Systems and Methods of Positive Indication of Actuation of a Downhole Tool

A method, comprising:

• retaining a substance within an indicator chamber defined in a body of a downhole tool, the downhole tool being coupled to a work string that provides a flow path therein, and the body being in fluid communication with the flow path;
• actuating the downhole tool and thereby exposing the indicator chamber and releasing the substance into the flow path;
• monitoring the flow path with an optical computing device configured to detect a characteristic of the substance in the flow path;
• and
• communicating a signal with the optical computing device when the characteristic of the substance is detected, the signal being indicative that the downhole tool has been actuated.

A well system, comprising:

• a work string providing a flow path therein;
• a sliding sleeve assembly coupled to the work string and having a body with a sleeve movably arranged therein between a closed configuration, where fluid communication is prevented between an interior of the body and an exterior of the work string, and an open configuration, where fluid communication is allowed between the interior of the body and the exterior of the work string;
• an indicator chamber defined in the body and configured to retain a substance therein when the sleeve is in the closed configuration and release the substance into the flow path when the sleeve is in the open configuration;
• and
• an optical computing device in optical communication with the flow path and configured to detect a characteristic of the substance in the flow path and communicate a signal when the characteristic is detected, the signal being indicative that the sleeve is in the open configuration.

A method, comprising:

• retaining a substance within an indicator chamber defined in a body of a sliding sleeve assembly, the sliding sleeve assembly being coupled to a work string that provides a flow path therein, and the body being in fluid communication with the flow path;
• moving a sleeve arranged within the body from a closed configuration, where the indicator chamber is occluded and fluid communication is prevented between an interior of the body and an exterior of the work string, and an open configuration, where the indicator chamber is exposed and fluid communication is allowed between the interior of the body and the exterior of the work string;
• releasing the substance into the flow path from the indicator chamber;
• monitoring the flow path with an optical computing device configured to detect a characteristic of the substance in the flow path;
• and
• communicating a signal with the optical computing device when the characteristic of the substance is detected, the signal being indicative that the sleeve is in the open configuration.