Pason WITS User Manual

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Overview 6

Understanding Pason WITS 7

Pason WITS User Guide

Connecting Hardware for WITS Communication 9

Setting Up WITS in the EDR 14

Using the WITS Monitor 39

About WITS Port Pin-Outs 42

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This document contains proprietary information and is not intended for public distribution. Pason
Systems and all other trademarks and trade names used in this document, unless otherwise
specified, are the property of Pason Systems Corp.

No part of this document may be reproduced by any means, nor transmitted, nor translated, nor
translated into computer language, in whole or in part, without written permission from Pason
Systems Corp.

As updates and modifications occur, a new document will be made available as appropriate.
The revision date on the title page determines the most current version of the document.
Documents with the latest date replace any and all previous versions of the same document.
The most current is definitive in case of contradictions, errors, omissions, or misstatements.

While all reasonable care has been taken in the preparation of this document, no liability is
accepted by the author(s) for any errors, omissions or misstatements it may contain, or for any
loss or damage, howsoever occasioned, to any person relying on any statement or omission in
this document.

Copyright © 2018 Pason Systems Corp.

Any questions regarding this document or others should be forwarded to the following:

Pason Systems Corp.

6130 – 3rd Street S.E.

Calgary, Alberta T2H 1K4

Canada

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Website: www.pason.com

For 24-hour support, phone the Technical Support Centre toll free: 1-877-255-3158

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Table of Contents

1 Overview ............................................................................................ 6

2 Understanding Pason WITS .............................................................. 7

2.1 Setting Up ...................................................................................................... 7

2.2 Duplex Communication .................................................................................. 7

2.3 Handshaking .................................................................................................. 7

2.4 About WITS Levels and Packets .................................................................... 7

2.5 What is the 1984PASON/EDR Header .......................................................... 7

3 Connecting Hardware for WITS Communication ............................ 9

3.1 Connection Instructions for Third-Party Users ............................................... 9

Connecting a WITS Device via a Pason Workstation ............................................... 9

Connecting a WITS Device via the Toolpush Connection Box or Network Panel

using a COMM022 ..................................................................................................10

Connecting a WITS Device via a Pason DHC, SideKick, or UJB ............................12

3.2 Testing WITS Connections .......................................................................... 13

4 Setting Up WITS in the EDR ............................................................ 14

4.1 Set up on UJB .............................................................................................. 14

4.2 About Handshaking ...................................................................................... 14

Establishing and Maintaining WITS Communication ...............................................14

4.3 Setting up the EDR Comm Port ................................................................... 15

Setting up an EDR Comm Port for WITS Connections via a DHC, Workstation,

SideKick, or UJB.....................................................................................................15

Setting up the EDR Comm Port for WITS Connections via Toolpush Connection

Box or Network Panel .............................................................................................15

Determining the Assigned Comm Port for WITS Connections via Toolpush

Connection Box or Network Panel ..........................................................................16

Setting the Assigned Comm Port’s Transmission Speed for WITS Connections

via Toolpush Connection Box or Network Panel .....................................................16

4.4 Setting the Send/Receive Mode ................................................................... 17

Send/Receive Options for WITS Connections to a DHC, Workstation, SideKick,

or UJB ....................................................................................................................17

Send/Receive Options for WITS Connections via Toolpush Connection Box or

Network Panel ........................................................................................................17

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4.5 Selecting WITS Codes ................................................................................. 19

Selecting Pason Traces for the EDR to Send .........................................................23

4.6 Configuring Custom WITS in the EDR ......................................................... 24

Setting up Custom WITS Codes .............................................................................24

Selecting Custom WITS Codes to Send .................................................................27

Receiving a Custom WITS Code and Sending it as a Different Custom Code ........27

4.7 Setting Up WITS Codes for Custom Sensors .............................................. 29

4.8 Sending WITS 01 Codes to the EDR ........................................................... 30

4.9 Sending Gamma and Gamma Lag Calc ...................................................... 30

4.10 Importing and Exporting Your WITS Settings ............................................... 31

4.11 Default Pason WITS Codes ......................................................................... 32

4.12 Typical WITS Packets sent to Pason ........................................................... 36

4.13 Sample Half WITS Data Sent by Pason ....................................................... 37

4.14 Sample Full WITS Data Sent by Pason ....................................................... 37

4.15 Using the WITS Monitor ............................................................................... 39

5 About WITS Port Pin-Outs .............................................................. 42

5.1 RS232 Port Pin-Outs .................................................................................... 42

COMM022 RS232 Pin-Outs ...................................................................................42

COMM018 RS232 Pin-Outs ...................................................................................43

5.2 RS422 Port Pin-Outs .................................................................................... 43

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Table of Figures

Figure 1: Connecting a WITS device to a Pason Workstation .................................................................... 10

