLost circulation and its link to kicksKick warning signs while drillingPositive kick indicators: flow increase and pit gainTrip monitoring: trip tank, trip sheets and fill-upFlow checks: when and howGas-cut mud: background, connection and trip gasShallow gas and riserless hazards

44 practice questions in this domain so far

3 Shut-in procedures and verification about 15% (est.) of the exam
Hard vs soft shut-inShut-in while drillingShut-in while tripping (FOSV and IBOP)Shut-in with casing or BHA across the BOPVerifying the shut-in and choke line-upReading and recording SIDPP, SICP and pit gainFloat valves and obtaining SIDPPTrapped pressure and pressure stabilisationDiverter operations

48 practice questions in this domain so far

4 Kill sheet calculations and methods about 20% (est.) of the exam
Kill mud weight and formation pressureICP, FCP and the step-down chartStrokes and volumes: surface to bit, bit to shoe, bottoms-upInflux height, gradient and type from SICP - SIDPPDriller's MethodWait and Weight MethodConstant bottomhole pressure and choke operationPump start-up, shutdown and slow circulating ratesKill sheets for vertical and deviated wells

72 practice questions in this domain so far

5 Complications and special situations about 10% (est.) of the exam
Gas migration and the volumetric methodLubricate and bleedBullheadingStripping in the holeLosses during a kill and underground blowoutsPlugged nozzles, washouts and choke problemsHydratesH2S and well controlHorizontal and highly deviated wellsWell control during casing and cementing

56 practice questions in this domain so far

6 BOP and well control equipment about 18% (est.) of the exam
Annular preventersRam preventers: pipe, VBR, blind and shear ramsBOP stack configuration and ratingsChoke and kill manifold and adjustable chokesAccumulator unit: usable fluid, precharge and response timeInside BOPs, FOSV, top drive valves and float valvesMud-gas separator and degasserPit, flow and gas monitoring equipmentBOP pressure and function testing

64 practice questions in this domain so far

7 Subsea and floating rig well control about 8% (est.) of the exam
Subsea BOP and LMRP configurationChoke line friction and adjusted pressuresRiser marginPump start-up on a subsea stackGas in the riser and riser unloadingTrapped gas in the BOP after a killFloating rig motion, heave and hang-offEmergency disconnect, autoshear and deadmanSubsea control pods, panels and ROV intervention

36 practice questions in this domain so far

What you get when you access this exam

Free with your QuizMe account.

Rig-floor scenarios aligned to both syllabi

Every question is tagged to one of the 7 well control areas and its topics — warning signs, shut-in, kill sheets, complications, BOP equipment and subsea.

Exam-critical hints

Reveal the clue that unlocks the question — the gauge that tells the story, TVD vs MD, the rounding rule. Every answer comes with the full working and rationale.

Adaptive testing

Questions steer toward your weakest areas, weighted by how much each counts, and get harder as you get stronger.

Timed practice exams

Weighted exams at a realistic pace — 80 questions in 2 h 55 min — with a live pacing indicator and a full review.

Flashcards, case simulations and guides

90+ flashcards, 6 unfolding well control cases where the gauges update with every decision, and interactive illustrated guides you explore hotspot by hotspot.

Progress for every area

Each area moves from Not started to Getting started, Developing, Proficient and Exam ready — so you know exactly what to study next.

Test at home or at a center

Both certificates are earned on an accredited training course: you sit the written test and the simulator assessment at the end of the course, through the training provider. You don't book the exam on its own.

IWCF Drilling Well Control Level 3

  • Take an IWCF-accredited course of at least 32 hours, then sit the assessments at the accredited centre.
  • Two written papers: Equipment (1 h 10 min) and Principles and Procedures, which includes a kill sheet (1 h 45 min surface, 2 h 15 min combined surface and subsea).
  • Written papers may be delivered digitally at the centre; the practical needs an approved simulator in person.
  • Choose your units with the centre: IWCF publishes kill sheets and formula sheets in API field units, SI, bar/litre and kg/cm2 versions.
  • New IWCF surface and subsea kill sheets apply to assessments from 8 June 2026 — practise on the current layout.

IADC WellSharp Driller

  • Take an IADC-accredited WellSharp Driller course: 24 hours for surface or subsea, 29 hours combined.
  • The written exam is computer-based on IADC's central WellSharp system, proctored by your training provider, with results straight away.
  • Every exam form draws the same number of questions per topic and difficulty from a bank of more than 3,300.
  • At least 30% of course time is simulator work, and you must pass a skills assessment on the simulator.
  • Use the current IADC WellSharp formula sheet (field units rev 4, March 2025) and its rounding rules.

Exam-day game plan

How to walk in ready — and how to pace 80 questions in 2 h 55 min.

Pacing checkpoints

Hit these and you finish with time to revisit your flagged questions. Our timed practice exams run at this same pace.

20questions0:44
40questions1:28
60questions2:11
80questions2:55

The week before

  • Take one full-length timed practice exam 3–5 days out, then rest.
  • Spend your last sessions on the heaviest areas — kill sheet calculations (20%), equipment (18%), and the warning-sign, shut-in and principles areas (15% each) — plus anything still below Proficient.
  • Work at least two full kill sheets by hand on the sheet you'll use (IWCF current layout or WellSharp formula sheet), including the step-down chart.
  • Drill the shut-in sequences out loud: drilling, tripping, casing across the stack.

Exam morning

  • Eat a real breakfast; go easy on caffeine.
  • Bring the ID and calculator your training centre asked for; check the calculator's battery.
  • Use the restroom right before you start.

During the exam

  • Read the whole stem: drilling or tripping, surface or subsea, on bottom or off bottom — it changes the answer.
  • Use TVD for pressures and mud weights, MD for volumes and strokes.
  • Round where the rule says — kill mud weight up to 0.1 ppg — and carry the rounded value forward.
  • Ask what keeps bottomhole pressure constant; that usually points to the right action.
  • Pick your best answer, flag it and move on. Revisit flags at the end.
  • Answer every question; check each calculation answer against a quick estimate.

Keep your head

  • A few nerves sharpen focus. If you freeze, take three slow breaths and reread the stem.
  • You need 70% in each part, not perfection — don't let one hard kill sheet question eat your time.
  • Change an answer only when you find a real reason in the stem.

Keeping your well control certificate

  • IWCF Level 3 and WellSharp Driller certificates are valid for 2 years.
  • To renew, take an accredited course again and pass the written test and simulator assessment before your certificate expires.
  • IADC's WellSharp Live and KREW programs help keep knowledge fresh between certifications.
  • Your employer may set extra rules — check your company's well control policy and any client bridging document.

Official sources and further reading

Ready to start?

364 questions and scenarios across the blueprint — and growing.

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IWCF is the International Well Control Forum; WellSharp® and WellSharp Plus® are registered marks of the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC). QuizMe and thinQtank Learning are not affiliated with or endorsed by IWCF or IADC, and this practice is not a substitute for an accredited well control course. Exam details are summarized from IWCF and IADC published material and change — confirm with your accredited training centre. On the rig, always follow your company's well control manual and the well's bridging document. We don't predict your result; our Exam ready level asks for 80% or better.