Abstract: A tubular assembly is disclosed for use in a wellbore (5) of an oil, gas or water well, typically for landing a downhole device in the wellbore. The assembly has a sleeve (1) adapted to receive the body of the downhole device. The sleeve is deployed into a conduit in the wellbore and expanded, so that the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve is radially expanded against the inner surface of the conduit. The sleeve has a bore with an inner circumferential surface comprising an inwardly facing formation adapted to engage with an outwardly facing formation on the body of the downhole device when the body of the downhole device is disposed in the bore of the sleeve. The sleeve is typically deployed in the wellbore at the desired location and is radially expanded by an expander device (2) that is deployed within the bore of the sleeve. The expanded sleeve plastically deforms and retains its expanded configuration after the radial expansion force is removed from the sleeve.

Abstract: A method including generating a global topic model based on a set of data that is updated according to an activity of each user of a plurality of users, the global topic model including a topic representation for a topic, generating a plurality of user models, each user model being generated based on the activity of a respective user, generating an expertise model for the topic based on the activity of at least one user of the plurality of users, the expertise model for the topic setting a target level of knowledge for a first user of the plurality of users, comparing a user model of the first user with the expertise model for the topic, the comparing being performed by a processor of a computer system, and recommending an activity associated with the set of data to the first user based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system including a global topic model building module that builds a global topic model based on a set of data that is updated according to an activity of each user of a plurality of users, a user model building module that builds a plurality of user models, each user model being built based on an activity of a respective user, an expertise model building module that builds an expertise model for the topic based on the activity of at least one user of the plurality of users, the expertise model for the topic setting a target level of knowledge for a first user of the plurality of users, a processor to compare a user model of the first user with the expertise model for the topic; and an expertise assessment and learning recommendation module that recommends an activity associated with the set of data to the first user based on the comparison.

Abstract: A tubular portion apparatus (10; 100; 300; 400) to be secured and sealed to another tubular (36) is described as is a method of securing and sealing a tubular portion (10; 100; 300; 400) to an existing downhole tubular (36) such as a casing string (36). The tubular portion (10; 100; 300; 400) comprises a central portion (14), an upper (16) and a lower (18) portion adjacent to the central portion (14) along a longitudinal axis of the tubular portion (10; 100; 300; 400). The tubular portion (10; 100; 300; 400) is formed from a main material and an additional material to strengthen the upper (16) and the lower (18) portion of the tubular portion (10; 100; 300; 400).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a tubular connection in the form of a liner tieback connection or a liner hanger in a slim hole well as found in deep wells. When installing the casing sections, a first casing section having a profiled surface distinct from a surface of an adjacent casing section is provided. A liner is run into the first casing section and a part of a portion is radially expanded to morph against the inner surface of the first casing section at the profiled surface and form a sealed joint. Various arrangements of profiled surfaces are provided. The liner may also have a profiled surface. By adapting the casing section to receive the liner directly, a slim hole well construction is achieved.

Abstract: A co-existence method is described. The method comprises setting a priority level of a slot based on the likelihood that the slot will be required by a first radio and signaling the priority level to radio which is co-located with the first radio and which shares a resource with the first radio. The slot may, for example, be a re-transmission slot following a primary transmission slot or may be a sniff anchor point. The likelihood may be determined based on one or more factors, such as historical data or knowledge of the activity of a peer of the first radio.

Abstract: A communication device arranged to operate in accordance with a communication protocol in which a transmitting device is scheduled to commence a transmission at a time known in advance to the receiving device, includes at least two antennas and is arranged to select one of those antennas to receive a transmission from a transmitting device by, immediately before the transmitting device is scheduled to commence its transmission: assessing a quality of a signal received by means of a first one of the antennas; assessing a quality of a signal received by means of a second one of the antennas; and determining, based on the assessed quality of the signals received by means of the first and second antennas, the antenna to be used for receiving the transmission from the transmitting device.

Abstract: Repeated data packets are generated from a first Bluetooth enabled device to a second Bluetooth enabled device to facilitate radio direction finding of the first device by the second device. A communication connection is established between the first and second devices in accordance with a Bluetooth protocol stack and in response to receiving at the second device a data packet transmitted by the first device the second device transmits an NACK data packet to the first device, whereby the first device is cause to retransmit said data packet, and causing the second device to process at least one of the transmitted data packet and the retransmitted data packet in accordance with a radio direction finding algorithm. The communication connection preferably comprises a remote name request.

Abstract: A downhole expandable liner hanger apparatus for extending the length of an existing tubular such as a casing or liner string is described. The apparatus comprises a tubular portion and a securing and/or sealing means for securing the tubular portion to the existing tubular such as a casing string to thereby extend the length of the existing tubular and preferably simultaneously provide a sealed coupling between the tubular portion and the existing tubular. A first part or a length of the tubular portion preferably comprises a first sidewall thickness and a second part or length of the tubular portion is located adjacent the first part, where the second part comprises a second sidewall thickness, said first sidewall thickness being less than the second sidewall thickness.

