SPONSORED BY: Integration Objects
The oil and gas industry has long relied on the Wellsite Information Transfer Standard Markup Language (WITSML) for data exchange in drilling operations. While WITSML has served as the standard protocol, evolving digital technologies and the increasing demand for real-time data analytics reveal some of its shortcomings.
In this blog, we explore how SIOTH® (Smart IoT Highway) addresses the evolving needs of the drilling industry and builds on WITSML’s foundation to provide a solution adaptable to modern industrial environments with added support for OPC UA and other advanced features.
WITSML: Current Status and Challenges
For years, WITSML has been instrumental in transferring wellsite data like drilling parameters and mug logs. However, WITSML’s reliance on XML and SOAP-based communication protocols may make it challenging to process data in real time, manage storage efficiently, and avoid the production of large data files.
Additionally, its fragmented data model complicates integration with modern technologies that require continuous data streams.
· WITSML: Opportunities for Evolution
- Data File Size and Complexity: XML-based data transfers result in bulky data files, leading to inefficiencies in storage and data transfer.
- Limited Real-Time Processing: The protocols used in WITSML, such as SOAP and XML, can sometimes create challenges in processing data in real time, which can impact the speed of decision-making in fast-paced drilling operations.
- Fragmented Data Model: WITSML’s data model is designed for specific use cases, but it may not always be as flexible when integrating with newer technologies like AI, machine learning, and big data analytics, which are increasingly vital in modern operations.
- Security Considerations: While WITSML incorporates essential security measures, the protocols and governance structure may not fully address the growing need for advanced data security and encryption as required by today’s digital oilfields.
To meet the evolving needs of the digital oilfield, a modern solution that enhances and complements the capabilities of WITSML is needed.
The Added Value of OPC UA Universal Server
OPC UA (Unified Architecture) is an industry-standard platform for secure, real-time data exchange. With a binary data format, OPC UA reduces data processing overhead and is ideal for today’s industrial operations. As it becomes increasingly adopted in systems on rigs and in the field, OPC UA complements the functionality of WITSML, offering enhanced scalability, efficiency, and integration capabilities.
The OPC UA Universal Server, built using the SIOTH® platform configurator, supports multiple industrial protocols, allowing it to collect data from various sources—whether single or disparate—and convert it into the standardized OPC UA format. This enables SIOTH® to act as a centralized data gathering source, promoting secure, efficient, and consistent communication across diverse systems.
· From WITSML to SIOTH®: Evolving to Meet Modern Oilfield Demands
WITSML has long served as a standard for data exchange in the oil and gas industry. SIOTH® complements WITSML while addressing its limitations, providing a comprehensive, flexible, and secure platform that supports real-time, scalable, and intelligent operations required by modern oil and gas enterprises.
Central to this industrial digital transformation is the flexibility of SIOTH®’s Data Model, but its full value extends across multiple features including integration with modern technologies, real-time data processing, and secure communication.
- Flexible Data Model:
SIOTH®’s Data Model provides a structured yet adaptable framework for organizing operational data. Whether managing sensor readings, production metrics, or drilling parameters, it offers a ready made library with domain data companion and the option to customize the data model in order to meet the evolving needs of end-users.
Data model for a hierarchal organization of the data
- Real-Time Data Processing and Integration
SIOTH®’s publish-subscribe architecture ensures instant data transmission, supporting real-time analytics and rapid decision-making. It integrates effortlessly with AI, machine learning, knowledge based expert systems and advanced analytics tools, optimizing drilling performance and risk management.
Real Time Data Integration
The flexible Data Model plays a crucial role here by structuring and organizing key operational data as mentioned above. This data includes Rate of Penetration (ROP), mud flow, and drill bit performance. The Data Model’s adaptability is essential in dynamic drilling operations. For instance, it can seamlessly incorporate varying drilling conditions, such as changing soil types or encountering high-pressure zones, enabling drillers to quickly adapt their strategies. This flexibility allows teams to stay on top of key parameters, optimizing performance and minimizing risks.
Drilling Overview
Drilling Dashboard
- Secure and Future-Ready Architecture
Designed with industrial cybersecurity in mind, SIOTH® includes built-in encryption, secure communication and compliance with ISA/IEC 62443. This level of security is critical in industries like oil and gas, where data breaches or equipment malfunctions can have severe operational and financial consequences.
Robust Security Features
- Integration with Legacy Systems and New Technologies
SIOTH® simplifies digital transitions by connecting legacy systems like WITSML with modern technologies. With built-in support for OPC, Modbus, SNMP, MQTT, and more, it ensures secure, effortless IT-OT-IoT integration—maximizing existing investments while enabling future-ready automation.
Integration with Legacy Systems and New Technologies
- Scalability and Future-Proof Architecture
SIOTH® adapts to operations of any scale, from local sites to multi-facility deployments. Its flexible architecture handles growing data flows, complex workflows, and evolving business needs while supporting both centralized and distributed systems ensuring long-term adaptability and efficiency.
WITSML laid the groundwork for data exchange in the oil and gas industry, and SIOTH® takes that foundation further, evolving to meet the industry’s future needs.
With SIOTH®, the industry can harness the full potential of its data for smarter decision-making, optimized operations, and continuous innovation. As the digital oilfield evolves, SIOTH® ensures seamless data flow, real-time analytics, and a secure, scalable platform that powers the next generation of oil and gas operations.
About Integration Objects
Integration Objects is a world-leading industry 4.0 solutions provider for digital transformation, advanced solutions in machine learning and predictive analytics, integrated command & control centers, Cloud services, industrial internet of things (IIoT), cyber security, OPC and Big Data Analytics, for process, power and utilities industries, defense and governmental institutions.