Non-intrusive flow indicator

Abstract

Perforating devices, temporary dissolvable plugs, and dissolvable indicator devices for downhole tools all having at least one tracer are disclosed. Upon detonation of the perforating charge, dissolution of the temporary plug, or actuation of a downhole tool, the tracer is released and carried to the surface as an indictor to the operators of the well that the perforating charge detonated, the temporary plug dissolved, or the downhole tool actuated.

1 . A device for forming a fluid flow path in a wall of a wellbore, the device comprising:
 a releasable indicator material, the releasable fluid flow path indicator material being releasable from the device to indicate formation of a fluid flow path in a wall of a wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a perforating charge having an explosive material and the releasable fluid flow path indicator material is disposed within the explosive material. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a perforating charge having an explosive material and a protective layer disposed over the explosive material, and protective layer comprising the releasable fluid flow path indicator material. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein is the device is a temporary plug disposed within an opening in the wall of the wellbore, the temporary plug comprising the releasable fluid flow path indicator material. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the temporary plug comprises a dissolvable material, wherein the dissolution of the dissolvable material releases the releasable fluid flow path indicator material. 
     
     
         6 . A downhole tool for forming an opening in a wall of a wellbore, the downhole tool comprising:
 a tracer operatively associated with a tracer release actuator, the tracer release actuator releasing the tracer from the downhole tool to indicate formation of an opening in a wall of a wellbore.   
     
     
         7 . The downhole tool of  claim 6 , wherein the downhole tool is a perforating charge comprising an explosive material, the tracer release actuator is the explosive material, and the tracer release actuator is actuated by ignition of the explosive material so that the tracer is released from the perforating charge to indicate formation of the opening in the wall of the wellbore. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole tool of  claim 7 , wherein the tracer is disposed within the explosive of the perforating charge. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole tool of  claim 7 , wherein the tracer is disposed as part of a layer disposed over the explosive material of the perforating charge. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole tool of  claim 6 , wherein the downhole tool is a temporary plug disposed in the opening in the wall of the wellbore, the temporary plug comprising the tracer, and
 wherein the tracer release actuator is the temporary plug and the tracer release actuator is actuated by removing the temporary plug from the opening in the wall of the wellbore.   
     
     
         11 . The tool actuating indicator of  claim 10 , wherein the tracer is disposed within a dissolvable material of the temporary plug. 
     
     
         12 . An improved perforating device having a case and an explosive material disposed therein, the improvement comprising at least one releasable indicator material for indicating activation of the perforating device. 
     
     
         13 . The improved perforating device of  claim 12 , wherein the releasable indicator material is disposed within the explosive material of the perforating device. 
     
     
         14 . The improved perforating device of  claim 12 , wherein the releasable indicator material is disposed as part of a layer disposed over the explosive material of the perforating device. 
     
     
         15 . An improved temporary plug for insertion in an opening in a wall of a wellbore, the improvement comprising a releasable indicator material for indicating removal of at least a portion of the temporary plug. 
     
     
         16 . The improved temporary plug of  claim 15 , wherein the temporary plug comprises a dissolvable material having the releasable indicator material disposed therein so that dissolution of the dissolvable material releases the releasable indicator material thereby indicating the removal of at least a portion of the temporary plug. 
     
     
         17 . A method of indicating formation of a fluid flow path in a wall of a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) disposing a device comprising a releasable indicator material in a wellbore;   (b) activating the device causing formation of a fluid flow path in a wall of the wellbore and releasing the releasable indicator material from the device; and   (c) transporting the releasable indicator material toward a surface location of the wellbore;   (d) detecting the releasable indicator material thereby indicating to an operator at the surface location of the wellbore that the device was activated and a fluid flow path was formed in the wall of the wellbore.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the device is activated by ignition of a perforating device having an explosive material, the ignition of the perforating charge causing formation of the fluid flow path in the wall of the wellbore and releasing the releasable indicator material from the device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the device is a temporary plug, the temporary plug being disposed within an opening in the wall of the wellbore thereby restricting fluid flow through the opening, and
 wherein the temporary plug is activated by dissolving the temporary plug, the dissolution of the temporary plug causing formation of the fluid flow path in the wall of the wellbore and releasing the releasable indicator material from the device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the releasable indicator material is transported toward the surface location of the wellbore by fluid being circulated through the wellbore. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the releasable indicator material is transported toward the surface location of the wellbore by a fluid entering the wellbore through the fluid flow path.