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.