IADC Drilling Africa 2026 Conference & Exhibition

07.30 Conference Registration, Coffee Service, Poster Session & Open Exhibition – Sponsored by CS Oilfield

08.30 Welcome, Introduction & Safety Briefing: Hisham Zebian, Vice President Eastern Hemisphere, IADC

08.40 Opening Speaker: Kornelia Shilunga, Presidential Advisor and Head, Upstream Petroleum Unit (invited)

09.05 Keynote Speaker: Senior Executive, TotalEnergies

09.30 African Market Outlook – From the Perspective of the Drilling Contractor: Jacob Taylor, Director, Business Development, Seadrill

10.00 Networking Break, Poster Session & Open Exhibition – Sponsored by CS Oilfield

10.30 Featured Presentation: Partnering Opportunities in Namibia: David Crowley, Chief Executive Officer, PPP Consultants
Namibia’s oil & gas build-out demands disciplined partnering. This 30-minute talk delivers a banker-grade PPP playbook aligned to the PPP Act (2017): value-for-money, optimal risk transfer, transparent procurement, and fiscal safeguards. Drawing on Lüderitz’s DBOOT supply-base procurement and the AU’s PIDA/PAP II push, we show how to mobilise private capital for ports, power, water and logistics. Delegates leave with a lender-recognised pathway from feasibility to financial close, standardised documentation, payment mechanisms, and risk allocation. Presenter: David Crowley, CEO, PPP Consultants (Namibia & UK)—30+ years in PPPs, 17+ years in Namibia—backed by a financial modeller and advantageous funding for bankable projects.

10.50 Panel: Bankable Contracts for Drilling Contractors
Moderators: Chuks Enwereji, Security Manager, West Africa, Shelf Drilling & Josselin Cassanet, Head of Business Development Eastern Hemisphere, Seadrill
This session will address the recurring issue of arbitrary contract suspensions and cancellations by operators – actions that often overlook the heavy capital exposure and operational realities faced by drilling contractors. Drawing on real industry experiences, the panel will share lessons learned from past disputes, examine the commercial and regulatory implications, and highlight pathways toward greater accountability and fairness in contract execution to protect investments and sustain rig operations.

• Jacob Taylor, Director, Business Development, Seadrill
• Frederic Jacquemin, Head of Marketing Contracts Africa Mediterranean Middle East, Noble Corporation
• Taiwo Olushina, Chief Operations Officer, Oriental Energy Resources
• Funmi Babatunde, Manager Marketing & NCD, Shelf Drilling

11.50 Exhibitor Showcase
Exhibitors will share a brief presentation of their products and services.

12.05 Luncheon, Poster Session & Open Exhibition

13.30 Panel: AI: Transforming Drilling Operations, Decision-Making, and Communication
Moderators: Valentine Iheasirim, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, OES Energy Services & Marta Lafuente, Senior Director of Sales Eastern Hemisphere, NOV
This session explores how AI is reshaping the drilling landscape, from optimizing project planning and enhancing rig reliability to improving communication and safety across diverse teams. Our presenters will share real-world insights on deploying AI for smarter, safer, and more sustainable operations, followed by a moderated Q&A on the future of intelligent energy systems.

• Julia Macha, Maintenance Superintendent, Noble Drilling
• Tarjei Kvamme, Technical Manager, AGR Software
• Mohamed Ridha Znaidi, AI/ML Engineer, Aquila Engineering

14.30 Featured Presentation: Carbon Capture and Storage in Namibia: Lukas Kandowa, Engineering Manager, NAMCOR
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is emerging as a key component of Namibia’s climate mitigation strategy, though large-scale industrial CCS is not yet established. Current efforts focus on biochar production, engineered biomass storage, and carbon farming using drought-resilient crops. To advance further, Namibia must improve geological assessments, regulatory frameworks, and financing to fully harness its biomass resources and position CCS as a tool for sustainable development.

