AUTOMATIC SHUTDOWN SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTONOMOUS WINCH OPERATIONS OF INDEPENDENT WINCH UNITS

Abstract

Systems and methods presented herein include coordinating behavior with independent winch systems and a wireline wellsite automation (WWA) platform, consisting of a variety of distributed services and applications, and that is completely separate from the independent winch systems, such that the coordination enables the WWA platform and an independent winch system to effect shutdown of the independent winch system, based on operating parameters received from the WWA platform and autonomous operating parameters transmitted to the independent winch system. For example, in certain embodiments, a WWA platform that is completely separate from a multiline unit winch system may be configured to continuously receive data relating to operating parameters and transmit control signals to the winch units of the multiline unit, in order to effect a multiline winch shutdown.

Description

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to systems and methods for enabling interaction with independent winch systems via a wireline wellsite automation (WWA) platform that is completely separate from any independent winch systems.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as an admission of any kind.

Spooling systems for conveyance of downhole tools in wellbores often consist of a drum used to wind and unwind a cable attached to a downhole tool. When lowering the downhole tool into a wellbore, it is often necessary to estimate and control the rotational speed and direction of the drum. Furthermore, multiline units may be used, which control the conveyance of multiple cables attached to associated downhole tools. Such multiline units often have their own control systems that control the rotational speed and direction of the multiple drums that are used to convey the associated cables and downhole tools.

SUMMARY

A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.

Certain embodiments presented herein include a control system that includes an independent winch system having a winch configured to cause respective cables to be unspooled from respective drums such that the respective cables may be run into respective wells. The control system also includes a wireline wellsite automation (WWA) platform configured to continuously receive data relating to operating parameters of the winch, and to automatically take control of the winch based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winch, wherein the WWA platform is completely separate from the independent winch system.

In addition, certain embodiments presented herein include a method of controlling an independent winch system. The method includes continuously receiving, via a WWA platform, data relating to operating parameters of a winch of an independent winch system, wherein the WWA platform is completely separate from the independent winch system. The method also includes automatically taking, via the WWA platform, control of the winch based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winch.

In addition, certain embodiments presented herein include a WWA platform that includes one or more processors configured to execute instructions stored on memory media of the WWA platform. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the WWA platform to continuously receive data relating to operating parameters of a winch of an independent winch system, wherein the WWA platform is completely separate from the independent winch system; and to automatically take control of the winch based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winch.

Various refinements of the features noted above may be undertaken in relation to various aspects of the present disclosure. Further features may also be incorporated in these various aspects as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, various features discussed below in relation to one or more of the illustrated embodiments may be incorporated into any of the above-described aspects of the present disclosure alone or in any combination. The brief summary presented above is intended to familiarize the reader with certain aspects and contexts of embodiments of the present disclosure without limitation to the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of this disclosure may be better understood upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a well logging system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cable spooling system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates how a wireline wellsite automation (WWA) platform may interact with an independent winch system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of components of the WWA illustrated in FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method of operating the WWA platform illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. These described embodiments are only examples of the presently disclosed techniques. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

As used herein, the terms “connect,” “connection,” “connected,” “in connection with,” and “connecting” are used to mean “in direct connection with” or “in connection with via one or more elements”; and the term “set” is used to mean “one element” or “more than one element.” Further, the terms “couple,” “coupling,” “coupled,” “coupled together,” and “coupled with” are used to mean “directly coupled together” or “coupled together via one or more elements.” As used herein, the terms “up” and “down,” “uphole” and “downhole,” “upper” and “lower,” “top” and “bottom,” and other like terms indicating relative positions to a given point or element are utilized to more clearly describe some elements. Commonly, these terms relate to a reference point as the surface from which drilling operations are initiated as being the top (e.g., uphole or upper) point and the total depth along the drilling axis being the lowest (e.g., downhole or lower) point, whether the well (e.g., wellbore, borehole) is vertical, horizontal or slanted relative to the surface.

In addition, as used herein, the terms “real time,” “real-time,” or “substantially real time” may be used interchangeably and are intended to described operations (e.g., computing operations) that are performed without any human-perceivable interruption between operations. For example, as used herein, data relating to the systems described herein may be collected, transmitted, and/or used in control computations in “substantially real time” such that data readings, data transfers, and/or data processing steps occur once every second, once every 0.1 second, once every 0.01 second, or even more frequent, during operations of the systems (e.g., while the systems are operating). In addition, as used herein, the terms “automatic,” “automated,” and “autonomous” are intended to describe operations that are performed are caused to be performed, for example, by a control system (i.e., solely by the control system, without human intervention).

