DSL Derrick Inspectors Training Receives API Accreditation

DSL, an API & IADC certified training provider, has achieved API accreditation of its “Derrick Inspectors” training course and associated exam, in accordance with API 4G & 4F.

This is the first Industry recognised training for Derrick Inspectors in the Industry to date, and represents a turning point for ensuring that drilling derricks, some of which are rated to 1000 tonne lifting capacity or more, can now be inspected and certified by Qualified Inspectors.

Whilst other rig critical equipment such as cranes, BOP’s etc. has for decades been subject to inspection and certification by Inspectors qualified to regulatory body approved courses, Drilling Structures have, up to now, never had the benefit of Inspectors armed with product specific inspection qualifications.

The achievement of this qualification for DSL has been a long term ambition of the company and owner/Managing Director Mike Smith, who stated, “derrick related incidents still represent a very large percentage of overall incidents on rigs today. The introduction of qualified and competent Inspectors working under the umbrella of an API 4F Licenced company provides the industry with both a qualified standard to adopt, as well as arming the Industry with the ability to further eradicate the amount of incidents on both offshore derricks and land rigs”.

“Operators and Drilling Contractors can now rely upon this Industry approved qualification and standard for the inspection of Drilling Structures where before there was none. Thus ensuring that the quality, competency and consistency of these inspections are maintained, whilst at the same time eliminating inadequate inspections by unqualified personnel. We are proud to be able to use our experience, expertise and competency of drilling structures and channel it into qualifications such as this that enables DSL to make a positive contribution to Industry Safety and Standardisation”.

DSL already runs API accredited training courses for Derrick Technicians and is now working on Derrick Inspection courses for Drill Crews that will be offered to the Industry in the coming months. In the meantime, DSL are currently having training structures built in Brazil and Singapore as part of its strategy to provide this and other derrick related training to specific geographical locations of the Industry.

DSL supports the upstream industry Worldwide with operations in the UK, USA, Brazil, Dubai, Singapore and India from which it undertakes the Inspection, Recertification, Repair, Modification, Upgrade, Design & Manufacture of Drilling Structures as well as a variety of other inspection and construction related activities to the Industry.