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 perforating charge having an explosive material for forming a fluid flow path in a wall of a wellbore, the perforating charge comprising:
 a releasable indicator material, the releasable fluid flow path indicator material being releasable from the perforating charge to indicate formation of a fluid flow path in a wall of a wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The perforating charge of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable fluid flow path indicator material is disposed within the explosive material. 
     
     
         3 . The perforating charge of  claim 1 , further comprising a protective layer disposed over the explosive material, the protective layer comprising the releasable fluid flow path indicator material. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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, 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.   
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The downhole tool of  claim 6 , wherein the tracer is disposed within the explosive of the perforating charge. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole tool of  claim 6 , wherein the tracer is disposed as part of a layer disposed over the explosive material of the perforating charge. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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;   (c) transporting the releasable indicator material toward a surface location of the wellbore; and   (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,   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.   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         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.