Gelled liquid hydrocarbon treatment fluids having reduced phosphorus volatility and their associated methods of use and preparation

A method of preparing a reduced volatility gelled liquid hydrocarbon treatment fluid comprising the steps of:

• adding to a liquid hydrocarbon a phosphoric acid ester having the formula:
• wherein R or R′ comprises a hydrocarbon group having about 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, and R or R′ comprises a hydrocarbon group having from about 1 to about 6 carbon atoms;
• adding an activator composition comprising a source of polyvalent metal ions that react with the phosphoric acid ester to form a polyvalent metal salt of the phosphoric acid ester;
• and
• allowing the liquid hydrocarbon to gel to form a reduced volatility gelled liquid hydrocarbon treatment fluid.

A gelled liquid hydrocarbon treatment fluid:

• that comprises a liquid hydrocarbon and a gelling agent that comprises a polyvalent metal salt of a phosphoric acid ester;
• that has a concentration of less than about 250 mg/liter of trialkyl phosphate esters that have a molecular weight of less than about 350;
• and
• that has a diester-to-monoester content molar ratio of at about least about 2:1.

A gelled liquid hydrocarbon treatment fluid:

• that comprises a liquid hydrocarbon and a gelling agent that comprises a polyvalent metal salt of a phosphoric acid ester;
• that has a concentration of less than about 100 mg/liter of trialkyl phosphate esters that have a molecular weight of less than about 350;
• and
• that has a diester-to-monoester content molar ratio of at about least 2:1.

A gelled liquid hydrocarbon treatment fluid:

• that comprises a liquid hydrocarbon and a gelling agent that comprises a polyvalent metal salt of a phosphoric acid ester;
• that has a concentration of less than about 50 mg/liter of trialkyl phosphate esters that have a molecular weight of less than about 350;
• and
• that has a diester-to-monoester content molar ratio of at about least 2:1.