diff --git a/adapters/common/openflow/utils.py b/adapters/common/openflow/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b4c66cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/adapters/common/openflow/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+#
+# Copyright 2017 the original author or authors.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+#
+
+
+from adapters.protos import openflow_13_pb2 as ofp
+
+OUTPUT = ofp.OFPAT_OUTPUT
+ETH_TYPE = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_ETH_TYPE
+IP_PROTO = ofp.OFPXMT_OFB_IP_PROTO
+
+def get_ofb_fields(flow):
+    assert isinstance(flow, ofp.ofp_flow_stats)
+    assert flow.match.type == ofp.OFPMT_OXM
+    ofb_fields = []
+    for field in flow.match.oxm_fields:
+        assert field.oxm_class == ofp.OFPXMC_OPENFLOW_BASIC
+        ofb_fields.append(field.ofb_field)
+    return ofb_fields
+
+def get_actions(flow):
+    """Extract list of ofp_action objects from flow spec object"""
+    assert isinstance(flow, ofp.ofp_flow_stats)
+    # we have the following hard assumptions for now
+    for instruction in flow.instructions:
+        if instruction.type == ofp.OFPIT_APPLY_ACTIONS:
+            return instruction.actions.actions
+
+def get_out_port(flow):
+    for action in get_actions(flow):
+        if action.type == OUTPUT:
+            return action.output.port
+    return None