Abstract: A packer deployed well wall monitoring or transceiver assembly. The assembly may be particularly suited for use with swellable packers wherein the sensor or transceiver is delivered in a manner that substantially avoids damage thereto. Furthermore, the pre-deployment configuration of the assembly may enhance the deployment and reliability of the sensor in terms of formation monitoring over time. The deployment of the packer provides the energy required for the sensor or transceiver to contact the well wall. The packer elastomeric material provides or can be enhanced to provide isolation of the sensor or transceivers from extraneous borehole disturbances improving their signal to noise characteristics.

Abstract: A technique facilitates deployment of completion stages downhole in a well environment. A first completion stage is deployed downhole into a wellbore with a plurality of control lines having at least one hydraulic control line and at least one electrical control line. A second completion stage is assembled with an electric submersible pumping assembly and a plurality of corresponding control lines having at least one hydraulic control line and a least one electric control line. The second completion stage is conveyed downhole into the wellbore until engaged with the first completion stage which automatically joins the plurality of control lines. The control lines may then be used to operate both electrical and hydraulic devices of the first completion stage.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for deploying one or more sensors into a wellbore. The method can include at least partially embedding one or more sensors in one or more swellable elements; conveying the one or more sensors and the one or more swellable elements into the wellbore; at least partially swelling one or more of the swellable elements; and measuring at least one wellbore property with the one or more sensors.

Abstract: A packer deployed well wall monitoring or transceiver assembly. The assembly may be particularly suited for use with swellable packers wherein the sensor or transceiver is delivered in a manner that substantially avoids damage thereto. Furthermore, the pre-deployment configuration of the assembly may enhance the deployment and reliability of the sensor in terms of formation monitoring over time. The deployment of the packer provides the energy required for the sensor or transceiver to contact the well wall. The packer elastomeric material provides or can be enhanced to provide isolation of the sensor or transceivers from extraneous borehole disturbances improving their signal to noise characteristics.

Abstract: A technique facilitates deployment of completion stages downhole in a well environment. A first completion stage is deployed downhole into a wellbore with a plurality of control lines having at least one hydraulic control line and at least one electrical control line. A second completion stage is assembled with an electric submersible pumping assembly and a plurality of corresponding control lines having at least one hydraulic control line and a least one electric control line. The second completion stage is conveyed downhole into the wellbore until engaged with the first completion stage which automatically joins the plurality of control lines. The control lines may then be used to operate both electrical and hydraulic devices of the first completion stage.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for deploying one or more sensors into a wellbore. The method can include at least partially embedding one or more sensors in one or more swellable elements; conveying the one or more sensors and the one or more swellable elements into the wellbore; at least partially swelling one or more of the swellable elements; and measuring at least one wellbore property with the one or more sensors.

Abstract: A system that is usable with a well includes a closed loop network that is located entirely downhole in the well. The system also includes valves that are located in a wellbore of the well and are interconnected by the closed loop network. Each valve is associated with a different isolated region of the wellbore and is adapted to regulate a flow through the valve based at least in part on a flow condition of the isolated region associated with the valve and a flow condition of each of the other isolated regions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of forming a barrier to fluid flow behind a liner are provided. In one embodiment of the invention, a method includes the steps of conveying a tool to a position within a wellbore having a liner, the tool carrying a seal material, and injecting the seal material from the tool through the liner to form a barrier to fluid flow behind the liner. In another embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a housing having a chamber carrying a seal material, and a means for injecting the seal material through the wellbore liner.

Abstract: A system that is usable with a well includes a closed loop network that is located entirely downhole in the well. The system also includes valves that are located in a wellbore of the well and are interconnected by the closed loop network. Each valve is associated with a different isolated region of the wellbore and is adapted to regulate a flow through the valve based at least in part on a flow condition of the isolated region associated with the valve and a flow condition of each of the other isolated regions.

Abstract: In a multiple processing system comprising multiple communicatively interconnected nodes, each node having one or more processor units, multicast messages sent by a sender node will contain information that allows intended receiver nodes to check and determine the possibility that earlier-sent multicast messages from the sender node were not received by the receiver node.

Abstract: A client-server architecture for use with mobile clients communicating requests through wireless communications. The requests from the client and the subsequent responses by the server are transferred between the client-server connection through an intermediary agent, which operates asynchronously to the client and to the server.

Abstract: A client-server architecture for use with mobile clients communicating requests through wireless communications. The requests from the client and the subsequent responses by the server are transferred between the client-server connection through an intermediary agent, which operates asynchronously to the client and to the server.

Abstract: A scalable distributed computing network comprises a plurality of nodes each independently executing software components. When a node having a managerial role in the network leaves the network, the remaining nodes negotiate among the nodes to assume the managerial role by broadcasting a message indicating the interest in assuming the managerial role. The node determined to be the best qualified node for the role is then selected by the system to assume the new managerial role.

Abstract: A method for finding a resource requested by a node in a scalable system. The system interconnects a plurality of nodes, with at least one node being associated with at least one resource. Each resource has an active state, in which the resource is available to other nodes, and an inactive state, in which the resource is not available. The method includes automatically identifying resources which become available by switching from the inactive to the active state. The method also includes automatically informing the requesting node that the requested resource has become available.

Abstract: A method for independently executing software components in a node of a network containing many nodes. The method includes the step of generating a logical hierarchy of the roles of the nodes where any node can assume one or multiple roles, with the assumption of which neither requires nor precludes the assumption of any other role, and with the hierarchy having three or more levels. The method also includes the step of negotiating the role of the nodes when there is a change in the configuration of the network, with the node at the lowest level of the hierarchy being able to assume the role of the highest level of the hierarchy.

Abstract: Methods for routing packets from a source node to a destination node using at least one context bridge. Each node has a routing protocol, with the context bridge being one of many context bridges in a heterogeneous network having many nodes. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of receiving a packet at the source node, and determining whether the destination node of the packet has a routable protocol. If the destination has no routable protocol, a route discovery packet is sent to discover one or more context bridges so as to automatically route the packet from the source to the destination node. Based on the discovery, the packet is routed to the destination through one or more context bridges. If the destination has a routable protocol, the packet is routed from the source to the destination using the routable protocol.

Abstract: A method for independently executing software components in a node of a network containing many nodes. The method including generating a logical hierarchy of the roles of the nodes where any node can assume one or multiple roles; and negotiating the role of the nodes when there is a change in the configuration of the network. Another technique locates resources requested by a node in a scalable system interconnecting many nodes in a network. The technique includes identifying resources that join the network by switching from an inactive to an active state; and informing the requester the availability of the requested resource. A further technique determines routing paths in a context bridge which is able to route packets between nodes. The technique includes setting up a list of context bridges; listening for routing information packets which are periodically broadcast by other context bridges; and updating the database using the information contained in the received routing information packets.