On this page:
Recommended Reading

Customer application 17 July 2019
Numerous Protocols and a Simple Solution for Everything

At Patterson-UTI, engineers needed the various systems of their land-based drilling rigs to communicate with one another, while also keeping them isolated. This created quite a challenge.

“We couldn’t easily integrate these two systems because each one of them lives on different networks,” explains Mahmoud Hadi, Control and Automation Manager at Patterson-UTI. “We wanted to have restricted exposure, but each system still needs to be able to access the other system.” The solution for Patterson-UTI was to use the WAGO PFC200 as an IIoT gateway. Collecting data from all of their systems, the PFC 200 worked as an aggregator, sharing data with stakeholders who needed that information while protecting the systems that needed to be isolated, safely separated.

“It’s a really fantastic win for WAGO and Patterson-UTI,” says WAGO Regional Sales Manager John Hagar. “The PFC 200 can communicate either with the Modbus® or PROFIBUS, so you can put one of these on existing oil rigs and very easily – via OPC UA and MQTT – make the data available to the end customer. You can make a retro fit kit that will go on existing rigs, and all new rigs will come with a 750-8206.”

Your benefits with WAGO:

  • Use of PFC200 as an IIoT Gateway

  • Easy integration into existing oil rigs and optimal data connection via OPC UA und MQTT

  • The PFC200 collects data from all the systems, while simultaneously keeping them securely isolated from each other.

The biggest advantage is the availability of all these different protocols.

Mahmoud Hadi, Control and Automation Manager at Patterson-UTI

All Key Protocols Available

According to Hadi, what differentiated WAGO from other competing data aggregators were the many features the PFC200 offered and the direct support they received from WAGO during the decision-making process. “I would say that the biggest advantage is the availability of all these different protocols ...,” continues Hadi. “WAGO has that ability to offer all the relevant protocols, and we can choose freely. But the price and the support we received were really why we chose WAGO in the end.”

Patterson-UTI’s access to WAGO’s extensive online libraries was another reason for deciding to use the PFC 200 according to Wayne Steed, Patterson-UTI Control Engineer. “Making sure that the libraries are specific to each protocol we were using and the different logic we were trying to implement in the gateway was very valuable to us,” he said.

“WAGO integrated OPC UA and MQTT capability into its PFC in order to make it IIoT-ready,” explains Hagar. “This enables them to talk to Amazon (AWS), IBM (Bluemix), Microsoft (Azure) or other cloud-based data center solutions.” Patterson-UTI connects with AWS for their data processes.

About Patterson-UTI Energy:

  • Patterson-UTI, with Headquarters in Houston, Texas, is a leading provider of diversified energy services focused on innovative solutions, operational excellence and Tier 1 performance.

  • Their expertise includes contract drilling services with industry leading super-spec rigs, pressure pumping services, rental services and directional drilling services that provide proven paths of success for our customers.

  • They have a fleet of ready-to-use, 1.6 MM horsepower land-based drilling rig , as well as a leading position in directional drilling and wellbore placement services.

Working with WAGO and Innovative IDM, they were able to put together a specialized kit.

Wayne Steed, Control Engineer at Patterson-UTI

“Working with WAGO and Innovative IDM (distributor), they were able to put together a specialized kit,” says Steed. “WAGO created a special part number that would combination all the parts we needed to ship to each of our rigs. So getting that part number was a large advantage for connecting Patterson, WAGO and Innovative IDM.”

With WAGO’s PFC 200, Patterson-UTI is now able to collect data from all of their systems while keeping those systems safely isolated from each other.

Recommended Reading

Other articles related to this customer application

Our controllers and fieldbus couplers give you complete independence for automation, since they support all common fieldbus and ETHERNET protocols. This allows you to use your existing protocols, but also to switch to new protocols straightforwardly. At the same time, your retain flexibility in connection with our I/O systems: With more than 500 different modules, you have a wide variety of options, from easy digital and analog signal processing to industry-specific communication.

Learn more
MM-400936_new-website-page_open_for-seamless-connections_2000x1125.jpg

Secure Networking with Cloud Connectivity

It’s all about data: In the past, technical data from the field made it through to the control levels at best – but that has changed. Thanks to modern information technology, the most important information from production is no longer restricted to the classic automation pyramid, but is now available at any time and place. However, for this to work, the technical conditions must be right. WAGO’s PFC Controllers and control panels are equipped with cloud connectivity and transfer data to WAGO Cloud – or any other MQTT broker.

Learn more

DIMA Leads to Smart Production

With DIMA, WAGO is on its way to smart production. This manufacturer-independent solution for automating adaptable production facilities has even received the Innovation Award.

Learn more
digitalisierung_wandlungsfaehigkeit_auf-dem-weg-zur-wandlungsfaehigen-produktion_meissen11282_2000x1125.jpg

Digital Engineering

WAGO consistently provides you all the data, software tools and interfaces you need for your processes, from electrical and mechanical planning, to ordering and production of configured products, to individual products.

Learn more
digitalisierung_smart-data_zwei_personen_rechner_fabrikanlage_arbeitssituation_gruen_gettyimages-482172147_2000x1125.jpg

Digitalization makes your machine, system and building data available anywhere in the world. To ensure the integrity of your information during Web attacks and Web transfers, it is necessary to protect it.

Learn more
MM-400936_new-website-page_open_to-simplify-security_2000x1125 (1).jpg