14.50 Networking Break, Poster Session & Open Exhibition – Sponsored by CS Oilfield

15.20 Panel: Nationalization and Workforce Development in Namibia’s Offshore Sector: Building Competence for a Sustainable Future
Moderator: Celine Martin, Rigs Strategy Coordination, TotalEnergies
This session examines the journey toward a self-sustaining Namibian offshore workforce through structured training, competence assurance, and long-term nationalization strategies. Drawing on experiences from the Noble Venturer and Deepsea Mira campaigns, we explore how to bridge skill gaps, foster safety culture, and enable career progression from entry-level roles to fully qualified drillers. The discussion will also address challenges and enablers of nationalization, emphasizing the role of collaboration, commitment, and long-term contracting in achieving operational and national objectives.

• Sofiane Bennaceur, Operational Excellence – Managing Partner, ICM Group
• Johnathan Shows, Operations Manager, Northern Ocean
• Tim Wigham, Head of Performance, Exceed

16.20 Geothermal Drilling
Session Chairs: Lukas Kandowa, Engineering Manager, NAMCOR & Teriselma Sousa, Geological Advisor, Azule Energy

Managing Geothermal Drilling Losses with Continuous Circulation and Bypass Solutions: Benjamin Pontier, Regional Manager Downhole Technologies – SubSaharan Africa, NOV
Discover a proposed method to manage geothermal drilling losses using continuous circulation and bypass tools. Scenario data will highlight time, cost, and risk savings, reducing stuck pipe risks and improving MWD surveys. This concept offers a practical solution for geothermal operators in fracture-heavy regions.

IADC Geothermal Committee Initiatives

17.00 Measuring the Line: A Benchmarking of Wells Plug & Abandonment Projects: Muhammad Haziq Abdul Gani, Executive (Delivery Integrator), Nur Ajwa Ghazali, Maziah Abu Mukhtar, Razwan Abd Rashid Ahmad, Bambang Gunawan, Mohd Ammar Ahmad Hanapi, M Idham B Khalid A, Fairuz Asyika Rosli, PETRONAS Carigali
This paper will focus on the methodology to consolidate execution cost & duration data from wells P&A activities from inside and outside of Malaysia. The P&A activities categorization, the P&A activity cost efficiency & execution efficiency will be discussed and lessons learnt and best practices are shown.

17.20 Poster Presentations
Session Chair: Andrew Stratton, Chief Operating Officer, IRE

• Reducing Well Control Issues Related to Human factors by Utilizing Advanced Well Control Training in Africa: Bridging Competency Gaps: Bavesh Ranka, Vice President Engineering, Cudd Well Control
• Field-Proven Qualification and Deployment of an Enhanced Expandable Sand Screen Packer for Cost-Efficient Upper Completion in Offshore Nigeria: Keith Slater, Senior Application Engineer, Weatherford
• Enhancing Performance and Safety During Milling Operations with Reduced Footprint Surface Equipment: Kenza Lahlou Kassi, Director of Business Development Manager, Archer Wells Services

17.35-18.35 Welcoming Reception, Poster Session & Open Exhibition

07.30 Conference Registration, Coffee Service, Poster Session & Open Exhibition – Sponsored by Derrick Corporation

08.30 Welcome, Introduction & Safety Briefing: Hisham Zebian, Vice President Eastern Hemisphere, IADC

08.40 Opening Speaker: Travis Smithard, Chief Executive Officer, Rhino Resources (invited)

09.05 Keynote Speaker: Ben Pomford, Senior Director Technical Marketing, Noble Corporation

09.30 Featured Presentation: Adriano Mongini, Chief Executive Officer, Azule Energy (invited)

9.50 IADC Nigeria Chapter Update: Abioye Shokoya-Eleshin, Vice Chairman, IADC Nigeria Chapter

10.00 Networking Break, Poster Session & Open Exhibition – Sponsored by Derrick Corporation

10.30 Automation, Digitalization and Technology
Session Chair: Chris French, Business Development Executive, The REACH Group

