In 1982 the European Union Directorate committee representing the National Energy Ministries, Industry Trade Associations and Trade Unions formed to create common standards in well control training and certification in Europe. They recommended that a standard training syllabus was introduced alongside a certification programme for drilling personnel in order to ensure safe working practices and wellbeing.
After review, the industry created a Forum in order to manage and develop the assessment and certification programmes. This led to the European Well Control Forum (EWCF) being created and registered at the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in The Hague, The Netherlands on the 1st of December 1992.
With continual growth both nationally and internationally in 1994 it was agreed to rename the organisation the International Well Control Forum in order to reflect the true geographical scope of the programme.