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for enabling interaction with independent winch systems via a wireline wellsite automation (WWA) platform that is completely separate from (e.g., completely physically separate from) any independent winch systems, but utilizes a variety of distributed services and applications to enable interaction with independent winch systems for the purpose of adjusting autonomous operational parameters of the independent winch systems, for example, based on feedback related to operational parameters that are received by the WWA platform. For example, a WWA platform that is completely separate from an independent winch system may be configured to continuously receive data relating to operating parameters of a winch of the independent winch system, and to automatically take control of the winch based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winch. In addition, in certain embodiments, the WWA platform may be configured to continuously receive data relating to operating parameters of winches of a plurality of independent winch systems, and to automatically take control of a particular winch of one of the plurality of independent winch systems based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winches of the plurality of independent winch systems. As such, the WWA platform may coordinate control of the plurality of independent winch systems.

With the foregoing in mind, FIG. 1 illustrates a well system 10 that may utilize the systems and methods described herein. The well system 10 may be used to convey a downhole tool 12 through a geological formation 14 via a wellbore 16. In certain embodiments, a casing 18 may be disposed within the wellbore 16, such that the downhole tool 12 may traverse the wellbore 16 within the casing 18. The downhole tool 12 may be conveyed on a cable 20 via a cable spooling system 22. Although the cable spooling system 22 is schematically shown in FIG. 1 as a mobile cable spooling system carried by a truck, the cable spooling system 22 may instead be substantially fixed (e.g., a long-term installation that is substantially permanent or modular). Any cable 20 suitable for conveying the downhole tool 12 may be used. The cable 20 may be spooled and unspooled on a winch 24 and an auxiliary power source 26 may provide energy to the cable spooling system 22 and/or the downhole tool 12 to, for example, control rotational speed and direction of the winch 24, as described in greater detail herein.

In certain embodiments, the downhole tool 12 may include one or more sensors 28 that enable the downhole tool 12 to measure geophysical and/or petrophysical properties of the wellbore 16 and/or properties of the casing 18 disposed within the wellbore 16. For example, the one or more sensors 28 may include accelerometers, rate sensors, pressure transducers, electromagnetic sensors, acoustic sensors, or any additional suitable sensors. Accordingly, the downhole tool 12 may provide logging measurements 30 to a control system 32 via any suitable telemetry (e.g., via electrical or optical signals pulsed through the cable 20, or through the geological formation 14 or via mud pulse telemetry). The control system 32 may then process the logging measurements 30. The logging measurements 30 may indicate certain properties of the wellbore 16 and/or the casing 18 (e.g., pressure, temperature, strain, vibration, or other) that might otherwise be indiscernible by a human operator. In addition, the control system 32 may also control operational parameters of the cable spooling system 22, as described in greater detail herein.

To this end, the control system 32 may be any electronic data processing system that can be used to carry out the functionality described herein. For example, the control system 32 may include one or more processors 34, which may execute instructions stored in memory 36 and/or storage 38. As such, the memory 36 and/or the storage 38 of the control system 32 may be any suitable article of manufacture that can store the instructions. The memory 36 and/or the storage 38 may be ROM memory, random-access memory (RAM), flash memory, an optical storage medium, or a hard disk drive, to name a few examples. A display 40, which may be any suitable electronic display, may provide a visualization, a well log, or other indication of properties in the geological formation 14 or the wellbore 16 using the logging measurements 30 and/or may provide user interface elements relating to operation of the cable spooling system 22 described herein.

