Movement monitor for selective powering of downhole equipment

Abstract

The disclosure provides a movement monitor for detecting movement of downhole equipment in a wellbore during, for example, installation of the equipment. A method of installing downhole equipment in a wellbore and a system for the installation is also disclosed. In one example, the movement monitor includes: (1) a communications interface configured to provide movement information corresponding to downhole equipment in a wellbore, wherein the downhole equipment is attached to a cable, and (2) a rotation detector configured to generate rotational data associated with movement of the downhole equipment within the wellbore, wherein the movement information corresponds to the rotational data and the rotational data is based on a rotating device in contact with a tensioned-portion of the cable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A movement monitor for downhole equipment, comprising a communications interface configured to provide movement information corresponding to downhole equipment in a wellbore, wherein the downhole equipment is attached to a cable; and
 a rotation detector configured to generate rotational data associated with movement of the downhole equipment within the wellbore, wherein the movement information corresponds to the rotational data and the rotational data is based on a rotating device in contact with a tensioned-portion of the cable.   
     
     
         2 . The movement monitor as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the rotating device is a sheave. 
     
     
         3 . The movement monitor as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation detector includes at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer. 
     
     
         4 . The movement monitor as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to determine a movement threshold based on ambient conditions at the wellbore after the downhole equipment is attached to the cable and before lowering of downhole equipment in the wellbore. 
     
     
         5 . The movement monitor as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the movement information based on the rotational data and the movement threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The movement monitor as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the communications interface, the rotation detector, and the processor are integrated with a single enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . The movement monitor as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the movement information is the rotational data from the rotation detector. 
     
     
         8 . The movement monitor as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the communications interface is a wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         9 . The movement monitor as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tensioned-portion of the cable is between a sheave and the wellbore. 
     
     
         10 . A method of installing downhole equipment in a wellbore, comprising:
 determining a movement threshold after the downhole equipment is attached to a tubing string and an electrical cable is attached to the downhole equipment;   monitoring movement of the downhole equipment during installation in the wellbore;   determining when the downhole equipment is stationary based on movement information corresponding to rotational data; and   energizing the electrical cable coupled to the downhole equipment when the movement information indicates the downhole equipment is stationary.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising determining the movement information based on a comparison between rotational data and the movement threshold, wherein the movement threshold is determined based on ambient data. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein a movement monitor coupled to a rotation device associated with a tensioned-portion of the electrical cable provides the movement information. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the energizing is performed automatically. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising de-energizing the electrical cable when the movement information indicates the downhole equipment is moving. 
     
     
         15 . A system for installation of downhole equipment in a wellbore that is attached to a cable, comprising:
 a selective power controller configured to control energizing of the cable during the installation based on movement information that corresponds to lowering of the downhole equipment in the wellbore; and   a movement monitor configured to provide the movement information, wherein the movement information corresponds to rotational data based on a rotating device associated with a portion of the cable at the wellbore that is under tension.   
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a power source configured to energize the cable during the installation, wherein the selective power controller controls the power source based on the movement information. 
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the selective power controller is configured to automatically energize the cable when the movement information indicates the downhole equipment is stationary within the wellbore and de-energizes the cable when the movement information indicates the downhole equipment is being lowered in the wellbore. 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the movement monitor is configured to wirelessly transmit the movement information to the selective power controller. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the downhole equipment is an electric submersible pump. 
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the movement monitor is mounted to the rotating device.