Patent ID: 7798214

Claim:
A subsurface formation monitoring system comprising: a conductive piping structure being positioned within a borehole (BH) extending into the subsurface formation (GF), a surface installed power and communication module, a downhole installed conductive casing sub threadedly coupled to adjacent piping portions of the conductive piping structure, the downhole installed conductive casing sub comprising at least one sensor mounted on the conductive casing sub, a data communication module for wireless communication of the sensor measurements to the surface installed power and communication module, and a powering means for providing power to the data communication module and the sensor, the at least one sensor, the data communication module and the powering means mounted integrally within the conductive casing sub and coupled together, the surface installed power and communication module being coupled to the conductive piping structure and to a grounded return electrode coupled to the subsurface formation (GF), and comprising an alternate current generator so as to define an ingoing signal path along the conductive piping structure and conductive casing sub, the ingoing signal flowing from the surface installed power and communication module to the downhole installed conductive casing sub, the ingoing signal transmitting power from the alternate current generator to the downhole installed conductive casing sub, wherein a return signal comprising the sensor measurements is transmitted through a return signal path (ACL) flowing from the downhole installed conductive casing sub to the surface installed power and communication module into the subsurface formation (GF) around the borehole (BH).