In addition, as described in greater detail herein, the control system 32 may be configured to execute an auto-spooling controller used by a cable spooling system 22 for the automated spooling and unspooling of the cable 20 for conveying downhole tools 12 into and out of a wellbore 16. The control system 32 may be required to measure and/or log the velocity and position of a drum of the cable spooling system 22 as part of controlling the position and velocity of a downhole tool 12 in the wellbore 16. The embodiments described herein may utilize the control system 32 in conjunction with image processing techniques to provide robust estimates of the velocity and position of the drum.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cable spooling system 22 of FIG. 1. As illustrated, the cable spooling system 22 includes a drum 42 around which a cable 20 may be spooled and unspooled. In addition, in certain embodiments, the cable spooling system 22 may include a spooling arm 44 and a spooling axle 46 each configured to rotate to facilitate the spooling and unspooling of the cable 20 from the drum 42, an integrated depth wheel (IDW) 48 configured to measure the position and/or velocity of the cable 20 during spooling and unspooling from the drum 42, and a cable-mounted tension device (CMTD) 50 configured to measure tension on the cable 20 during spooling and unspooling from the drum 42. However, in other embodiments, the IDW 48 and/or the CMTD 50 may be omitted from the cable spooling system 22.

In addition, as described in greater detail herein, the control system 32 may be at least partially disposed within a housing 52 of the cable spooling system 22. For example, in certain embodiments, the control system 32 may be entirely disposed within the housing 52 of the cable spooling system 22. However, in other embodiments, a subset of the components of the control system 32 may be disposed within the housing 52 of the cable spooling system 22, whereas other components of the control system 32 may be disposed external to the cable spooling system 22 (e.g., as part of an external data center, a cloud computing service, and so forth).

Although illustrated in FIG. 2 as including a single winch 24 having a single drum 42 and associated features (e.g., spooling arm 44, spooling axle 46, IDW 48, CMTD 50, and so forth), in other embodiments, the spooling system 22 may be a multiline unit wherein a plurality of drums 42 may to spool and unspool a plurality of associated cables 20, as described in greater detail herein. As such, the control system 32 of the spooling system 22 may be used to control rotational speed and direction of the plurality of winches 24, as described in greater detail herein. Indeed, in certain embodiments, the control system 32 may be configured to autonomously control the rotational speed and direction of the plurality of winches 24, as described in greater detail herein. In addition, although illustrated in FIG. 2 as being part of a wireline truck, the embodiments described herein are not limited to land unit usage. Rather, the embodiments described herein may be applied to any type of independent winch system 56.

The embodiments described herein provide wireline wellsite automation (WWA) platform that is completely separate from any independent winch systems 56, but utilizes a variety of distributed services and applications to enable interaction with independent winch systems 56 for the purpose of adjusting autonomous operational parameters of the independent winch systems 56, for example, based on feedback related to operational parameters that are received by the WWA platform. FIG. 3 illustrates how a WWA platform 54 may interact with one or more independent winch systems 56, as described in greater detail herein. In certain embodiments, the services and applications of the WWA platform 54 may communicate necessary data to each other through appropriate network interfaces, including a winch system interface 58 that enables the services and applications of the WWA platform 54 to communicate with the independent winch system(s) 56, as described in greater detail herein. In certain embodiments, when a winch 24 is running in automated mode (i.e., the winch 24 is under automated control instead of manual user control), certain services and applications of the WWA platform 54 produce and consume data related to winch operation and status. It is important that this data is received in a reliable and predictable manner, and that the system undertake proper safety interventions in the absence of such data. The embodiments described herein provide novel techniques to, for example, ensure automatic winch shutdown in the event of safety-critical data interruptions.

The independent winch system(s) 56 are capable of both automated and manual operation. In certain embodiments, the independent winch system 56 may only allow the WWA platform 54 to take control of the winches 24 under control of the independent winch system(s) 56 when the independent winch system(s) 56 are operating in an automated mode. In addition, in certain embodiments, when the WWA platform 54 takes control of an independent winch system 56, it may instruct the independent winch system 56 that it is taking control. At this point, the independent winch system 56 may be running a speed controller whose setpoints are set by a winch controller 60 of the WWA platform 54. There are multiple possible undesirable operating modes that may arise including, but not limited to:

• • 1) Commands from the winch controller 60 to the independent winch system 56 become unavailable, such that the independent winch system 56 may continue to drive the winch(es) 24 at set speed(s) despite tension issues or relatively unsafe speeds.
  • 2) Winch mode commands to the independent winch system 56 become unavailable, such that the independent winch system 56 maintains its set speed despite when it should be in manual operation.
  • 3) Other important setpoints, such as tension limits or depth limits, to the independent winch system 56 become unavailable.
  • 4) Data, such as current speed, becomes unavailable from the independent winch system 56, leading to improper setpoints.
  • 5) Any of the system components stop functioning or go offline.

