Pason WITS User manual

Pason WITS User Guide
Revision 25 of DOCU225
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Quick Links
Overview 6
Understanding Pason WITS 7
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: [email protected]
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
1Overview ............................................................................................6
2Understanding 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
3Connecting 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
4Setting 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
5About 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
Figure 4: COMM022 comm box and components
DB-9
AC plug
Military 10 pin connector
RS-422
RigComm

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Connecting a WITS Device via a Pason DHC, SideKick, or UJB
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.
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.
WITS Device port
RigComm port (to DHC,
Sidekick, UJB)

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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

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•The third-party WITS device is set up to continuously send a handshaking packet
to the EDR every 30 seconds. Pason recommends continuously sending a TVD
WITS packet configured as shown in Figure 7. The EDR is coded to recognize
and use this specific packet for maintaining WITS communication, but can also
receive TVD WITS packets with actual values from other WITS devices at the
same time. The EDR is capable of receiving this handshaking packet from
multiple WITS devices simultaneously.
Be sure to include all of the carriage return and line feed characters shown
below.
&&<cr><lf>
0111-9999<cr><lf>
!!<cr><lf>
Figure 7: Recommended WITS handshaking packet
4.3 Setting up the EDR Comm Port
Setting up an EDR Comm Port for WITS Connections via a DHC, Workstation,
SideKick, or UJB
If you connected the WITS device to the EDR via a DHC, Workstation, SideKick, or UJB,
the device doesn’t appear in the EDR Comm Port list. In these cases, you do not need to
set up a comm port. To determine if WITS is working in these setups, check the WITS
monitor, check the EDR for WITS traces sent by the third-party device, or check the
third-party device for WITS values sent by the EDR.
Important:
As a best practice, Pason recommends connecting WITS devices before setting up comm ports
and configuring WITS in the EDR.
Setting up the EDR Comm Port for WITS Connections via Toolpush Connection
Box or Network Panel
If you connected the WITS device to one of these panels with a COMM022, the EDR
assigns the device a comm port. The EDR also enables you to select a transmission
speed (in bits per second) for connected comm ports, but Pason strongly recommends
using the default Auto setting.
To set up the EDR comm port, you need to determine the assigned comm port and then
configure it.

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Determining the Assigned Comm Port for WITS Connections via Toolpush
Connection Box or Network Panel
The EDR uses several comm ports for communicating, so you need to determine which
port the EDR uses for WITS.
Follow the steps below to find the assigned port if you connected the WITS device to the
TPC via a COMM022:
1. Connect the WITS device and have it send any WITS value to the EDR.
2. From the EDR main screen click Menu > Setup > Comm Ports. The Comm Port
Setup screen opens.
3. Use the navigation buttons to scroll through the comm ports list until you see a
comm port showing one of the following under New Protocol: WITS 9600 (8,N,1),
WITS 115200 (8,N,1), WITS 230400 (8,N,1), WITS 460800 (8,N,1), or WITS
921600 (8,N,1). Comm ports connected to WITS devices display one of these
WITS protocols.
Figure 8: Comm port with a WITS connection
Setting the Assigned Comm Port’s Transmission Speed for WITS Connections via
Toolpush Connection Box or Network Panel
Every EDR comm port has a protocol that defines transmission speed (in bits per
second) and serial port parameters. All EDR WITS protocols use serial port parameters
of 8,N,1, but each protocol includes a unique transmission speed. For example, the
protocol labelled “WITS 9600 (8,N,1),” uses a transmission speed of 9600 bits per

