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

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 comprising an axial motion sensor, the axial motion sensor 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 based on variations detected by the axial motion sensor generated by movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system;
• and
• a rotation sensor subsystem comprising a rotational sensor, the 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 by sampling rotational values with the rotational sensor generated by rotation 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;
• when the axial movement has been verified, detecting the rotational values with the rotation sensor subsystem during a current stroke of the downhole pumping system;
• and
• comparing the rotational values with previously sensed rotational values detected by the rotation sensor subsystem during a previous stroke of the downhole pumping system to determine if rotation of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system has occurred.

A sensor system for a downhole pumping system, comprising:

• an axial motion sensor subsystem comprising a magnetometer to measure axial movement of at least one component of the downhole pumping system and to determine a change in axial direction of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system;
• a sensor subsystem for detecting movement of a tubing rotator of the downhole pumping system, the sensor subsystem comprising a rotation sensor subsystem comprising a rotational sensor, the rotational sensor to be coupled to the tubing rotator of the downhole pumping system and to detect rotational movement of the tubing rotator of the downhole pumping system by sampling rotational values with the rotational sensor generated by rotation of the tubing rotator of the downhole pumping system;
• and
• a processor subsystem to receive data from the rotation sensor subsystem, the processor subsystem to determine rotation of the tubing rotator of the downhole pumping system with the rotational values detected by the rotation sensor subsystem, the processor subsystem configured to:
• detect the axial movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system with the axial motion sensor subsystem;
• when the axial movement of the at least one component is detected, begin detecting the rotational movement of the tubing rotator of the downhole pumping system with the rotational sensor;
• continue detecting the rotational movement of the tubing rotator of the downhole pumping system through a second direction change of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system;
• and
• cease detecting the rotational movement of the tubing rotator of the downhole pumping system after a third direction change of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system.

A method of detecting motion of at least one component of a downhole pumping system, the method comprising:

• determining a first change in axial direction of at least one component of the downhole pumping system based on magnetic variations detected by 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;
• when detecting no change in the axial direction, ceasing any sensing of rotation movement;
• when verifying the first change in the axial direction:
• begin detecting 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 through a second direction change of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system;
• and
• ceasing detecting the rotational movement of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system after a third direction change of the at least one component of the downhole pumping system.