The 2025 SPE/IADC International Drilling Conference and Exhibition was held 4-6 March in Stavanger, Norway. Professionals from around the world gathered for discussions held under this year’s theme, “Shaping the Future of the Drilling and Well Industry.” Developed by the industry for the industry, this conference brought together operator companies, contractor firms, and service companies to address challenges and deliver improved performance.
IADC gladly sponsored 9 students from IADC Student Chapters at the following universities:
- Montana Tech
- Texas A&M
- University of Texas at Austin
- Texas Tech
Drilling Contractor Interviews from the 2025 SPE/IADC International Drilling Conference
Students discuss experience attending 2025 SPE/IADC International Drilling Conference in Norway
IADC is committed to developing the next generation of leaders in the drilling industry. As part of that commitment, the association routinely sponsors members of its Student Chapters to attend various conferences around the world, giving them the chance to network with drilling industry professionals and learn about the latest technologies driving the industry today. IADC sponsored nine students to attend the 2025 SPE/IADC International Drilling Conference in Stavanger, Norway.
In this video, DC spoke with three of those students – Drake Wells of Texas A&M University, Audrie Jensen of Montana Tech, and Ayann Tiam of Texas Tech University – about their experiences at the conference. The students shared, among other things, the most interesting technologies they learned about on the exhibition floor, the typical day-to-day activities of a student attending a conference, and the reasons why they see value in studying petroleum engineering.
Cultural shift needed for industry to better support oilfield workers’ mental health
Advocating for the mental health needs of drilling industry personnel is a top priority for Darren Sutherland, VP – Europe and Africa at Borr Drilling. As a Past Chair of the IADC North Sea Chapter, he spearheaded IADC’s Mental Health and Well-Being Charter, as well as the Mental Health in Energy Initiative. While those efforts were valuable, Mr Sutherland said there is still much work that needs to be done to build an optimal mental health environment.
In this video with DC from the 2025 SPE/IADC International Drilling Conference, he spoke about the cultural shift needed within the industry around mental health, and the steps companies can take to turn that shift into reality. Mr Sutherland delivered a keynote address on mental health at the Diversity & Inclusion session held as part of the conference.
Connectivity transforms maritime industry, critical to transformations in drilling as well
As the drilling industry continues to adopt automation and digitalization tools, the strength of cellular networks and low earth orbit satellite connections are becoming increasingly important. In this interview with DC, Bjørn Jalving, CTO of Kongsberg Maritime, discussed how advancements in connectivity have transformed the maritime industry and why connectivity is critical to drilling, as well. He also spoke about the concept of a connected vessel and the challenges of creating a connected ecosystem for DP3 vessels. Mr Jalving gave a keynote address at a workshop co-hosted by SPE’s Drilling Systems Automation Technical Section and the IADC Advanced Rig Technology Committee.
AI Driller automation platform designed to boost efficiencies for drillers
AI Driller, founded in 2019 as a startup company, provides a rig automation platform that uses well data stored on a cloud server to analyze and monitor drilling activity. The platform hosts software programs for managing mud motors; early detection of anti-collision risk, washouts and motor stalls; rotary and sliding automation; and directional planning. In this interview with DC, Richard Zamora, COO of AI Driller, outlined how the various software programs work together within the platform to develop effective results for drillers, as well as the overall value that AI can provide to the drilling industry.
Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, exhibited, sponsored, and organized this conference!
