Maersk Training in April successfully finished a virtual version of its offshore well control training course IADC WellSharp Live, a move it calls necessary to sustain the industry during the pandemic.

“This transition online has been talked about for a long time,” says Tyler Hamm, business development manager. “But with Covid-19, we’ve really seen a step change in company cultures. We’ve seen a tremendous response from customers for our new online solutions. They are enthusiastically embracing this new technology … and at the same time reducing their teams’ HSE risk, while also reducing the total cost of training. It’s a win-win.”

The pilot course, IADC WellSharp Subsea Supervisor, covered workover operations. It included 10 members from the United States, Canada and even Australia, with operator, service company and rig contractor backgrounds. Instructional design experts also logged into evaluate and contribute.

In a release, Maersk Training says that virtual training enables families to stay together during these challenging times, reducing virus exposure and keeping trainees in full compliance with the “shelter in place” orders dictated by city, state, and national officials. It adds that the course required no driving or airline travel, reducing the carbon footprint of participants performing this type of course. The bottom line, Maersk Training says, is that workers keep up on essential competencies while companies cut administration and travel costs.

Maersk Training offers hundreds of well control classes every year worldwide, as well as a range of other courses for oil and gas and other industries. For more information, visit www.maersktraining.com.