Wellsite Information Transfer Standard Markup Language, WITSML, an Introduction

Alan Doniger, POSC

November 2004

WITSML™ – WWW.WITSML.ORG

Wellsite Information Transfer Standard Markup Language

The “right time” seamless flow of well site data between operators and service companies to speed and enhance decision-making

A New Open Information Transfer Standard for the Oilfield

• WITSML started as a collaborative effort to update the widely used WITS standard for moving drilling data between rig and office based computer systems

• WITSML is designed for the standards of today's “always on” Internet environment while still accommodating those rigs not yet “Wired”

• WITSML is published and available to all to implement• Real world use of WITSML is happening NOW• The scope of practical usage is being extended based on

practical experience and pragmatic needs

The POSC WITSML™ Special Interest Group (SIG)

• The WITSML SIG is the formal user community for the WITSML standards.– Membership is open to all (POSC members and non-member

alike)– Membership has grown in ’04 from 17 to over 30– The SIG recognizes requirements and needs– The SIG is the first line of review of new and updated

specifications– The SIG helps promote vendor take-up and operator

deployment

April '04April '04inin

CalgaryCalgary

Nov. '04Nov. '04inin

ParisParis

Special Interest Group Participants

OperatorsStatoil

BPShell

ExxonMobilChevronTexaco

Pioneer Nat. Res.HydroONGCTotal

RegulatorsUK DTIUS DOI

Service/Software SuppliersBaker Hughes

Landmark/Halliburton/SperrySchlumberger

NPSiSense Technology

SDC GeologixPetrolink

INTParadigm

UPEG

POSC special interest groups are open to all interested parties.Recent New SIG members

Service/Software SuppliersPason

WeatherfordOpenSpirit

HRH Geological ServicesSmith Technologies

IFPInteraction

US SyntheticKnowledge Systems

AspenTech

Sample WITSML Data Flow

API server(InterACT)

Office(s)Wellsite(s)Wellsite(s)

Source: Schlumberger

Real-time drilling

Alarms

Raw Data Archive

Filter Transform

WITSML

Technical Database

Environment

Service company

Technical Application

Environment

RIG or OFFICE

Source: Landmark

Right-time Data

• Wellsite data transferred to WITSML Server• Real time via subscription• Batch via file transfer etc.• Data upload to Total Recall• WITSML API calls from 3rd Party systems

Total RecallDatabase

Recall LogDatabase

AdvantageDatabase

SQL Server

MWD

Wireline

Total Recall Server

Mudlogging

Client Applications

Client User

RigLink/WITSMLData Aggregator

Wellsite

Real Time Data Feedsvia WITSML Publish &

Subscribe

Upload Log DataConnect via Internet or

WAN

OpenWorks /Geoframe

OpenWorks/GeoFrameServer

Proprietary DataStore

Fluids/DD

Batch Transfer

Total Recall Access via Internet

Query

Query

Source: Baker Hughes

Information Delivery via

Bottom Hole Assembly Run

Cement Job

Conventional Core

Fluids Report

Formation Marker

Log (updated)

Message

Mud Log (updated)

Operations Report

Real Time (updated)

Rig / Rig Equipment

Server Capabilities

Sidewall Core

Subscription

Survey Program

Target

Trajectory & Trajectory Station (updated)

Tubular / Bit Record / Open Hole

Well

Wellbore (update)

Wellbore Geometry

Risk (new)

Event Notification (new)

Completion / Well Mechanical (draft)

Regulatory Permitting and Reporting (draft)

Data Objects: Original, New, Updated, Draft

Benefits

• Improved “plug and play” for moving data between “systems”

• Operators: reduce cost, improve vendor competitiveness

• Contractors: reduce need to support different systems for different operators

• (Near) real-time, sequential data, but also contextual data

Internet standards driven / Hardware & software platform independentXML (eXtensible Markup Language) & xsd, (XML schema definition)

WITSML Server Application Programming Interface (API)XML Specification of data objects

A formal and validated “Dictionary” and “Grammar”

World Wide Web-compatible / Web servicesHTTP, SOAP & WSDL, XML

Broad coverage of mainly drilling related dataWell, trajectory, drill string, wellbore, reports, logs, real time data

Designed to support drilling workflows, with or without network linksWITSML Server Behavior Profiles

Data Transfer, Data Management, Data Archive

Technologies

CURRENT RELEASE

Version 1.2 Released in early 2003

FUTURE PLANS

Version 1.2 Clarifications (published as identified)

Version 1.3 Updates (release ~ Feb. 1, 2005)

Version 1.3.1 (release ~ late 2005)

EXPANSION AND INTEGRATION

During 2004, existing and new POSC data transfer standards are being adapted as part of a broader based family of

standards based on WITSML’s technical architecture and characteristics

WellPathML Trajectory and Wellbore (path),WellLogML CompositeLog,

WellSchematicML Completion,

etc.