Figure 2: Connecting a WITS device to a toolpush connection box ........................................................... 10

Figure 3: Connecting a WITS device to a network panel ............................................................................ 11

Figure 4: COMM022 comm box and components ...................................................................................... 11

Figure 5: COMM087 comm box and components ...................................................................................... 12

Figure 6: Connecting a WITS device to a DHC, SideKick, or UJB ............................................................. 13

Figure 7: Recommended WITS handshaking packet ................................................................................. 15

Figure 8: Comm port with a WITS connection ............................................................................................ 16

Figure 9: Comm Port Setup screen ............................................................................................................ 18

Figure 10: WITS Comm Options screen ..................................................................................................... 19

Figure 11: WITS setup screen .................................................................................................................... 23

Figure 12: Highlighted custom WITS row ................................................................................................... 25

Figure 13: Changing a custom WITS code used for sending ..................................................................... 28

Figure 14: WITS in All tab ........................................................................................................................... 30

Figure 15: WITS Monitor screen ................................................................................................................. 40

Figure 16: WITS monitor raw data (left) versus interpreted data (right) ..................................................... 41

Figure 17: COMM022 RS232 pin-outs ........................................................................................................ 42

Figure 18: COMM018 RS232 pin-outs ........................................................................................................ 43

Figure 19: RS422 ports pin-outs ................................................................................................................. 44

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1 Overview

This document describes how to set up and use WITS communication with EDR version

3.12.0 or later.

The Wellsite Information Transfer Specification (WITS) is a communication protocol

used to transfer wellsite data between computer systems. The WITS specification is an

industry-wide standard used by companies involved in petroleum exploration and

production.

The Pason Electronic Drilling Recorder (EDR) can use WITS to communicate with

another service company’s equipment. Service companies, referred to as a third parties

in this document, may only need to receive specific data, or send specific data to the

EDR, but in most cases, they want to both send and receive data. Using WITS is a

proven and reliable way to accomplish these goals.

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2 Understanding Pason WITS

2.1 Setting Up

Setting up and using WITS with a Pason EDR involves these general steps:

1. Physically connecting third-party hardware to the Pason system

2. Establishing WITS communication between the third-party device and the EDR,

often called handshaking

3. Setting up the EDR for WITS communication

4. Setting up the third-party device for WITS communication

The second step, establishing WITS communication, is typically where most problems

occur. To avoid WITS-related problems, consider the information below about WITS in a

Pason system.

2.2 Duplex Communication

Pason recommends full duplex communication when using WITS. With full duplex

communication, data can travel in two directions simultaneously. This is different than

half duplex communication, which allows data to travel in one direction at a time, like

voices on walkie-talkie radios.

2.3 Handshaking

Establishing and maintaining WITS communication between connected WITS devices

and the EDR requires a handshaking procedure. For details about how to complete the

handshaking process, see About Handshaking on page 14.

2.4 About WITS Levels and Packets

The Pason system uses WITS Level 0 for serial communications. In Send and Receive

mode, the EDR transmits a number of WITS Level 0 packets (1 packet in Half WITS

mode, approximately 8 packets in Full WITS mode) each time it receives a valid WITS

Level 0 packet.

2.5 What is the 1984PASON/EDR Header

Every WITS record the Pason EDR sends includes a 1984PASON/EDR header. This

does not exactly meet the WITS specification, which specifies that items from different

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records should be in different packets. However, this item is required due to the half

duplex nature of our communication cables. The EDR uses this header to distinguish

between sent data and received data.

If a WITS device requires the removal of the 1984PASON/EDR header, ensure that the

device is connected to the EDR via a COMM022, and that its EDR comm port is set to

Send Only. Refer to Setting the Send/Receive Mode on page 17 for step-by-step

instructions.

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3 Connecting Hardware for WITS Communication

WITS communication requires a physical connection between Pason and third-party

systems. This section includes information about how to complete the required hardware

connections.

3.1 Connection Instructions for Third-Party Users

Third parties can connect their systems to Pason’s using one of these three methods:

• Connect to a Pason Workstation computer (TPC and VSP systems).

• Connect to the toolpush connection box (TPC systems) or network panel

(VSP systems).

• Connect to a Pason Doghouse Computer (DHC), SideKick, or Universal

Junction Box (UJB) (TPC and VSP systems).

Important:

Pason only supports the three above methods to connect WITS devices to our system.
Specifically, note that the RS-232 ports on trailer access points (TAPs) do not support WITS
connections. WITS connections to TAPs haven’t been fully tested and their reliability is unknown.

Connecting a WITS device to a DHC or SideKick can in some cases adversely affect wireless
communications between the DHC and the network.

All of the parts and cables described in the following connection procedures are

available for purchase from your Pason representative.

Once third parties connect their hardware, Pason recommends that a Pason field

technician inspect the connections and complete the initial WITS set up in the EDR.

