Identification of pumping system placement

Abstract

A technique facilitates placement of a pumping system, e.g. an electric submersible pumping system, in a borehole. The pumping system is deployed downhole into the borehole via a conveyance which may be in the form of an electric power cable for providing electric power to the pumping system. A measuring device is disposed between the conveyance and the pumping system and connects the pumping system to the conveyance. The measuring device detects engagement of the pumping system with downhole equipment by monitoring a selected property, e.g. load on the conveyance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for use downhole, comprising:
 an electric submersible pumping system deployed in a borehole;   an electric power cable coupled to the electric submersible pumping system to provide electric power to the electric submersible pumping system; and   a measuring device connected to, and disposed between, the electric power cable and the electric submersible pumping system to detect engagement of the electric submersible pumping system with downhole equipment located in the borehole, the measuring device outputting a signal indicating engagement of the electric submersible pumping system with the downhole equipment.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the measuring device measures tension in the electric power cable. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the measuring device measures a force exerted by the electric submersible pumping system on the electric power cable. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the measuring device comprises a load cell. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the measuring device comprises a strain gauge. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the measuring device communicates directly with a surface control system. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the measuring device communicates with a downhole monitoring gauge. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the signal output by the measuring device is transmitted to a surface control to indicate a decrease in tension in the electric power cable of at least 2000 pounds. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the signal output by the measuring device is transmitted to a surface control to indicate a decrease in tension in the electric power cable of at least 1000 pounds. 
     
     
         10 . A system for use downhole, comprising:
 a pumping system deployed in a borehole via a conveyance;   a completion system located in the borehole; and   a measuring device connected to, and disposed between, the conveyance and the pumping system to detect engagement of the pumping system with the completion system, the measuring device comprising a mandrel coupled between the pumping system and the conveyance and a sensor disposed in the mandrel to detect engagement of the pumping system with the completion system via a predetermined decrease in tensile load on the conveyance.   
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the pumping system comprises an electric submersible pumping system. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the conveyance comprises an electric power cable. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises a load cell. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises a strain gauge. 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the load cell is coupled with a telemetry system which transmits a signal indicating the predetermined decrease in tensile load to a surface control system. 
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the load cell transmits a signal indicating the predetermined decrease in tensile load to a downhole monitoring gauge. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 coupling an electric power cable to an electric submersible pumping system via a measuring device mandrel;   positioning a sensor along the measuring device mandrel;   deploying a completion system downhole into a borehole;   conveying the electric submersible pumping system downhole via the electric power cable and into engagement with the completion system;   monitoring the engagement via the sensor; and   transmitting information from the sensor to a surface control system upon detection of a suitable engagement between the electric submersible pumping system and the completion system.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein positioning the sensor comprises positioning a load cell within the measuring device mandrel. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein positioning the sensor comprises positioning a strain gauge along the measuring device mandrel. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising operating the electric submersible pumping system, after determining the suitable engagement, to produce a well fluid.