Abstract: A system may include a control system coupled to various network elements that define a drilling management network. The control system may include a programmable logic controller (PLC) that performs a drilling operation. The system may further include a virtualization services manager coupled to the control system and the network elements. The virtualization services manager may implement a virtualization service on the drilling management network that controls the drilling operation. The system may further include a virtual connection controller coupled to the network elements. The virtual connection controller may establish a virtual connection between the control system and a user network.

Abstract: A method may include connecting a network device to a control zone of a drilling management network. The control zone may include a control system that includes a programmable logic controller that performs drilling operations. The method may further include validating that the network device is authorized to communicate with a destination device in the control zone. The method may further include reconfiguring, in response to validating the network device, the control zone to enable the network device to communicate with the destination device. The method may further include obtaining a packet from the network device. The method may further include transmitting, in response to reconfiguring the control zone, the packet to the network device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in well construction, including a communications network having processing systems and a common data bus. At least one processing system implements subsystem virtual networks in the communications network. Each subsystem virtual network communicatively couples together equipment controllers of equipment of a respective control subsystem. At least one processing system implements a configuration manager that translates communications from the subsystem virtual networks to a common protocol, and makes data of the communications accessible through the common data bus. At least some equipment controllers access data from the common data bus through respective subsystem virtual networks. At least one processing system implements a process application that accesses data from the common data bus. At least one processing system implements a human-machine interface that accesses data from the common data bus.

Abstract: A plan structure and a method for creating a plan for forming/operating a sub-sea or sub-terranean well, in an automated planner, are disclosed. The plan defines logical, sequential and conditional interrelationships between events in the plan, so that a controller can carry out the plan in a flexible and time-independent manner to complete the sequenced events. The definition of the logical, sequential and conditional interdependencies permits flexibility in how the controller uses the time and resources available to it so that the plan directs the controller in a non-prescriptive manner, allowing greater flexibility in plan execution and reducing the necessity for re-planning to occur when changes in the world or environment in which the controller executes the plan are detected.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention may extend the range of wireless communications in a seismic acquisition survey. The embodiment may leverage the infrastructure of a hard-wired communications backbone by appending wireless cells to the hard-wired communications. This may allow, for example, a recording truck to control remotely located seismic sources via wireless communications in the spread. Another embodiment includes a communication system for servicing field equipment. The embodiment provides for a fully or semi automated process for communicating equipment failures between survey personnel (e.g., recording truck operators and line observers). The embodiment establishes an end-to-end channel between, for example, the recording truck and field crew members. Other embodiments are disclosed herein.

Abstract: In general, embodiments of the invention relates to a method for analyzing a topology of a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS)/Virtual Private Network (VPN) network. The method includes obtaining logical communication channel information for a plurality of virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) instances, wherein each of the plurality of VRF instances are located on one of a plurality of routers, wherein the logical communication channel information specifies a plurality of logical communication channels between the plurality of VRF instances, and wherein at least two VRF instances are located on one of the plurality of routers. The method further includes constructing an audit matrix representing the logical communication channel information, wherein the audit matrix specifies the topology of the MPLS/VPN network, analyzing the audit matrix to obtain an analysis result, and presenting the analysis result.

Abstract: In general, embodiments of the invention relates to a method for analyzing a topology of a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS)/Virtual Private Network (VPN) network. The method includes obtaining logical communication channel information for a plurality of virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) instances, wherein each of the plurality of VRF instances are located on one of a plurality of routers, wherein the logical communication channel information specifies a plurality of logical communication channels between the plurality of VRF instances, and wherein at least two VRF instances are located on one of the plurality of routers. The method further includes constructing an audit matrix representing the logical communication channel information, wherein the audit matrix specifies the topology of the MPLS/VPN network, analyzing the audit matrix to obtain an analysis result, and presenting the analysis result.

Abstract: In general, embodiments of the invention relates to a method for analyzing a topology of a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS)/Virtual Private Network (VPN) network. The method includes obtaining logical communication channel information for a plurality of virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) instances, wherein each of the plurality of VRF instances are located on one of a plurality of routers, wherein the logical communication channel information specifies a plurality of logical communication channels between the plurality of VRF instances, and wherein at least two VRF instances are located on one of the plurality of routers. The method further includes constructing an audit matrix representing the logical communication channel information, wherein the audit matrix specifies the topology of the MPLS/VPN network, analyzing the audit matrix to obtain an analysis result, and presenting the analysis result.