Abstract: A method of connecting a first tubular member to a second tubular member located in a wellbore, the second tubular member including an upper end portion which has a greater diameter than the diameter of the first tubular member, the method comprising: lowering the first tubular member into the wellbore until the first tubular member is located at least within the bore of the upper end portion of the second tubular member; and expanding the first tubular member until the first tubular member is sealingly connected to the second tubular member.

Abstract: A receiver device comprising: a frequency hopping radio receiver for operation according to a frequency hopping radio protocol and arranged to detect the presence of interference characteristic of a predetermined other radio protocol; and a user-alerting unit responsive to the receiver; the receiver device being configurable to actuate the user-alerting unit for alerting a user in response to the detection of interference characteristic of the other radio protocol.

Abstract: A zonal isolation device (10; 20; 30; 300; 400; 500; 600) in the form of an active external casing packer is provided which includes a tubular section such as a casing or liner (1; 21; 31; 171; 203) arranged to be run into and secured within a larger diameter generally cylindrical structure such as an open borehole (163; 213). At least one sleeve member (3; 23; 33; 43; 173) is positioned on the exterior of the casing or liner and is sealed thereto and at least two deformable band members (201; 401, 403; 501) are provided around and are bonded to the outer circumference of the sleeve member. The sleeve member and the at least two deformable band members is/are expanded into place against the inner circumference of the open borehole by increasing the pressure within the sleeve member.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to the present invention provide a user interface for television control functionality.

Abstract: A co-existence method is described. The method comprises setting a priority level of a slot based on the likelihood that the slot will be required by a first radio and signalling the priority level to radio which is co-located with the first radio and which shares a resource with the first radio. The slot may, for example, be a re-transmission slot following a primary transmission slot or may be a sniff anchor point. The likelihood may be determined based on one or more factors, such as historical data or knowledge of the activity of a peer of the first radio.

Abstract: Repeated data packets are generated from a first Bluetooth enabled device to a second Bluetooth enabled device to facilitate radio direction finding of the first device by the second device. A communication connection is established between the first and second devices in accordance with a Bluetooth protocol stack and in response to receiving at the second device a data packet transmitted by the first device the second device transmits an NACK data packet to the first device, whereby the first device is cause to retransmit said data packet, and causing the second device to process at least one of the transmitted data packet and the retransmitted data packet in accordance with a radio direction finding algorithm. The communication connection preferably comprises a remote name request.

Abstract: A communication device arranged to operate in accordance with a communication protocol in which a transmitting device is scheduled to commence a transmission at a time known in advance to the receiving device, includes at least two antennas and is arranged to select one of those antennas to receive a transmission from a transmitting device by, immediately before the transmitting device is scheduled to commence its transmission: assessing a quality of a signal received by means of a first one of the antennas; assessing a quality of a signal received by means of a second one of the antennas; and determining, based on the assessed quality of the signals received by means of the first and second antennas, the antenna to be used for receiving the transmission from the transmitting device.

Abstract: A downhole expandable liner hanger apparatus for extending the length of an existing tubular such as a casing or liner string is described. The apparatus comprises a tubular portion and a securing and/or sealing means for securing the tubular portion to the existing tubular such as a casing string to thereby extend the length of the existing tubular and preferably simultaneously provide a sealed coupling between the tubular portion and the existing tubular. A first part or a length of the tubular portion preferably comprises a first sidewall thickness and a second part or length of the tubular portion is located adjacent the first part, where the second part comprises a second sidewall thickness, said first sidewall thickness being less than the second sidewall thickness.

Abstract: A receiver device comprising: a frequency hopping radio receiver for operation according to a frequency hopping radio protocol and arranged to detect the presence of interference characteristic of a predetermined other radio protocol; and a user-alerting unit responsive to the receiver; the receiver device being configurable to actuate the user-alerting unit for alerting a user in response to the detection of interference characteristic of the other radio protocol.

Abstract: A method of making a sulphided ion exchange resin from an ion exchange resin containing primary or secondary amino group comprises passing a non-aqueous liquid, e.g. a hydrocarbon, feedstock containing elemental sulphur or organic, or inorganic, di-or poly-sulphides through a bed of an ion exchange resin containing primary or secondary amino groups, and so unsulphided ion exchange resins containing primary or secondary amine groups may be used to remove such elemental sulphur or sulphur compounds from liquid, e.g. hydrocarbon, feedstocks. The sulphided ion exchange resins may be used to remove elemental mercury or organic mercury compounds from liquid, e.g. hydrocarbon, streams.

Abstract: A transmitter for transmitting signals, comprising: a modulator for modulating a data signal, the modulator being capable of modulating the data signal according to any of two or more modulation schemes to form a modulated signal; an amplification arrangement for amplifying the modulated signal with any of two or more levels of gain; and a control system configured to interdependently select one of the modulation schemes and one of the levels of gain, and to control the modulator to adopt the selected modulation scheme and to control the amplifier to adopt the selected level of gain.