Viscosified treatment fluids and associated methods of use

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for treating subterranean formations. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of fracturing a portion of a subterranean formation that comprises providing a viscosified treatment fluid comprising a single salt aqueous fluid having a density of greater than 9 pounds per gallon and a crosslinked viscosifying agent, and contacting the portion of the subterranean formation with a viscosified treatment fluid so as to create or enhance one or more fractures therein, wherein the viscosified treatment fluid is introduced into a well bore that penetrates the portion of the subterranean formation to be fractured at a surface pressure of less than about 25,000 pounds per square inch. In other embodiments, the present invention provides methods of frac packing a subterranean formation and methods of reducing a surface pressure needed to create one or more fractures in a portion of a subterranean formation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.