Formation pressure measurement with remote sensors in cased boreholes

A method for communicating, after casing has been installed in a wellbore, with a data sensor that has been remotely deployed, prior to the installation of casing, into a subsurface formation penetrated by the wellbore, comprising the steps of:

• (a) identifying the location of the data sensor in the subsurface formation;
• (b) creating an opening in the casing wall proximate the data sensor location;
• (c) installing an antenna in the casing wall opening;
• and
• (d) inserting a data receiver into the cased wellbore proximate the antenna for communicating with the data sensor via the antenna to receive formation data signals sensed and transmitted by the data sensor.

A method for acquiring data from a subsurface earth formation, comprising the steps of:

• (a) drilling a wellbore with a drill string having a drill collar and a drill bit, the drill collar having a data sensor adapted for remote positioning within a selected subsurface formation intersected by the wellbore to sense and transmit data signals representative of at least one parameter of the formation;
• (b) moving the data sensor from the drill collar into the selected subsurface formation;
• (c) installing casing in the wellbore;
• (d) creating an opening in the casing wall;
• (e) installing an antenna in the casing wall opening;
• and
• (f) inserting a data receiver into the cased wellbore for communicating with the data sensor via the antenna to receive formation data signals sensed and transmitted by the data sensor.

A method for acquiring data from a subsurface earth formation, comprising the steps of:

• (a) drilling a wellbore with a drill string having a drill collar and a drill bit connected thereto, the drill collar having a data sensor adapted for remote positioning within a selected subsurface formation intersected by the wellbore to sense and transmit data signals representative of at least one parameter of the formation;
• (b) moving the data sensor from the drill collar into the selected subsurface formation;
• (c) installing casing in the wellbore;
• (d) identifying the location of the data sensor in the subsurface formation;
• (e) creating an opening in the casing wall proximate the data sensor location;
• (f) installing an antenna in the casing wall opening;
• and
• (g) inserting a data receiver into the cased wellbore proximate the antenna for communicating with the data sensor via the antenna to receive formation data signals sensed and transmitted by the data sensor.

A method for measuring subsurface earth formation parameters, comprising the steps of:

• (a) drilling a wellbore in a subsurface earth formation with a drill string having a drill collar and a drill bit, the drill collar having sensing means movable from a retracted position within the collar to a deployed position within the subsurface earth formation beyond the wellbore, the sensing means having electronic circuitry therein adapted to sense selected formation parameters and provide data output signals representing the sensed formation parameters;
• (b) with the drill collar at a desired location relative to a subsurface formation of interest, moving the sensing means from a retracted position within the tool to a deployed position within the subsurface formation of interest outwardly of the wellbore;
• (c) installing casing in the wellbore;
• (d) identifying the location of the data sensor in the subsurface formation;
• (e) creating an opening in the casing wall and installing an antenna therein proximate the data sensor location;
• (f) inserting a receiving means into the cased wellbore;
• (g) electronically activating the sensing means, causing the sensing means to sense the selected formation parameters and transmit data signals representative of the sensed formation parameters;
• and
• (h) receiving the data output signals from the sensing means with the receiving means.

An apparatus for acquiring data from a subsurface earth formation, comprising:

• (a) a data sensor adapted for remote positioning from a drill collar of a drill string disposed in a wellbore to a deployed position within a selected subsurface formation intersected by the wellbore to sense data and transmit data signals representative of at least one parameter of the formation;
• (b) means for identifying the location of the data sensor in the subsurface formation following the installation of casing in the wellbore;
• (c) an antenna for communicating with said data sensor;
• (d) means for installing said antenna in an opening in the casing wall proximate the data sensor location.

A wireline tool for establishing communication in a cased wellbore with a data sensor that has been remotely deployed, prior to the installation of casing in the wellbore, into a subsurface formation penetrated by the wellbore, the wireline tool comprising:

• means for identifying the azimuth of the data sensor relative to the wellbore;
• means for rotating the wireline tool to the identified azimuth;
• means for creating an opening through the casing wall at the identified azimuth;
• and
• means for installing an antenna in the opening in the casing wall for communicating with the data sensor.

An apparatus for acquiring selected data from a subsurface formation intersected by a wellbore, comprising:

• (a) a sensor adapted for deployment from a location on a drill collar in a drill string positioned in the wellbore during drilling operations to a remote location within the subsurface formation penetrated by the wellbore, said sensor having
• electronic circuitry for sensing selected data from the formation, and
• electronic circuitry for transmitting and receiving selected signals;
• (b) an antenna adapted for installation in a lateral opening formed in the wall of casing installed in the wellbore proximate said sensor;
• (c) a data receiver having transmitting and receiving circuitry for transmitting an activation signal to said sensor via said antenna and receiving formation data signals from said sensor via said antenna.

An apparatus for acquiring selected data from a subsurface formation intersected by a wellbore during drilling of the wellbore, comprising:

• (a) a drill collar adapted for connection in a drill string and having a sensor receptacle;
• (b) a remote sensor located within the sensor receptacle of said drill collar and having electronic circuitry for sensing the selected data, for receiving command signals, and for transmitting data signals representative of the sensed formation data, said remote sensor being adapted for deployment from the sensor receptacle to a location within the subsurface formation beyond the wellbore;
• (c) an antenna for communication with said remote sensor after said sensor has been deployed into the subsurface formation;
• (d) means adapted for carrying said antenna into the wellbore after the wellbore has been cased, for drilling an opening in the casing proximate said remote sensor, and for installing said antenna into the drilled opening in the casing wall;
• and
• (e) a data receiver adapted for insertion into the wellbore and having electronic circuitry for transmitting signals via said antenna after installation of said antenna in the casing wall to activate said remote sensor and for receiving formation data signals via said antenna from said remote sensor.

An apparatus for establishing communication with a data sensor that lies in a subsurface formation penetrated by a cased wellbore, comprising:

• means for identifying the location of the data sensor in the formation;
• means for creating a perforation in the casing proximate the identified data sensor location;
• an antenna for communicating with the data sensor;
• and
• means for inserting said antenna into the casing perforation in the casing.