Well Control Institute elects new Chairman with a mandate to deliver practical improvement
Moe Plaisance will be the new Chairman of the Well Control Institute (WCI), following his election by the WCI Board of Directors who are drawn from across the global drilling industry.
Founded in 2013, the WCI brings together industry stakeholders to develop solutions impacting well control. The WCI, based in Houston, Texas, was organized under the auspices of IADC, but operates independently of IADC or any other organization.
Mr.Plaisance, a noted industry expert, has worked in the oil and gas industry for more than 50 years,most recently as vice president, governmental and industry affairs at Diamond Offshore Drilling. As chairman, he will be responsible for the development of the WCI as the global authority on well control matters.
“Serving as the first chairman of the WCI ismy opportunity to leave a legacy. I am proud of what we do in this industry. I believe that the work of the WCI is necessary to achieve our industry’s goals, and I am invested in seeing this new entity become the definitive source on well control,” commented Mr.Plaisance.
“Moe’s long-tenure as a contractor, and his stature and experience with legislators, will serve him well in his role as chairman of the WCI and we are lucky to have him. He has a great board to support him, with a unique opportunity to improve well control throughout the industry,” said Don Jacobsen, vice president, wells, global arctic and industry/regulatory affairs, Shell International.
Under Mr.Plaisance’s leadership, the WCI will determine and prioritize its future projects. In the long term, the WCI will arrange workgroups and joint industry project teams to develop recommendations and guidelines that address key priorities.
“The WCI board comprises representatives from every sector of our industry, ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and all priorities considered, with an eye toward continuous improvement in regard to well control,” said Mr. Plaisance. “The activities of the WCI are expected to span a wide spectrum, including a focus on human factors; issues related to equipment; safety management systems and activity monitoring. We believe that by working together, we can have a positive impact on well control performance.”
“By incorporating operators, contractors and service providers, the WCI is unique in its formation. The weight that the WCI can carry into the debate with regulators and other stakeholders is immense. We have a chance to further improve well control both in terms of raising public confidence and addressing technical issues. At our board meeting, there was a large degree of alignment amongst board members, and moving forward, we have a clearer picture of what we want to accomplish and are getting on with the work of achieving our goals,” noted Claus V. Hemmingsen, CEO, Maersk Drilling and member of the Executive Board in the Maersk Group.
The WCI Board formally meets twice yearly and is next scheduled to meet in Rome during the IADC World Drilling 2015 conference and exhibition in June.
About WCI
The Well Control Institute (WCI) brings together representatives from drilling industry stakeholders to develop the comprehensive solutions necessary to significantly improve well control performance worldwide. With a belief that well control impacts, and is impacted by, every facet of the drilling industry and process, the WCI ensures that operators, contractors, equipment manufacturers, regulators and service providers have the forum to collaborate on well control initiatives and work products.