US Patent 9982506 Degradable wellbore isolation devices with large flow areas

An example downhole tool for use in a wellbore lined with casing includes a wellbore isolation device that provides a plurality of components including a mandrel that defines a central flow passage that allows fluid flow in at least one direction through the wellbore isolation device, the wellbore isolation device providing an inner diameter and an outer diameter. A minimum production flow area is provided across the wellbore isolation device and is determined by at least one of: a flow area across the wellbore isolation device that is at least 1/16 a total flow area of the casing at a location of the wellbore isolation device within the wellbore, and a flow area resulting from the inner diameter being at least 25% of the outer diameter. At least the mandrel is made of a slowly degradable material that degrades when exposed to a wellbore environment.