In order to address the undesirable operating modes mentioned above, the following techniques may be used, in any combination, to ensure automatic winch shutdown:

• • 1) Winch System Unit Stoppage: The independent winch system 56 may set winch speed to zero if, at any point, the particular winch 24 is commanded to switch from a WWA-controlled mode to a manual (i.e., local control) mode.
  • 2) Winch System Interface Monitoring: The winch system interface 58 may send a periodic message with an incrementing value to the independent winch system 56. If the independent winch system 56 does not receive this message, or if the value contained within skips values, the independent winch system 56 may automatically switch to the manual mode and the winch 24 may be stopped.
  • 3) Speed Setpoint Monitoring: The winch system interface 58 may be responsible for receiving speed setpoints from the winch controller 60 and sending the speed setpoints to the independent winch system 56. In certain embodiments, the independent winch system 56 may monitor the frequency and variability of setpoint arrival times, and switch to the manual mode if the arrival of the setpoints is not sufficient to maintain stable control.
  • 4) Conveyance Domain Monitoring: The winch system interface 58 may expect a periodic message from the conveyance domain 62 (i.e., from the various equipment of the cable spooling systems 22 being controlled by the independent winch system 56). If these periodic messages stop arriving, the winch system interface 58 cannot assume that appropriate winch mode messages are available. In certain embodiments, the independent winch system 56 may switch to the manual mode and the winch 24 may be stopped when the periodic messages stop arriving.
  • 5) Winch System Unit Monitoring: The winch system interface 58 may continuously monitor the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection with the independent winch system 56. If this connection fails, the winch system interface 58 may indicate to the conveyance domain 62 that the connection is broken. In addition, in certain embodiments, the conveyance domain 62 may revert its internal state to indicate that the independent winch system 56 is in the manual mode, such that when the connection is re-established, the WWA platform 54 will not instruct the independent winch system 56 to go to WWA-controlled mode and move the winch 24.

As described above, in certain embodiments, these techniques may be performed in any particular combination of each other. Indeed, in certain embodiments, all of the techniques may be performed simultaneously. As but one non-limiting example, if the Winch System Interfacing Monitoring and the Speed Setpoint Monitoring techniques are performed simultaneously, the winch system interface 58 may send a periodic message with an incrementing value as well as the speed setpoint commands to the independent winch system 56, and the independent winch system 56 may analyze the periodic message and the speed setpoint commands to determine if one or both of them appear to have been interrupted, and the independent winch system 56 may act accordingly based on this analysis. For example, if the independent winch system 56 determines that the periodic message appears to have skipped values, the independent winch system 56 may assume that the speed setpoint commands may also have been interrupted.

In certain embodiments, the independent winch system 56 may determine that certain interruptions in data receipt may be acceptable. For example, in this scenario of the Winch System Interfacing Monitoring and the Speed Setpoint Monitoring techniques simultaneously, the independent winch system 56 may be able to predict the timing of the data interruptions and, in certain embodiments, may be able to extrapolate and/or interpolate certain data points of the interrupted data streams, and determine how to respond accordingly.

As will be appreciated, in certain embodiments, the winch system interface 58, the winch controller 60, and the conveyance domain 62 of the WWA platform 54 may be software modules executed by various data processing components of the WWA platform 54. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, in certain embodiments, the WWA platform 54 may include one or more software modules 64 (e.g., a program of processor executable instructions and associated data) that may be configured to perform various functions of the embodiments described herein. In certain embodiments, to perform these various functions, a software module 64 executes on one or more processors 66 of the WWA platform 54, which may be connected to one or more storage media 68 of the WWA platform 54. Indeed, in certain embodiments, the one or more software modules 64 may be stored in the one or more storage media 68.

