Esitmech Empowers CNPC XIBU Drilling Training Center with Comprehensive Simulator Facility

A turnkey training solution for frontline drilling personnel — from simulation hardware to cloud-based digital management.

Background

The Employee Training Center of Western Drilling Company serves as a key training base for frontline employees, focusing on skill enhancement and operational competency. To further strengthen its training capacity and service capabilities, the center underwent a comprehensive upgrade in 2023, with a complete, integrated training facility.

Solution Overview

The training center is built around the CIMS Cloud Digital Management Platform as its core, enabling unified management across seven dedicated training zones. The facility adopts a hybrid training model that combines simulation, virtual reality (VR), and IoT technologies to deliver an immersive and information-driven learning experience.

The seven training zones include:

1. Drilling Process Exhibition Zone

Equipped with an animated walkthrough display and a scale model of the rig site, this zone provides a full overview of the drilling rig system — from major subsystems to their interrelations and individual working principles.

2. Drilling Equipment Training Zone

Featuring miniature drilling equipment models, VR teaching systems, animation-based instruction, and holographic display stations, this zone focuses on equipment structure and principle cognition.

3. Electrical Control Training Zone

Includes a range of practical workstations: AC and DC rig pneumatic control consoles, anti-collision overhead crane pneumatic assembly stations, disc brake workbenches, AC/DC variable-frequency drive test benches, and low-voltage electrical training units.

4. Team-Based Comprehensive Training Zone

A full-scale drilling rig site environment is recreated within the facility. Equipped with drilling simulators, this zone enables trainees to master core operational skills individually while also developing team coordination through group exercises.

5. Safety and Emergency Response Training Zone

Equipped with various general-purpose emergency exercise simulators, this zone uses realistic scenario simulations, case-based warnings, and hands-on experiences to transform common workplace hazards, unsafe behaviors, and accident types into tangible, practical training content.

6. Drilling Tools Training Zone

A physical tool display area, supplemented by VR and animation-based instruction, allows trainees to learn tool structures and principles through visual media, as well as practice tool operation, disassembly, and maintenance in a virtual environment.

7. Top Drive Operation Training Zone

Equipped with seven top-drive simulators, this zone provides comprehensive training on both standard and specialized top drive operations.

In addition, the facility includes a drilling emergency response drill platform and an automated drilling simulation training system.

Outcomes

Prior to the upgrade, the training center faced several limitations:

• Insufficient hands-on training space and workstations
• Lack of adequate practical training equipment
• Inability to conduct practical training during the harsh winter months

The new facility has successfully addressed these challenges. By providing a realistic, all-weather training environment, the center has significantly enhanced its service capacity and training quality. The training experience is now more field-authentic, more combat-ready, and more effective in preparing frontline personnel for real-world operations.