Degradable downhole tools comprising magnesium alloys

A method comprising:

• introducing a downhole tool comprising at least one component made of a doped magnesium alloy solid solution formed from a single melt into a subterranean formation;
• performing a downhole operation;
• and
• degrading at least a portion of the doped magnesium alloy solid solution in the subterranean formation by contacting the doped magnesium alloy solid solution with an electrolyte, wherein the doped magnesium alloy is selected from the group consisting of:
• a doped WE magnesium alloy comprising 86.6% to 90.6% magnesium, about 4% rare earth metal yttrium, about 4% rare earth metal that is not yttrium, 1% to about 5% dopant selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, copper, and any combination thereof, and about 0.4% supplemental material of zirconium, each by weight of the doped WE magnesium alloy;
• a doped AZ magnesium alloy comprising about 88.5% magnesium, about 9% aluminum, about 0.7% zinc, 1% to about 5% dopant selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, copper, and any combination thereof, about 0.2% supplemental material of manganese, and about 0.3% supplemental material of zinc, each by weight of the doped AZ magnesium alloy;
• a doped AZ magnesium alloy comprises about 94.5% magnesium, about 3% aluminum, about 1% zinc, 1% to about 5% dopant selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, copper and any combination thereof, and about 0.3% supplemental material of manganese, each by weight of the doped AZ magnesium alloy;
• a doped ZK magnesium alloy comprising about 91.7% magnesium, about 5.9% zinc, about 0.2% zirconium, and about 2% dopant selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, iron, and any combination thereof, each by weight of the doped ZK magnesium alloy;
• a doped ZK magnesium alloy comprising about 89.9% magnesium, about 3.2% zinc, about 0.6% zirconium, and about 6.3% dopant selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, iron, and any combination thereof, each by weight of the doped ZK magnesium alloy;
• and
• a doped AM magnesium alloy comprising about 91.4% magnesium, about 6% aluminum, about 0.2% manganese, about 2% dopant selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, iron, and any combination thereof, about 0.2% supplemental material of silicon, and about 0.2% supplemental material of zinc, each by weight of the doped AM magnesium alloy.

A system comprising:

• a tool string connected to a derrick and extending through a surface into a wellbore in a subterranean formation;
• and
• a downhole tool connected to the tool string and placed in the wellbore, the downhole tool comprising at least one component made of a doped magnesium alloy solid solution formed from a single melt that at least partially degrades in the presence of an electrolyte, wherein the doped magnesium alloy is selected from the group consisting of:
• a doped WE magnesium alloy comprising 86.6% to 90.6% magnesium, about 4% rare earth metal yttrium, about 4% rare earth metal that is not yttrium, 1% to about 5% dopant selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, copper, and any combination thereof, and about 0.4% supplemental material of zirconium, each by weight of the doped WE magnesium alloy;
• a doped AZ magnesium alloy comprising about 88.5% magnesium, about 9% aluminum, about 0.7% zinc, 1% to about 5% dopant selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, copper, and any combination thereof, about 0.2% supplemental material of manganese, and about 0.3% supplemental material of zinc, each by weight of the doped AZ magnesium alloy;
• a doped AZ magnesium alloy comprises about 94.5% magnesium, about 3% aluminum, about 1% zinc, 1% to about 5% dopant selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, copper and any combination thereof, and about 0.3% supplemental material of manganese, each by weight of the doped AZ magnesium alloy;
• a doped ZK magnesium alloy comprising about 91.7% magnesium, about 5.9% zinc, bout 0.2% zirconium, and about 2% dopant selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, iron, and any combination thereof, each by weight of the doped ZK magnesium alloy;
• a doped ZK magnesium alloy comprising about 89.9% magnesium, about 3.2% zinc, about 0.6% zirconium, and about 6.3% dopant selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, iron, and any combination thereof, each by weight of the doped ZK magnesium alloy;
• and
• a doped AM magnesium alloy comprising about 91.4% magnesium, about 6% aluminum, about 0.2% manganese, about 2% dopant selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, iron, and any combination thereof, about 0.2% supplemental material of silicon, and about 0.2% supplemental material of zinc, each by weight of the doped AM magnesium alloy.