In certain embodiments, the one or more processors 66 may include a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a processor module or subsystem, a programmable integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, a digital signal processor (DSP), or another control or computing device. In certain embodiments, the one or more storage media 68 may be implemented as one or more non-transitory computer-readable or machine-readable storage media. In addition, in certain embodiments, the one or more storage media 68 may include one or more different forms of memory including semiconductor memory devices such as dynamic or static random access memories (DRAMs or SRAMs), erasable and programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable and programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs) and flash memories; or other types of storage devices. Such computer-readable or machine-readable storage medium or media are considered to be part of an article (or article of manufacture), which may refer to any manufactured single component or multiple components. In addition, in certain embodiments, the processor(s) 66 may be connected to a network interface 70 of the WWA platform 54 to allow the WWA platform 54 to communicate with external systems, for example, the independent winch system 56.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method 72 of operating the WWA platform 54 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, as described in greater detail herein. As illustrated, in certain embodiments, the method 72 may include continuously receiving, via the WWA platform 54, data relating to operating parameters of a winch 24 of an independent winch system 56 that is completely separate from the WWA platform 54 (step 74). In addition, in certain embodiments, the method 72 may include automatically taking, via the WWA platform 54, control of the winch 24 based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winch 24 (step 76).

In addition, in certain embodiments, the method 72 may include setting, via the WWA platform 54, a speed of a winch 24 of the winch 24 to zero upon receiving data indicative of the winch 24 of the winch 24 being switched from a WWA-controlled mode to a manual mode.

In addition, in certain embodiments, the method 72 may also include sending, via the winch system interface 58 of the WWA platform 54, periodic messages with an incrementing value to the independent winch system 56; and automatically switching the independent winch system 56 to a manual mode and to stop the winch 24 of the winch 24 if the independent winch system 56 detects an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.

In addition, in certain embodiments, the method 72 may also include receiving, via the winch system interface 58 of the WWA platform 54, one or more speed setpoints from a winch controller 60 of the WWA platform 54; sending, via the winch system interface 58 of the WWA platform 54, the one or more speed setpoints to the independent winch system 56; and automatically switching the independent winch system 56 to a manual mode and to stop the winch 24 if the independent winch system 56 detects an interruption of receipt of the one or more speed setpoints.

In addition, in certain embodiments, the method 72 may also include receiving, via the winch system interface 58 of the WWA platform 54, periodic messages from a conveyance domain 62; and instructing, via the winch system interface 58 of the WWA platform 54, the independent winch system 56 to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch 24 if the winch system interface 58 of the WWA platform 54 detects an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.

In addition, in certain embodiments, the method 72 may also include receiving, via the winch system interface 58 of the WWA platform 54, one or more speed setpoints from a winch controller 60 of the WWA platform 54; receiving, via the winch system interface 58 of the WWA platform 54, periodic messages from a conveyance domain 62; and automatically switching the independent winch system 56 to a manual mode and to stop the winch 24 if the independent winch system 56 detects an interruption of receipt of the one or more speed setpoints and/or an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.

In addition, in certain embodiments, the method 72 may also include continuously receiving, via the winch system interface 58 of the WWA platform 54, data relating to operating parameters of winches 24 of a plurality of independent winch systems 56, wherein the WWA platform 54 is completely separate from each of the plurality of independent winch systems 56; and automatically taking, via the WWA platform 54, control of a first winch 24 of a first independent winch system 56 of the plurality of independent winch systems 56 based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winches 24 of the plurality of independent winch systems 56.

The specific embodiments described above have been shown by way of example, and it should be understood that these embodiments may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms. It should be further understood that the claims are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but rather to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced and applied to material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature that demonstrably improve the present technical field and, as such, are not abstract, intangible or purely theoretical. Further, if any claims appended to the end of this specification contain one or more elements designated as “means for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ” or “step for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ”, it is intended that such elements are to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). However, for any claims containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f).

