Patent ID: 7453768

Claim:
A high-speed measurement system, the system comprising: a first and second well bore; a first and second plurality of network nodes integrated into and spaced at intervals along the first and second well bores, respectively; a communication channel connecting each plurality of network nodes forming a first and second downhole network; a signal source in communication with the first downhole network and a signal receiver in communication with the second downhole network; and a common clock source in communication with both the signal source and the signal receiver over the first and second downhole networks respectively; wherein the signal source and signal receiver are synchronized with the common clock source over the downhole networks, the signal source is adapted to send a signal to the signal receiver through a subterranean formation and at least one of the downhole networks is integrated into a downhole tool string; wherein each of the nodes comprises a downhole clock; and wherein the source and reciever are in communication with at least one of the downhole clocks; wherein the communication channel in at least one of the tool strings comprises a plurality of segments, each segment terminating proximate the ends of each tool string component wherein the segments are electrically insulated from one another, but are in magnetic communication via inductive couplers wherein the inductive couplers comprises a coil disposed within a trough of magnetically conductive electrically insulating material.