Overview
CEN ISO/TS 17969:2017 (ISO/TS 17969:2017) provides guidelines for competency management of well operations personnel in the petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries. Its purpose is to help organizations develop, implement, maintain and improve a Competency Management System (CMS) that ensures personnel performing well activities are competent, particularly for safety‑critical tasks and well integrity responsibilities. The Technical Specification is applicable to operators, service companies and drilling contractors.
Key topics and requirements
- Competency Management System (CMS) cycle - guidance on the lifecycle to establish, design, implement, maintain/develop and verify/audit a CMS.
- Phase 1: Establish requirements for the CMS
- Phase 2: Design the CMS
- Phase 3: Implement the CMS
- Phase 4: Maintain and develop competence
- Phase 5: Verify, audit and review the CMS
- Competency model elements
- Competency catalogue - hierarchical list of competencies required for tasks
- Competency profile - skills and behaviours specified at defined proficiency levels
- Rubrics and competency assessment methods to judge performance against agreed criteria
- Safety focus
- Definition and handling of safety‑critical competency and safety‑critical tasks that, if performed incorrectly, can lead to a major accident
- Assessment and assurance
- Use of independent assessors, objective evidence, and example worksheets for recording assessment results and action plans (Annex A)
- Practical guidance
- Recommended risk‑based approach, team competence, leadership skills, contractor arrangements and a roadmap to ensure competency
- Annexes
- Informative example competency profiles for roles tied to well integrity (drilling supervisor, senior drilling engineer, well examiner, operations geologist, etc.)
Applications
- Establishing or improving a CMS for well operations to reduce operational risk and enhance well integrity
- Designing role‑based competency profiles and proficiency frameworks for drilling and well teams
- Conducting structured competency assessments, gap analysis and targeted development/action plans
- Supporting contractor qualification, onboarding and audit processes
- Integrating competency assurance into safety management and regulatory compliance programs
Who should use this standard
- Oil & gas operators
- Drilling contractors and rig managers
- Service companies supplying well operations personnel
- HSE, HR and competency assurance teams responsible for training, assessment and personnel certification
- Auditors and competence assessors implementing objective evaluation methods
Related standards
- Developed by ISO/TC 67 (materials, equipment and offshore structures for petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries). Users should consider this Technical Specification alongside company policy, national regulations and other ISO/TC 67 publications when implementing a CMS for well operations.
Keywords: competency management, well operations personnel, ISO/TS 17969:2017, competency assessment, competency profile, well integrity, CMS, safety-critical competency.