The Challenges with Deploying the First Fully Integrated Automation System on a Jack-up Rig: Lee Freeman, Operations Director, Steven Balfour, Borr Drilling, Vidar Hstad, SLB
In the rapidly evolving landscape of offshore drilling, digital transformation is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity. SLB’s collaboration with Borr Drilling and Eni in Congo exemplifies how integrated digital solutions can unlock new levels of operational efficiency, safety, and consistently high levels of performance. This presentation gives a high-level summary of the challenges associated with deploying the first fully integrated automation system on a jack-up rig via SLB’s Automated Controls Platform, DrillSync, which enables DrillOps and DrillPilot, and its impact on Borr/Eni’s drilling operations in Congo.

From Global Deployment to African Impact: Proven Rig Upgrades Shaping the Future of Deepwater Drilling: Karl Appleton, Director of Business & Technology Development, Tom Yost, NOV
Over the last build cycle, more than 100 drillships joined the global fleet, with many still active. While newbuild economics remain challenging, operators are extending rig life through targeted upgrades. Advanced control systems, automation, robotics, and crown-mounted compensators are reducing well delivery costs, improving efficiency, optimizing personnel requirements, and enabling remote connectivity. Early deployments in the Gulf of Mexico, Latin America, and West Africa delivered measurable safety and performance gains. Drawing on nearly a decade of global experience, this presentation will share lessons learned and explore how proven upgrades can accelerate safe, efficient drilling in Namibia’s offshore plays.

Cross-Field Universality Subsea Integration Project Implemented by TotalEnergies on Quenguela Drillship Enables Single Rig Line with Multiple Development Wells from Different Deepwater Fields on B17 and B32 in Angola, Saving up to 39 Days Rig Time: Ewan Allstaff, Completions, Subsea, Intervention & Integrity Manager, TotalEnergies E&P Angola, Olumakinde Ilesanmi, TotalEnergies E&P Suriname
TEPA’s Quenguela Cross-Field Universality project managed to upgrade Sonadrill’s dual-BOP drillship for multi-field compatibility across Blocks 17 and 32. Implemented the Universal Guide Funnel, standardized BOP interfaces, and diverse SSTT landing string system to enable rapid offline reconfiguration to move between horizontal, vertical legacy, and standard OEM XT systems. Eliminating mid-campaign BOP modification reduces rig time by up to 39 days, and maximizes reuse of in-country subsea assets. The Quenguela adaptation sets a precedent for multi-field rig deployment, aligned with TEPA’s goals for efficiency and value creation in deepwater developments.

11.30 Well Planning
Session Chair: Chris French, Business Development Executive, The REACH Group

Well Planning with Controlled Mud Level: Snorre Lutnes, Technical Sales Manager, Enhanced Drilling
Wells are being planned with CML for purposes beyond the typical MPD needs. It is used actively when drilling conventionally for regular tasks to optimize operations and enhance safety. Since CML enables pressure management regardless of pipe size it is utilized for running casings, wireline operations and completion without requiring any modification to equipment or well planning. This presentation will describe the methodology of CML and use case studies to exemplify how this method is used for combining and extending sections – and how it is being used for Managed Pressure Completion.

11.50 Poster Presentations
Session Chair: Andrew Stratton, Chief Operating Officer, IRE

• Case Studies: Smarter Way of Drilling & Completions – Learnings and Extracted Value from Wired Drill Pipe (WDP) Deployments Offshore Norway Applicable to Africa Projects: Mats Andreas Andersen, Vice President Business Development, NOV
• Downhole Dynamic Pressure Management with Unsupervised Learning: Christian Sada, Senior Data Scientist, Benel Energy Resources Limited
• TRIM Concept – Optimize Planned Work: Havard Sletvold, Chief Technology Officer, Axess Group
• Reevaluating Water Safety Training for The Offshore Industry: Why and How to Tackle Deep Water Fear and Establish Foundational Water Competency: Chidinma Obi Sedenu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, My Freedom From Fear

