Devices, systems, and methods for detecting the rotation of one or more components for use with a wellbore

Abstract

Sensor systems and methods for downhole pumping systems include a sensor subsystem for detecting movement of at least one component of the downhole pumping system. The sensor subsystem includes an axial motion sensor to be coupled to the at least one component of the downhole pumping system and to detect axial movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system and a rotational sensor to be coupled to the at least one component of the downhole pumping system and to detect rotational movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of detecting motion of at least one component of a downhole pumping system, the method comprising:
 determining motion in an axial direction of at least one component of the downhole pumping system with an axial motion sensor coupled to the at least one component of the downhole pumping system generated by translation of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system;   if no motion is detected in the axial direction, ceasing any sensing of rotation movement of the at least one component; and   if motion is detected in the axial direction:
 detecting the rotational movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system with a rotational sensor generated by rotation of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system; 
 continuing detecting the rotational movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system until a selected direction change of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system is detected; and 
 when the selected direction change is detected, ceasing detecting the rotational movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sensing the motion in the axial direction of at least one component based on magnetic variations detected by the axial motion sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting an initial direction change of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, after detecting the initial direction change, detecting another direction change of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising, after detecting the initial direction change and the another direction change, detecting the selected direction change of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising interpreting the initial direction change to indicate that a previous stroke of the at least one component has been completed and that a new stroke of the at least one component is beginning. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving data relating to the rotational movement only from the rotational sensor comprising a gyroscope. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising comparing data relating to the rotational movement with stored rotational values to determine if rotation of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system has occurred. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising comparing data relating to the rotational movement with stored rotational values to determine a failure in the downhole pumping system. 
     
     
         10 . A method of detecting motion of at least one component of a downhole pumping system, the method comprising:
 verifying axial movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system with an axial motion sensor subsystem;   when the axial movement has been verified, determining rotational movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system with a rotation sensor subsystem during a current stroke of the downhole pumping system; and   comparing the rotational movement with stored rotational movement values detected by the rotation sensor subsystem to determine if rotation of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system has occurred.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the stored rotational movement values comprise previously sensed rotational values detected by the rotation sensor subsystem during a previous stroke of the downhole pumping system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one component of the downhole pumping system comprises at least one rod of the downhole pumping system extending from a surface location into a wellbore. 
     
     
         13 . A sensor system for a downhole pumping system, comprising:
 a sensor subsystem for detecting movement of at least one component of the downhole pumping system, the sensor subsystem comprising:
 an axial motion sensor subsystem to be coupled to the at least one component of the downhole pumping system and to measure axial movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system; and 
 a rotation sensor subsystem to be coupled to the at least one component of the downhole pumping system and to detect rotational movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system; and 
   a processor subsystem to receive data from the axial motion sensor subsystem and the rotation sensor subsystem, the processor subsystem to:
 verify the axial movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system with the axial motion sensor subsystem; 
 determine the rotational movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system with the rotation sensor subsystem during a stroke of the downhole pumping system; and 
 compare the rotational movement with stored rotational movement values detected by the rotation sensor subsystem to determine if rotation of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system has occurred. 
   
     
     
         14 . The sensor system of  claim 13 , wherein the axial motion sensor subsystem comprises a magnetometer to measure axial movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system based on variations in a magnetic field detected by the magnetometer generated by movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system. 
     
     
         15 . The sensor system of  claim 13 , wherein the rotation sensor subsystem comprises a gyroscope to detect rotational movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system by detecting rotational values with the gyroscope generated by rotation of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system. 
     
     
         16 . The sensor system of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor subsystem is configured to detect movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system comprising at least one rod of the downhole pumping system extending from a surface location into a wellbore. 
     
     
         17 . The sensor system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor subsystem is further configured to detect an initial direction change of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system. 
     
     
         18 . The sensor system of  claim 17 , wherein the processor subsystem is further configured to, after detecting the initial direction change, detecting another direction change of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system. 
     
     
         19 . The sensor system of  claim 18 , wherein the processor subsystem is further configured to, after detecting the initial direction change and the another direction change, detecting yet another direction change of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system. 
     
     
         20 . The sensor system of  claim 18 , wherein the processor subsystem is further configured to, after detecting the initial direction change and the another direction change, cease monitoring of the rotational movement of the at least one component after detecting yet another direction change of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system.