Data Architecture of Realtime Drilling and Completions Information at Saudi Aramco
Figure 1: Wellsite Data Stream Represented in WITS and WITSML
WITS Level 0
&&
0801TEST-Well -559 080816001.77 08150.138 082320.73 !!
&&
0801TEST-Well -559 080816002.77 08150.152 082326.52 !!
&&
0801TEST-Well -559 080816003.77 08150.165 082330.12 !!
WITSML
<logCurveInfo uid=”TEST-Well-559”> <mnemonic>DEPTMEAS</mnemonic> <unit>ft</unit>
<mnemAlias>md</mnemAlias> <minIndex uom=”ft”>16001.77,/minIndex> <maxIndex uom=”ft”>16003.77</maxIndex> <columnIndex>2</columnIndex>
<curveDescription>Total Depth</curveDescription> <typeLogData>double</typeLogData> <mnemonic>MR1</mnemonic> <unit>OHMM</unit>
<mnemAlias>MR1</mnemAlias> <minIndex uom=”OHMM”>0.138</minIndex> <maxIndex uom=”OHMM”>0.165</maxIndex> <columnIndex>2</columnIndex>
<curveDescription>Resis 1 reading </curveDescription> <typeLogData>double</typeLogdata> <mnemonic>MG1</mnemonic> <unit>API</unit>
<mnemAlias>MG1</mnemAlias> <minIndex uom=”API”>20.73</minIndex> <maxIndex uom=”API”>30.12</maxIndex> <columnIndex>3</columnIndex> <curveDescription>Gamma Ray 1 reading </curveDescription>
<typeLogData>double</typeLogData> </logCurveInfo>
<data>16001,77, 0.138, 20.73</data> <data>16002.77, 0.152, 26.52</data> <data>16003.77, 0.165, 30.12</data>
WITS = Wellsite Information Transfer Specification; WITSML = wellsite information transfer standard markup language.
an early stage the requirement for efficient realtime data transfer from multiple data acquisition providers in order to manage its extensive drilling and completions programmes.
Saudi Aramco noted the potential for the use of WITSML as a tool for the simultaneous aggregation of realtime data from wellsite data acquisition providers. In 2005, it developed the Saudi Aramco Realtime Autoloader (SARTAL), which was initially based on the WITSML 1.2 schema and which encompasses measurement/logging while drilling (MWD/LWD) data types.
It is believed that this autoloader was one of the first real-world implementations of the WITSML schemas in the oil and gas industry, and it has since handled many hundreds of wells successfully at the geosteering operations centre (GOC).
The autoloader continuously polls the WITSML stores of the data acquisition companies and transfers the MWD/LWD data to a corporate Oracle application where it is displayed as a well trajectory in realtime, overlaying formation horizons, allowing geologists in the GOC to steer the wells in realtime for extremely accurate well placement.
The autoloader is essentially a WITSML client application that operates as a ‘pipe’ to recover WITSML data using the ‘getFromStore’ mechanism that is now widely accepted as the most efficient way to feed realtime data into third-party applications.
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Well control parameters are now also continuously monitored in the drilling realtime operating centre, where data in WITSML are recovered from the data acquisition companies and delivered to various applications. These applications monitor pore pressure and other critical variables to optimise the efficiency of the drilling process and thereby lead to a reduction in operational costs while still maintaining the correct safety margins.
Saudi Aramco has recently implemented the extended WITSML 1.3.1 schema at the exploration operations room (EOR) for the display of percentage and interpreted lithology in realtime. Where MWD/LWD data are sometimes not available, this lithology information is used in realtime by petrophysical applications to provide rapid interpretations.
The Wellsite Information Transfer Standard Markup Language Aggregation Hub
Saudi Aramco is currently developing the WITSML drilling realtime data hub (DRTDH) based on a central Oracle database repository. The DRTDH acts both as a WITSML client by recovering data from the WITSML servers of the data acquisition companies and as a WITSML server by then providing that data to internal Saudi Aramco and third-party WITSML client solutions.
The central Oracle data repository will allow Saudi Aramco to further leverage the WITSML standard as a mechanism to provide a true vendor-neutral WITSML backbone. The availability of this common WITSML backbone also provides a workspace where small specialised companies that might otherwise not be able to easily provide a solution are able to do so, permitting Saudi Aramco to choose ‘best-in-class’ services and products instead of being tied to integrated large service company solutions.
The membership of Energistics has recently increased to almost 100 companies, and it is clear that most companies providing specialised solutions in the upstream oil and gas sector either have already developed or are developing a WITSML client interface that allows their applications to consume data from a WITSML store.
The Saudi Aramco DRTDH currently supports both the WITSML 1.2 and 1.3.1 schemas, and recovers data from many active wells at any one time. Client applications that currently recover WITSML data for analysis purposes include realtime geosteering, well control and log interpretation solutions. Saudi Aramco is actively encouraging all service providers to implement WITSML transfer capability within their product lines.
Wellsite Information Transfer Standard Markup Language Single Viewer
Wellsite data acquisition service providers typically have a proprietary viewer application that allows for the monitoring of realtime data from an individual workstation. These viewers generally work directly on the data storage mechanisms of each provider. As there are many data acquisition companies providing services to Saudi Aramco, it has meant that the geotechnical teams have to be familiar with each of the viewers in use, which adds a further level of complexity to their daily activities. Therefore, Saudi Aramco has initiated the development of a single viewer application that will plot directly from a WITSML store, independent of the data repository that it uses. This single viewer will
EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION – VOLUME 8 ISSUE 1
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