Claims

1. A control system, comprising: an independent winch system comprising a winch configured to cause a respective cable to be unspooled from a respective drum; anda wireline wellsite automation (WWA) platform configured to continuously receive data relating to operating parameters of the winch, and to automatically take control of the winch based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winch, wherein the WWA platform is completely separate from the independent winch system.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the WWA platform is configured to set a speed of the winch to zero upon receiving data indicative of the winch being switched from a WWA-controlled mode to a manual mode.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein a winch system interface of the WWA platform is configured to send periodic messages with an incrementing value to the independent winch system, and the independent winch system is configured to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the independent winch system detects an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein a winch system interface of the WWA platform is configured to receive one or more speed setpoints from a winch controller of the WWA platform and to send the one or more speed setpoints to the independent winch system, and the independent winch system is configured to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the independent winch system detects an interruption of receipt of the one or more speed setpoints.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein a winch system interface of the WWA platform is configured to receive periodic messages from a conveyance domain, and to instruct the independent winch system to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the winch system interface of the WWA platform detects an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein a winch system interface of the WWA platform is configured to receive one or more speed setpoints from a winch controller of the WWA platform and periodic messages from a conveyance domain, and the independent winch system is configured to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the winch system interface of the WWA platform detects an interruption of receipt of the one or more speed setpoints and/or of receipt of the periodic messages.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein the WWA platform is configured to continuously receive data relating to operating parameters of winches of a plurality of independent winch systems, and to automatically take control of a first winch of a first independent winch system of the plurality of independent winch systems based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winches of the plurality of independent winch systems, wherein the WWA platform is completely separate from each of the plurality of independent winch systems.

8. A method of controlling an independent winch system, comprising: continuously receiving, via a wireline wellsite automation (WWA) platform, data relating to operating parameters of a winch of an independent winch system, wherein the WWA platform is completely separate from the independent winch system; andautomatically taking, via the WWA platform, control of the winch based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winch.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising setting, via the WWA platform, a speed of the winch to zero upon receiving data indicative of the winch being switched from a WWA-controlled mode to a manual mode.

10. The method of claim 8, comprising: sending, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, periodic messages with an incrementing value to the independent winch system; andautomatically switching the independent winch system to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the independent winch system detects an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.

11. The method of claim 8, comprising: receiving, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, one or more speed setpoints from a winch controller of the WWA platform;sending, via the winch system interface of the WWA platform, the one or more speed setpoints to the independent winch system; andautomatically switching the independent winch system to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the independent winch system detects an interruption of receipt of the one or more speed setpoints.

12. The method of claim 8, comprising: receiving, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, periodic messages from a conveyance domain; andinstructing, via the winch system interface of the WWA platform, the independent winch system to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the winch system interface of the WWA platform detects an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.

13. The method of claim 8, comprising: receiving, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, one or more speed setpoints from a winch controller of the WWA platform;receiving, via the winch system interface of the WWA platform, periodic messages from a conveyance domain; andautomatically switching the independent winch system to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the independent winch system detects an interruption of receipt of the one or more speed setpoints and/or an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.

14. The method of claim 8, comprising: continuously receiving, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, data relating to operating parameters of winches of a plurality of independent winch systems, wherein the WWA platform is completely separate from each of the plurality of independent winch systems; andautomatically taking, via the WWA platform, control of a first winch of a first independent winch system of the plurality of independent winch systems based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winches of the plurality of independent winch systems.

15. A wireline wellsite automation (WWA) platform, comprising: one or more processors configured to execute instructions stored on memory media of the WWA platform, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the WWA platform to: continuously receive data relating to operating parameters of a winch of an independent winch system, wherein the WWA platform is completely separate from the independent winch system; andautomatically take control of the winch based at least in part on the data relating to the operating parameters of the winch.

16. The WWA platform of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the WWA platform to set a speed of the winch to zero upon receiving data indicative of the winch being switched from a WWA-controlled mode to a manual mode.

17. The WWA platform of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the WWA platform to: send, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, periodic messages with an incrementing value to the independent winch system, wherein the winch is configured to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the independent winch system detects an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.

18. The WWA platform of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the WWA platform to: receive, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, one or more speed setpoints from a winch controller of the WWA platform;send, via the winch system interface of the WWA platform, the one or more speed setpoints to the independent winch system; andinstruct, via the winch system interface of the WWA platform, the independent winch system to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the independent winch system detects an interruption of receipt of the one or more speed setpoints.

19. The WWA platform of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the WWA platform to: receive, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, periodic messages from a conveyance domain; andinstruct, via the winch system interface of the WWA platform, the independent winch system to automatically switch to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the winch system interface of the WWA platform detects an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.

20. The WWA platform of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the WWA platform to: receive, via a winch system interface of the WWA platform, one or more speed setpoints from a winch controller of the WWA platform;receive, via the winch system interface of the WWA platform, periodic messages from a conveyance domain; andautomatically switch the independent winch system to a manual mode and to stop the winch if the independent winch system detects an interruption of receipt of the one or more speed setpoints and/or an interruption of receipt of the periodic messages.