12.10 Luncheon, Poster Session & Open Exhibition

13.30 Well Control
Session Chair: Frederic Jacquemin, Head of Marketing Contracts Africa Mediterranean Middle East, Noble Corporation

K-BOS Applications to Reduce Blowout Risk and Minimize Impact to the Environment for Challenging Conditions: Fares Khaddour, Managing Director – Eastern Hemisphere, Kinetic Pressure Control, Tomas Marcella, Kwantis
K-BOS is a pyro-mechanical ram technology that is capable of shearing and sealing on any tubular, in less than one second and under any well conditions. It represents a step change in well control and emergency response capabilities that provides operators with well design alternatives and a new level of ALARP risk, especially in land locked waters where it provides a cost-effective and reliable alternative to the available emergency response measures.

Vacuum-based BOP Cleaning System Sets New Standard in Deepwater Angola for Efficient BOP Cleaning: Annette Muffo, Sales Manager Africa, Archer, Landry Pouna, Kaeso Limitada
For deepwater applications any issue with the blowout preventer (BOP) may cause the need for the BOP to be pulled to surface, generating Non-Productive Time. In order to minimize NPT relating to debris in the BOP and BOP pressure test failures, several major oil and gas companies in Angola have adopted a new approach for BOP cleaning in connection with slot recovery and casing exit, by using a vacuum-based BOP Cleaning system rather than conventional BOP jetting tools.

14.10 Sustainability
Session Chair: Frederic Jacquemin, Head of Marketing Contracts Africa Mediterranean Middle East, Noble Corporation

Driving Sustainability in African Offshore Development Campaigns: Maximized Efficiency and Reduced Carbon Footprint in Well Construction through Innovation and Integrated Services: Erica Gibellini, Technical Sales Manager, Tenaris
An integrated approach to drive sustainability in African offshore deepwater campaigns. Focusing on well construction, it highlights solutions that deliver maximized efficiency and reduced carbon footprint, while improving safety. Through innovative technologies, optimized supply chains, integrated services, and digitalization, the approach offers a replicable model for sustainable offshore development across Africa’s emerging energy landscape.

14.30 Networking Break, Poster Session & Open Exhibition – Sponsored by Derrick Corporation

15.00 Panel: Fostering Future Energy Leaders: A Strategic Approach to Engaging Gen Z
Moderators: Abioye Shokoya-Eleshin, Chief Executive Officer, Alpha Eleven Solutions Limited & Esigie Benson, Upstream Nigeria Wells, Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria Ltd
As the energy sector evolves, engaging Gen Z is vital to shaping future leadership. This session explores strategies to attract, develop, and retain purpose-driven young professionals who will lead innovation and sustainability in the next phase of the energy transition.

• Shakwa Nyambe, Managing Partner, SNC Incorporated
• Mercy Rono, Electrical Engineer, Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC
• Andrew Knight, Vice President Operations, The REACH Group

16.00 Adjournment

Poster Session & Unassigned Papers of Note:
The following paper proposals are presented as posters and will be included in the conference if a scheduled paper becomes unavailable. In addition, these presentations will be made available in the IADC conference proceedings, should the author so desire.

Reducing Well Control Issues Related to Human Factors by Utilizing Advanced Well Control Training in Africa: Bridging Competency Gaps: Bhavesh Ranka, Vice President Engineering, Cudd Well Control
Strategies for developing a skilled well control workforce in Africa’s evolving oil and gas sector. It emphasizes the importance of integrating real-time monitoring, AI, and hands-on training, including simulator-based exercises and mentorship. Challenges like limited access to training facilities and instructors are addressed, with case studies showcasing successful global programs. The paper advocates collaboration among oil companies, training institutions, and regulatory bodies to create a sustainable workforce ecosystem, proposing an Emergency Response Center to foster innovation and enhance safety across the industry.

