The development of WITSML started in 2000 with the objective of building an XML standard for the transmission of wellsite data in a consistent form that would enable the integration of information from different suppliers. Energistics (formerly POSC) was involved from the outset and has provided independent hosting of the standard since early 2003. BP and Statoil were early sponsors and a Special Interest Group was formed. This has evolved steadily and today it includes representatives from all major energy and service companies. Most energy companies have now either implemented WITSML technology for real-time and historical wellsite data transmission or are planning to do so in the near future. The number of WITSML compliant products is growing rapidly in response to this demand and increasingly WITSML is being specified as a contractual requirement, particularly at green field sites. The industry is approaching a position where the non-use of WITSML will be by exception. This paper has two main areas of focus. The first is the technical delivery of the new version 1.4.0 WITSML release and the second is the business justification for the continued energy company uptake which is based on successful use cases. The paper is co-authored by members of the WITSML SIG and therefore contains detailed information from end users and suppliers with considerable working experience. More than ever there are now compelling reasons to deploy WITSML. It is an enabler for data integration and smart tools and is the underlying technology behind many drilling collaboration centres. It is helping drilling operations globally to benefit from better access to engineering expertise at a time when the number of experts is declining and the complexity of operations is increasing. Introduction This paper describes the evolution of WITSML (Wellsite Information Transfer Standard Markup Language), from its origins in 2000 (Holt et al, SPE 74480, Kirkman et al, SPE 84066) to the latest release that will provide the underlying real-time data communications definition for many drilling and completions operations on a global basis. It addresses the key challenges to adoption by suppliers and end users and reviews the essential elements that must come together to deliver a convincing business case for adoption. The drilling and completions industry faces many challenges in today's operating climate. It is focussed on cost reduction, developing more challenging wells in increasingly difficult environments and coping with the loss of expertise through the progressive retirement of an ageing workforce. Most operators recognise that "business as usual" is not an acceptable strategy and are exploring new technolgies such as remote collaboration centres (Wahlen et al, SPE 78336; Sawaryn et al, SPE 99069; Edwards et al, SPE 100113), real-time data feeds coupled to intelligent tools (Pickering et al, SPE 110388, Lauche et al, SPE 99774) and more sophisticated interpretation of downhole information. For this technology to be deployed at scale and in an economic manner the implementation of an open standard is essential. This explains why there has been increasing momentum in the development and deployment of WITSML in the last 1–2 years.

WITSML is a key enabler in an increasing number of real-time workflows. This is particularly true for integrated operations within the growing numbers of onshore operations centers. Two years ago WITSML was a technology known by few and actively used by even less. Now the SIG steering the standard has grown to 51 companies. The starting point for most companies in using WITSML is to bring depth data into their asset databases. For many this has become the norm. Early adopters like Statoil are broadening their use into a wider range of wellsite operations. Within asset teams a standard data delivery mechanism allows integration of new tools and workflows, letting Geologists and Engineers make use of real-time data within their familiar desktop applications. It also enables centrally managed data delivery services letting them focus on their areas of expertise, not data gathering. New technology and processes in these areas are helping operators make the next big step from real-time remote monitoring to real-time remote control. For growing numbers it is now not enough to receive a visual representation of the data. They expect data to be delivered in real-time via a standard format. WITSML also brings operators the opportunity to standardize data delivery workflows, to clarify contractual requirements to providers and to establish and measure realistic data delivery KPIs. Within Schlumberger WITSML enabled workflows are well established, answer products for drilling optimization and interpretation utilize the standard via a unified WITSML client. This reduces software development cycle time and simplifies data gathering. WITSML is becoming established, bringing proven advantages to real-time workflows. Continued uptake of the standard will enhance the competitive advantage of service companies and the operators utilizing it. WITSML is here to stay and should be supported more widely within the industry. Introduction The Wellsite Information Transfer Standard Markup Language (WITSML) is a data transfer standard designed to facilitate the efficient and effective flow of drilling data between the wellsite and the office. The WITSML standard developed out of WITS (Wellsite Information Transfer Standard) (Jantsen et al. 1987), which has been widely used since the early 1980's. Using the standard, object oriented data is transferred as XML documents over SOAP and HTTP/S (Kirkman et al. 2003). This data transfer in the majority of cases is via an API between a WITSML Server (predominantly associated with gathering or aggregating data from the rigsite) and the WITSML Client component of a real-time enabled consuming application. Although most WITSML servers are able to work with a broad range of data objects, clients need only be configured to receive data from the objects commonly used by that application. Increasingly as bi directional flow of drilling data becomes more prevalent the need is developing for servers and some end use applications to act as both WITSML servers and WITSML clients.

