Degradable and/or deformable diverters and seals

A method of forming a temporary seal in a well formation that includes:

• a. providing a plurality of degradable components capable of forming a fluid seal;
• each of said degradable components includes a core structure and an extension structure;
• said extension structure is secured to a portion of an outer surface of said core structure;
• said extension structure extends outwardly from said outer surface of said core structure;
• said core structure is formed of a rubber material and less than 50 wt. % filler;
• said rubber material includes one or more rubbers selected from the group consisting of silicone rubber, urethane rubber, nitrile rubber, and fluoropolymer rubbers;
• said filler includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of natural organic materials, inorganic minerals, silica materials and powders, ceramic materials, metallic materials and powders, synthetic organic materials and powders, mixtures, sodium chloride, sugar, silica flour calcium carbonate fillers, and/or fumed silica;
• said filler has a different composition from said rubber material;
• said core structure has a shape selected from the group consisting of a sphere, ellipsoid, cone, cube, a three dimensional shape that is equiaxed, and a three dimensional shape having an aspect ratio of 1-8;
• said extension structure that includes one or more structures selected from the group consisting of a flap and a tail;
• said extension structure is deformable and includes a material selected from the group consisting of a degradable polymer, a degradable elastomer, a degradable rubber, and a degradable metal;
• said core structure includes a material selected from the group consisting of a degradable polymer, a degradable elastomer, a degradable rubber, and a degradable metal;
• said degradable components includes said flap;
• said flap has a width that is less than 50% a diameter of said core structure;
• said flap is a) a disc-shaped flap and is located about a mid-region of said outer surface of said core structure;
• said disc-shaped flap tapers from said outer surface of said core structure to an outer edge of said disc-shaped flap, b) a band-shaped flap that is positioned about said mid-region of said outer surface of said core structure;
• said band-shaped flange a band body and a flange portion that extends perpendicularly from an outer surface of said the band body;
• a thickness of said flange portion is less than a thickness of said band body;
• said thickness of flange portion is constant along the longitudinal length of said flange portion, or c) a wavy-shaped flap that is positioned about said mid-region of said outer surface of said core structure;
• b. combining said plurality of degradable components with a fluid to be inserted into said well formation;
• c. inserting said fluid that includes said plurality of degradable components into said well formation to cause said plurality of degradable components to be positioned at or at least partially in an opening located in said well formation;
• d. at least partially sealing said opening by deformation and agglomeration together of said plurality of degradable components that are located at or at least partially in said opening to thereby partially or fully block or divert a flow of said fluid into and/or through said opening;
• said deformation and agglomeration of said plurality of degradable components is at least partially caused by fluid pressure of said fluid at said opening that acts on said plurality of degradable components that are located in at said opening in said well formation;
• e. performing operations such as drilling, circulating, pumping, and/or hydraulic fracturing in said well formation for a period of time after said plurality of degradable components have deformed in said opening and have at least partially sealed said opening;
• and,
• f. causing at least a portion of said plurality of degradable components to degrade and be partially or fully removed from said opening to thereby allow 80-100% of fluid flow rates into said opening that existed prior to said plurality of degradable components partially or fully sealing said opening.