Software Introduction

Introduction

XSPOC is a software system that allows you to monitor, control, and analyze your oilfield wells and facilities. XSPOC consists of a server that collects and stores information, and a client that allows the user to interact with the rest of the system.

The purpose of this guide is to provide you with an understanding of how XSPOC works and how to use it to maximize your production and minimize your operating expenses.

As an XSPOC user, you most likely will be running the XSClient software from a workstation on a network that is linked to the host computer. In this case, you will never see any of the XSPOC software other than XSClient. In other cases, you may be running the client software on the same computer that the server software is running on.

Whether running on the host computer or a separate workstation, its function is the same: it provides you, the user, with a means to communicate with well controllers or other devices, to review dynamometer cards and analysis, and to enter and retrieve data.

There are some terms and functions that need defining before beginning to use XSPOC:

Scans – This refers to the retrieval of information from the controllers. XSPOC performs two types of scans: Status Scans Daily Scans.

The Status Scan is performed routinely at an interval defined by the XSPOC administrator or your Theta representative. The default interval is 10 minutes, which means that the system scans all wells every 10 minutes. The number of scans per day depends on either how long it takes to perform one scan cycle or the scan interval. This scan simply checks the status of the well and if there are any alarms to report. In this guide, the Status Scan may also be referred to as “polling the well”.

The Daily Scans (DoSetpointScan, CollectCards) are performed once a day and are large data downloads from the controller. During these scans, XSPOC retrieves dynamometer cards and other daily information such as runtime, number of cycles, average pumping speed, etc. These scans require several communication requests and can take up to 20-25 seconds per well, dependent on the quality of the communication’s link and the type of controller.

Session – This refers to the time during which you have the XSClient program open and running. The session begins when you open the program and ends when you close it. If you are sharing a workstation with other users, it is recommended that you end a session when finished doing your work. 

Security – XSPOC has several levels of security and user access to the features of the program. The XSPOC administrator needs to set up a security level for each user requiring more than a read-only type access to the information in XSPOC. XSPOC Security is based on the computer‘s User login and no longer uses passwords to access different areas of the program. If you find that menu items or screens are not accessible by you then contact your XSPOC administrator for more access rights. 

Selected Group or Well – This refers to the group of wells or the individual well selected in the Well Groups Tree. When a group or well is selected, XSClient is using data for that item to populate the screens. You can tell which well or group is selected from the status bar at the bottom of the XSClient screen. 

XSClient – The software interface used to access information from the XSPOC database, control wells, and collect and analyze dynamometer cards. 

XDIAG – The diagnostic software that takes information from surface and downhole equipment, production data, fluid data and the surface dynamometer card to calculate a downhole dynamometer card and an analysis of the condition of the entire system. Automatic analysis of cards by XDIAG occurs once per day (early morning after collection). You can manually analyze any selected dynamometer card. Only the current or startup card that has been collected overnight will be analyzed automatically. 

RODSTAR and Rodstar-D – The predictive software that takes information from surface and downhole equipment, production data, fluid data and the simulated downhole dynamometer card and calculates the predicted surface dynamometer card and predicted condition of the entire system. This software is an additional product for purchase from Theta, however certain features are integrated into XSPOC. For example, in the Card Viewer screen, the user is able to view a Predicted Card. This card plot is provided by Rodstar integration. In addition, when launching Rodstar from the XSClient, information is passed into Rodstar so the user does not have to enter it by hand.

XBAL – The software that calculates the maximum counterbalance effect from a given pumping unit configuration and counterweights positions, or calculates the position of counterweights from a given pumping unit configuration and maximum counterbalance effect. Counterbalance information can be saved back into XSPOC when run from the XSClient.

Surface Dynamometer Card – A plot of rod string loads versus carrier bar position. Rod string loads are collected by means of a load cell (either a horseshoe load cell, mounted between the carrier bar and polished rod clamp OR a beam mounted strain gauge, that detects stress deflections in the walking beam). Position data on POC’s is usually collected by one of two methods: a position (proximity) switch and modified sine wave, or an inclinometer. 

Downhole Dynamometer Card – A plot of the loads on the pump versus the pump position. The card is calculated by the analysis software (XDIAG) using the surface card, production information, fluid data, and surface and downhole equipment information.