Downhole communication network

A method to form a downhole communication network, the method comprising:

• establishing a first communication channel with a first communication tag of a plurality of communication tags deployed proximate a wellbore casing, each communication tag of the plurality of communication tags comprising:
• a sensor operable to detect at least one of wellbore and hydrocarbon resource properties proximate the sensor;
• a transmitter operable to transmit a signal indicative of one or more of the at least one of the wellbore and hydrocarbon resource properties;
• and
• a power source operable to provide power to one or more components of the respective communication tag;
• transmitting, via the first communication channel, a request to communicate with the first communication tag;
• and
• receiving, via the first communication channel, a first signal indicative of one or more of the at least one of the wellbore and hydrocarbon resource properties,
• wherein each communication tag of the plurality of communication tag is operable to:
• directly communicate with another communication tag of the plurality of communication tags;
• determine if the other communication tag is offline;
• and
• in response to a determination that the other communication tag is offline;
• establish communication with an alternative communication tag of the plurality of communication tags;
• and
• transmit, to the alternative communication tag, the signal indicative of the one or more of the at least one of the wellbore and hydrocarbon resource properties proximate to the communication tag.

A downhole communication tag comprising:

• a sensor operable to detect at least one of wellbore and hydrocarbon resource properties proximate the communication tag;
• a storage medium operable to store data indicative of the at least one of the wellbore and hydrocarbon resource properties proximate the communication tag;
• an transmitter operable to transmit a signal indicative of one or more of the at least one of the wellbore and hydrocarbon resource properties;
• and
• a power source operable to provide power to one or more components of the communication tag,
• wherein the communication tag is operable to:
• directly communicate with another communication tag of a plurality of communication tags that are disposed in the wellbore;
• determine if the other communication tag is offline;
• and
• in response to a determination that the other communication tag is offline;
• establish communication with an alternative communication tag of the plurality of communication tags;
• and
• transmit, to the alternative communication tag, the signal indicative of the one or more of the at least one of the wellbore and hydrocarbon resource properties proximate to the communication tag.