BACKGROUND

In the resource recovery industry, exploration and production of hydrocarbons and other resources may require a number of diverse activities from various engineering fields to be performed in a borehole penetrating an earth formation. Hydrocarbon exploration generally involves activities such as drilling, installing permanent installations, formation evaluation, casing perforation, and stimulation such as hydraulic fracturing and chemical injection.

In some operations, it is beneficial to be able to divert or otherwise control the flow of fluid in a borehole. For example, during hydraulic fracturing and other stimulation operations, a stimulation fluid is injected into a borehole and directed to a subterranean region in order to stimulate the production of hydrocarbons. In some cases, differences in formation properties along a borehole can result in uneven stimulation. As a result, it is desirable to divert the flow of fluid from high flow rate zones in a subterranean region to other regions to improve stimulation outcomes.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of a system for diverting fluid in a borehole string includes an object configured to be deployed in the borehole string. The borehole string includes a plurality of fluid ports defining a plurality of zones along a length of the borehole string, each fluid port extending from a fluid conduit in the borehole string to at least one of: an annular region of the borehole string and a subterranean region. The object is configured to be advanced by a fluid to a fluid port to obstruct the fluid port and divert the fluid in the borehole string to another fluid port. The object includes a core portion made from a first material having a first property, and an outer portion at least partially surrounding the core portion and made from a second material, the second material being deformable and having a second property that is different than the first property.

An embodiment of a method of diverting fluid in a borehole string includes injecting a fluid into a fluid conduit of the borehole string, the borehole string including a plurality of fluid ports defining a plurality of zones along a length of the borehole string. Each fluid port extends from a fluid conduit in the borehole string to at least one of: an annular region of the borehole string and a subterranean region, where the injecting includes flowing the fluid through one or more fluid ports into the subterranean region. The method also includes deploying an object into the borehole string and advancing the object by the fluid to a fluid port to obstruct the fluid port and divert the fluid in the borehole string to another fluid port. The object includes a core portion made from a first material having a first property, and an outer portion at least partially surrounding the core portion and made from a second material, the second material being deformable and having a second property that is different than the first property.