What’s Happening and What’s Next?

WITSML Version 1.3 Highlights

• General– Data object (schema) and Server (API) specifications

are now independent and will evolve separately– Server behavior profiles defined: Data Transfer, Data

Management, and Data Archive– Many small corrections and enhancements based on

usage feedback

WITSML Version 1.3 Highlights

• Improvements– Consistency: realtime and log objects– Tighter constraints on individual values– Mud log upgrades to handle time logs– Log enhanced to handle array data and multiple

passes• CompositeLog• on a path to subsuming WellLogML

WITSML Version 1.3 Highlights

• Additions– Change notification– Composite object schema – New measure types with enumerated Unit of

Measure values– Well datum capability– New risk object– Calculated path in Wellbore

5th Public Seminar and SIG Working Meetings Held in Europe

• Venue: IFP, Paris, France• Dates: Seminar, Nov. 4; Working Meetings Nov. 2-3• Oil Co. Presenters: BP, ChevronTexaco, Statoil, ExxonMobil• Regulator: UK • Service Co.: Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, Sense Intellifield,

Paradigm, Geologix, Smith, US Synthetic, KSI, and Aspentech

• SIG updates on current and future work efforts.• Next: May 24-26, Houston, Texas USA hosted by

ChevronTexaco

WITSML SIG Membership Tops 30 Organizations

• The number of service and operator organizations making use of the WITSML Standards continue to grow. More have joined as SIG members.

• The SIG began ’04 with 17 members and ends ’05 with 31 members.

• Recent additions to the SIG include Total, US Department of the Interior, HRH Geological Services, Smith Technologies, IFP, Interaction, US Synthetic, Knowledge Systems, Aspentech.

Mud Log Sub-Team’s Work Evolves Into Formal Change Requests

• In Sep. ’03, it was agreed to review and enhance the mud log data specifications of WITSML.

• A sub-team, led by ExxonMobil, worked throughout ’04 leading to a set of change requests integrated into WITSML Version 1.3.

• ExxonMobil is leading a pilot project to test the mud logging work flow. Other organizations are invited to joint his pilot test or to organize tests of their own.

Version 1.3 On-Track for Year-End Release

• The previous release of the WITSML Standards was made in early ’03 as Version 1.2. In the fall of ’03, we set a target to release an enhancement version by year-end ’04.

• A list of issues was managed throughout the year. Individual issues were resolved as clarifications, minor fixes, or larger issues. By the fall WITSML meetings in Nov. ’04, almost all pending issues were resolved.

• The final review period for the SIG and the public will close at the end of Jan. ’05.

Well Path and Well Log Data Transfer Standards

• In early ’04, POSC stated the policy of integrating all data exchange standards in an extended family of WITSML Standards.

• One area of enhancement provides support for wellbore paths and trajectories – planned and actual – measurements and calculated results.

• A second area of enhancement extends support for well log data to include wireline as well as LWD.

Use Case and Requirements Team Looks to the Future

• At the WITSML meetings in Paris in Nov. 04, the following were identified as candidate future subjects.– Daily Drilling Reporting (BP, ChevronTexaco, and Hydro

expressed interest)– Completions and Well Mechanical (ChevronTexaco has used

a draft version of this; Statoil, ExxonMobil, and Hydro are interested)

– HSE Reporting– Operational Data Reporting to ERP Systems– Distributed Temperature Surveys (underway as an IntOPS

SIG effort)

Product Certification Program Will Start in Early ‘05

• A Certification Program for POSC Standards is being beta-tested for WITSML enabled products. This is a self-certifying program, in which product vendors fill out a form indicating the nature of their product’s use of WITSML.

• Products in the program may use a special logo and the phrase, “POSC WITSML Certified Product” in literature and on packaging.

• A related program allows oil companies to be designated as Registered Users of the WITSML Standard.