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second. To change the transmission speed, select a protocol that uses the desired
speed.
Important:
High speed settings are a major cause of WITS transmission errors. For WITS, Pason
recommends using a speed of 9600 bits per second. If you experience errors when using WITS,
try decreasing the transmission speed.
Follow the steps below to configure the assigned WITS comm port protocol if you
connected the WITS device to the TPC via a COMM022:
1. From the EDR main screen click Menu > Setup > Comm Ports. The Comm Port
Setup screen opens.
2. Select the assigned comm port and use the Toggle Next button to scroll through
the list of available protocols until the desired protocol is listed under Configured
Protocol.
3. Click Exit to save the settings.
4.4 Setting the Send/Receive Mode
How you connect the WITS device to the Pason system determines which Send/Receive
options are available.
Send/Receive Options for WITS Connections to a DHC, Workstation, SideKick, or
UJB
DHC, Workstation, SideKick, and UJB hardware is hard-coded to send and receive, so
you cannot use send only mode or receive only mode when you connect to a WITS
device via these devices. With these setups, the handshaking procedure on page 14
instructs the EDR how to communicate with the WITS device.
Send/Receive Options for WITS Connections via Toolpush Connection Box or
Network Panel
If you connected the WITS device to one of these panels with a COMM022, you can set
the EDR to send WITS data, to receive WITS data, or to send and receive WITS data.
Once you have connected to the TPC via a comm box and have established a
handshake as described in Establishing and Maintaining WITS Communication on page
14, follow the procedure below to set up whether the EDR sends, receives, or sends and
receives WITS data through the assigned comm port:
1. From the EDR main screen on the RMPC, click Menu > Setup > Comm Ports.

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The Comm Port Setup screen opens.
Figure 9: Comm Port Setup screen
2. Select the assigned WITS comm port as described in Determining the Assigned
Comm Port on page 16.
3. Click either Toggle Next or Toggle Prev to turn off the Auto setting and toggle
through the additional protocols.
4. Click WITS Setup. The WITS Comm Options screen opens.

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5. In the WITS Mode box, click the Change button to toggle to the mode you want
to use (Send and Receive, Send Only, or Receive Only). If you select Send Only
mode, the EDR displays a Use 1984 Header box that enables you to add or
remove Pason’s 1984PASON/EDR header (refer to What is the
1984PASON/EDR Header on page 7)
Figure 10: WITS Comm Options screen
6. When you are finished, click OK. The EDR returns to the Comm Port Setup
screen.
7. Click Exit to return to the EDR main screen.
4.5 Selecting WITS Codes
There are several ways to specify which WITS codes the EDR sends, as described
below, but the EDR is hard-coded to receive specific codes. The EDR can receive WITS
record 01, 02, 07, 08, 09, 11, 12, 17, 18, and 63 packets, plus custom WITS codes (see
the full table of valid WITS codes in Default Pason WITS Codes on page 32). If you need
the EDR to receive a code not listed in the table, you need to set up a custom WITS
code as described in Configuring Custom WITS in the EDR on page 24.
Depending on the type of workstation you are logged on to, the WITS setup screen in
Figure 11 on page 23 includes the elements in the table below.
Click Change
to turn the
header on or
off.

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Element Function
WITS In All On the RMPC, use this tab to set up incoming WITS codes for all
Pason computers connected to WITS devices.
WITS Out RMPC On the RMPC, use this tab to set up WITS codes being sent to
devices connected to the RMPC.
WITS Out TPC Server
On the RMPC, use this tab to set up WITS codes being sent to
devices connected to the TPC server.
WITS Out DHC/SideKick On the RMPC, use this tab to set up WITS codes being sent to
devices connected to the DHC or SideKick.
WITS Out Operator On an Operator Workstation, use this tab to set up WITS codes
being sent to devices connected to the Operator Workstation. This
feature is only available on US Operator Workstations. To see this
tab, the operator must have WITS editing privileges for the well.
WITS Out Workstation On a Workstation, use this tab to set up WITS codes being sent to
devices connected to the Workstation.
WITS Monitor Diagnostic tool for troubleshooting.
Transmission and
Interval
These settings are used together to determine the period between
sent WITS codes. They apply to all the WITS codes in the group
you select. Use the Transmission drop-down list to select the type
of transmission the interval is based on. Depending on which
WITS record group you are in, you can choose Time Based, Depth
Based, or Request-Response.
Time Based means that the Pason computer you are configuring
sends the record group’s enabled WITS codes at the time interval
you select.
Depth Based means that the Pason computer you are configuring
sends the record group’s enabled WITS codes at the depth
interval you select.
Request-Response means that the Pason computer you are
configuring sends the record group’s enabled WITS codes only
when a response is requested by a third-party WITS device.
Use the Interval drop-down list to select a time- or depth-based
interval.