The present invention relates to a method and apparatus 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. Communication is established by installing an antenna in an opening in the casing wall. The present invention further relates to a method and apparatus for creating the casing wall opening, and then inserting the antenna in the opening in sealed relation with the casing wall. A data
receiver is inserted 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. Preferably, the location of the data sensor in the subsurface formation is identified prior to the installation of the antenna, so that the opening in the casing can be created
proximate the data sensor. The antenna can then be installed in the casing wall opening for optimum communication with the data sensor. It is also preferred that the data sensor be equipped with means for transmitting a signature
signal, permitting the location of the data sensor to be identified by sensing the signature
signal. The location of the data sensor is identified by first determining the depth of the data sensor, and then determining the
azimuth of the data sensor relative to the wellbore.