Field-Proven Qualification and Deployment of an Enhanced Expandable Sand Screen Packer for Cost-Efficient Upper Completion in Offshore Nigeria: Keith Slater, Senior Application Engineer, Weatherford, Chidi Elendu, Ihechi Ojukwu, Endurance Itsekiri, Ekene Onyekwena, Steve Njoku, Ebere Ezeora, Alvaro Arrazola, Chevron Nigeria, Martin Geddes, Benson Osika, Oluseyi Ologunkeji, Okechukwu Ogueli, Jason Brasseaux, Andrey Kozlov, Weatherford
The qualification and field deployment of an enhanced Expandable Sand Screen packer (EXR Hanger/Packer) re-engineered to function as a production packer in offshore Nigerian wells. The objective is to demonstrate how this innovation improves upper completion efficiency, reduces rig time, and aligns with operational goals for cost savings, process safety, and well integrity.

Enhancing Performance and Safety During Milling Operations with Reduced Footprint Surface Equipment: Craig Martin, Global Business Development Manager, Archer
Milling operations are frequently carried out to recover slots and set well barriers. The surface handling of debris from milling can restrict performance and expose personnel to the risk of injury. A case study is presented, illustrating the development and application of technology to increase performance and safety on such campaigns. While established technologies can provide efficient management of debris, these often take considerable space and power, which can be problematic on small rigs and platforms. To meet this challenge a compact, modular system was developed and successfully tested on a series of slot recovery and decommissioning campaigns.

Case Studies: Smarter Way of Drilling & Completions – Learnings and Extracted Value from Wired Drill Pipe (WDP) Deployments Offshore Norway Applicable to Africa Projects: Mats Andreas Andersen, Vice President Business Development, Downhole Broadband Solutions, NOV
Since 2014 there has been a growing adoption of Wired Drill Pipe (WDP) and Along-String Measurements (ASM) deployed for offshore drilling applications. The case studies and learnings presented will summarize the resulting value in terms of overall efficiency considering time and cost performance based on recent projects in North Sea. New technology deployed requires new way of operating. The capability of maintaining communications with downhole sensors independent of circulation is significant, and these benefits have been used to introduce better practices across all different parts of well construction activities, also including HPHT and MPD applications.

Downhole Dynamic Pressure Management with Unsupervised Learning: Ochuko Erivwo, Principal Well Engineer, Christian Sada, Benel Energy Resources
An unsupervised machine learning model applies cluster analysis to Dmod data for managing downhole pressure during oil well drilling. The model identifies transitions between normal and abnormal pressure states, enabling real-time early failure warnings. Validation on a case study from an onshore well in the Niger Delta area demonstrated the model’s effectiveness in minimizing operational losses. The proposed artificial intelligence-based approach addresses specific drilling challenges, enhances operational efficiency, and reduces costs.

TRIM Concept – Optimize Planned Work: Havard Sletvold, Chief Technology Officer, Ole-Erich Haas, Devin Correira, Farhan Hussein, AXESS
The goal of the TRIM concept is to streamline and standardize required annual inspections, certifications and verifications into fewer mobilizations with multi skilled personnel, to save cost to our clients and achieve zero harm to persons, the environment, assets and reputation.

Reevaluating Water Safety Training for the Offshore Industry: Why and How to Tackle Deep Water Fear and Establish Foundational Water Competency: Chidinma Obi Sedenu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, My Freedom From Fear
Why and how can and should offshore deployments be more inclusive for individuals with deep water fear or limited swimming ability. It introduces a precursory no-judgment water competency test (ahead of currently mandated BOSIET and HUET training requirements). It also introduces a foundational water training and competence course that would supplement current water survival training for those who need it. Doing this will enhance water safety, fitness for duty, mental health, hiring and retention, and workforce inclusion and diversity.