The Wellsite Information Transfer Standard Markup Language (WITSML) was developed to provide a common dataexchange format, so that drilling data can be used confidently in various domain/business tasks such as drilling optimization, formation evaluation, or safety-related operations, such as real-time pore pressure analysis. WITSML consists of XML dataobject definitions and a Web service specification that allow client software applications to store and retrieve information to/from WITSML servers.A key requirement for interoperability is for WITSML servers to behave consistently in how they interpret and processes data. To help ensure interoperability, certification for WITSML servers has been available for several years. However, for various reasons, these certification processes were not widely adopted, and inconsistency in WITSML server behavior exists.A new, behavior-based, fit-for-purpose certification process for WITSML servers (version 1.4.1 and higher) is being developed to address these issues. Key to this process is an open source testing tool that automates running a suite of tests, which use standard WITSML queries, data-object definitions, and behaviors defined in the WITSML specification. If a server passes all of the required tests, then it is WITSML certified.A company that wants to have its WITSML server tested and certified may download the test tool, test suite, and associated data to first test its server in its own environment, before submitting to official testing (which is conducted by Energistics, the vendor-neutral organization that stewards the standards development process).This paper describes how the testing processes and related technology were developed and are being implemented. This transparent process and behavior-based, automated, and repeatable testing are expected to deliver the ease-of-use and reliable results needed to drive certification, ultimately improving the interoperability and data reliability provided by WITSML.The testing tool, tests, and processes were developed by the Certification Group of the WITSML Special Interest Group, which comprises representatives from service companies and operators. IntroductionSince November 2008, certification of WITSML servers has been seen as a method to help ensure consistency and interoperability between different WITSML-enabled systems. However, with previous versions of WITSML and previous certification programs, that goal was not completely achieved. Changes in WITSML Version 1.4.1 coupled with a new certification program are addressing these historical issues and will better enable WITSML to achieve its original design objective of improving interoperability among drilling software and technologies.The core of this new certification program is an automated Testing Tool that is used to run a pre-defined and specific suite of Test Scripts that, where possible, execute WITSML standard queries, which have known expected responses. Whereas previous certification efforts focused on ad hoc peer review or on checking data quality, th...

Big data analytics (BDA) is a maturing technology that is gaining momentum in the upstream oil and gas industry. The practice centers on aggregating all data from different sources into a "data lake" or equivalent storage for analytics and reporting. But if the quality of the data coming into the lake is unknown, uncertain, or poor, the results derived from analytics may not be reliable. To help determine whether the data is fit for purpose, WITSML v2.0 has some significant new capabilities including a new Data Assurance object and improved metadata on the redesigned Log object. Trusted data is the foundation for all analytical and reporting initiatives. The Data Assurance object does not determine the data quality; rather, it provides the means to transmit assurance that business policies and supporting rules are met in the data transfer process. This capability means that users can apply their own data quality processes, algorithms, and transformations to ensure the data are fit for purpose, auditable, and traceable to meet their business objectives. For example, data assurance policies and rules supporting sensor precision and calibration can be transferred between applications that validate the data according to a company's business requirements. The newly designed Log object and addition of key metadata will address some of the historical organizational challenges of previous versions of the WITSML Log object and enable more intelligent data mining and more efficient and automated use of larger datasets. For example, the WITSML v2.0 Log object references classes of the Practical Well Log Standard (PWLS), an industry standard that lists and defines service company mnemonics. This capability supports a use case such as "give me all the sonic logs" regardless of vendor. As a side activity, but driven by the needs of WITSML users, the PWLS is also being updated. The combination of these capabilities can help increase users' trust in their data, improve analytics, and ultimately help companies to realize more value from big data analytics and its ability to help upstream oil and gas improve safety, reduce operational risk, and improve efficiency.

In recent years, our ability to record and share information about risks and events affecting rig operations has improved significantly. An important enabler in this has been the development, and broad adoption, of the risk object within the WITSML standard. However, the ability to effectively share data on a broader scale between wells, fields, and blocks has been a challenge. This is particularly important during the planning phase of a well, when access to all available offset risk information is crucial for a successful safe well design.This workflow, developed within a drilling engineering center, aims to better address this challenge through an integrated 3D approach, using functionality already available on the drilling engineer's desktop. The introduction of a WITSML-based workflow enables efficient and complete data transfer of risk and event data between different users and software applications with the result that the right data is available to the right people, at the right time. In recent years, our ability to record and share information about risks and events affecting rig operations has improved significantly. An important enabler in this has been the development, and broad adoption, of the risk object within the WITSML standard. However, the ability to effectively share data on a broader scale between wells, fields, and blocks has been a challenge. This is particularly important during the planning phase of a well, when access to all available offset risk information is crucial for a successful safe well design. This workflow, developed within a drilling engineering center, aims to better address this challenge through an integrated 3D approach, using functionality already available on the drilling engineer's desktop. The introduction of a WITSML-based workflow enables efficient and complete data transfer of risk and event data between different users and software applications with the result that the right data is available to the right people, at the right time. Drilling risks and events are defined throughout the planning and execution of a well, for example, during surveillance operations within an operations support center or at the rig. Although risk data is generated in predominantly well-centric software, a WITSML server is used to aggregate the data and populate a regional, 3D master risk project. In this project, intelligent filtering and 3D visualization tools are used to target offset data relevant to the current operation. Relevant risks are integrated into a 3D evaluation of the proposed well design, incorporating the geological model of the current prospect. As the well is drilled, the 3D evaluation is used to alert the rig and remote support teams of potential issues ahead of the bit. This approach streamlines the evaluation of risks in the planning stage of wells and enables more effective collaboration between the drilling and geological and geophysical team during execution.