Connecting a WITS Device via a Pason Workstation

Connecting a WITS device via a Pason Workstation is the most common connection

method. Follow these steps to connect a WITS device to the EDR via a Pason

Workstation:

1. Ensure that the Pason Workstation is powered on.

2. Use a Pason Send to Hub cable (CBLASS155), or a generic DB9 9-pin serial null

modem cable, to connect the WITS device to comm port 1 on the Pason

Workstation as shown in Figure 1.

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Figure 1: Connecting a WITS device to a Pason Workstation

Connecting a WITS Device via the Toolpush Connection Box or Network Panel using a COMM022

This method involves using an RS-232 to RS-422 communication box (COMM022) to

connect the WITS device. Toolpush connection boxes and network panels are typically

located on an outside wall of the rig manager’s trailer. Look over the illustrations below

to see the connections to the different types of panels. Figure 4 on page 11 shows a

COMM022 in more detail.

Note:

Pason COMM022 communication (comm) boxes ship with full duplex communication enabled.
COMM022 comm boxes have a jumper that enables you to choose half or full duplex, but Pason
recommends using the default full duplex setting.

Figure 2: Connecting a WITS device to a toolpush connection box

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Figure 3: Connecting a WITS device to a network panel

DB-9

AC plug

Military 10 pin connector
RS-422

RigComm

Figure 4: COMM022 comm box and components

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Connecting a WITS Device via a Pason DHC, SideKick, or UJB

WITS Device port

When connecting a WITS device in potentially hazardous areas, use the Hazardous

Area WITS Interface Assembly (COMM087) instead of COMM022. COMM087 is

certified for Class 1 Division 2 areas. Follow these steps to connect COMM087 to the

EDR via a Pason DHC, SideKick, or UJB:

1. Ensure that the DHC, SideKick, or UJB is powered on.

2. Secure the WITS to RS232, 6 ft. cable (CBLASS390) to the WITS Device port on

the Hazardous Area WITS Interface Assembly (COMM087). Secure the female

DB-9 end to the WITS device.

RigComm port (to DHC,
Sidekick, UJB)

Figure 5: COMM087 comm box and components

3. Connect a RigComm RS-422 cable to the RigComm port on COMM087. Connect

the other end to any available powered RS-422 port on the DHC, SideKick, or

UJB, as shown in Figure 6. If connecting to a SideKick, use the 2.5ft Power

Rignet Y-Adapter cable (CBLASS360) to create the powered port.

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Important:

If connecting to a SideKick, ensure that the port you’re using is set to Auto (Port Info >
Port Setup from the SideKick’s main screen). If connecting to a UJB, ensure the port is

set to WITS (Setup Ports > Change to WITS from the UJB local interface). This requires
UJB firware version 11 or higher.

Figure 6: Connecting a WITS device to a DHC, SideKick, or UJB

3.2 Testing WITS Connections

If you are having problems with WITS communication, a Pason field technician can test

WITS connections using the proprietary Pason WITS RSVP application. For help testing

your WITS connections, contact Pason Technical Support at 1-877-255-3158.

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4 Setting Up WITS in the EDR

After connecting the hardware, you need to use the EDR to set up WITS communication.

Set up procedures vary depending on whether you connected the WITS device to the

EDR via a comm box or via a Workstation, DHC, or SideKick. The following sections

describe the required procedures.

4.1 Set up on UJB

If connecting to a UJB, ensure the port is set to WITS. This requires UJB firmware

version 11 or higher. Select Setup Ports > Change to WITS from the UJB local

interface. Then select either WITS 9600 or WITS 19200.

4.2 About Handshaking

Setting up and maintaining WITS communication between a WITS device and the EDR

requires the use of a handshake. The handshake is important because it prompts the

EDR to recognize that a WITS device has been connected to the system, and is

necessary for the EDR to keep WITS communication active. If you connected the WITS

device via a toolpush connection box or a network panel, handshaking also prompts the

EDR to display a WITS protocol in the Comm Port Setup screen, so handshaking is

useful for determining which ports are connected to WITS devices.

Important:

Failure to continuously send at least one packet to the EDR every 30 seconds causes the EDR’s
communication engine to time out, stopping WITS communication. This is a major cause of WITS
communication problems.

Establishing and Maintaining WITS Communication

To establish and maintain WITS communication with the EDR, the third-party WITS

device must send at least one WITS packet to the EDR continuously every 30 seconds,

even if the third-party has no other need to send WITS packets. The only exception to

this requirement is when the WITS device is connected via a toolpush connection box or

a network panel, and the EDR comm port is set to Send Only. This requirement can be

met in one of the following two ways:

• The third-party WITS device continuously sends at least one WITS packet to the

EDR every 30 seconds as part of the desired operation, or