Quaternary ammonium salts as thickening agents for aqueous systems

A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising the steps of:

• I) providing a thickened aqueous based hydraulic fracturing fluid, comprising:
• a) an aqueous medium;
• and
• b) an effective amount of at least one gelling agent having the following general structure:
• wherein R1 is alkyl ether alkylene or alkyl ester alkylene, R2 and R3 are each alkyl, hydroxyl alkyl, alkyl, hydroxyl alkyl, polyalkoxy with the degree of polymerization ranging from 2 to 30, hydroxyl alkyl sulfonate, alkyl sulfonate or alkylarylsulfonate;
• R4 is hydrocarbon, saturated or unsaturated;
• or wherein any two of R2, R3 and R4, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a heterocyclic ring;
• and X is selected from the group consisting of halides;
• oxo ions of phosphorus, sulfur or chloride;
• and organic anions;
• and
• c) at least one counterion selected from the group consisting of organic salts, inorganic salts, organic acids, alcohols, and mixtures thereof;
• and
• II. pumping the aqueous fracturing fluid through a wellbore and into a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation.

A well drilling operation, coil-tubing operation, construction operation or mining operation which comprises suspending particles in a thickened aqueous liquid, the method comprising the steps of:

• I) providing an aqueous medium;
• and
• II) adding to said aqueous medium, an effective amount of at least one surfactant and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of organic salts, inorganic salts, organic acids, alcohols, and mixtures thereof, sufficient to increase the viscosity of said aqueous medium wherein said surfactant has the following general structure:
• wherein R1 is alkyl ether alkylene, or alkyl ester alkylene, R2 and R3 are each alkyl, hydroxyl alkyl, alkyl, hydroxyl alkyl, poyalkoxy with the degree of polymerization ranging from 2 to 30, hydroxyl alkyl sulfonate, alkyl sulfonate or alkylarylsulfonate;
• R4 is hydrocarbon, saturated or unsaturated;
• or wherein any two of R2, R3 and R4, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a heterocyclic ring;
• and X is selected from the group consisting of halides;
• oxo ions of phosphorous, sulfur or chloride;
• and organic anions,
• wherein said aqueous liquid is sufficiently thickened to suspend solid particulate matter, and wherein said particulate matter is cutting material, proppant material or mixtures thereof.

An oil field high brine completion fluid comprising:

• a) about 30 wt-% to about 70 wt-% of at least one inorganic or organic salt;
• and
• b) about 0.1 wt-% to about 4 wt-% at least one cationic surfactant having the following general structure:
• wherein R1 is an alkyl ether alkylene, or alkyl ester alkylene;
• R2 and R3 are each alkyl, hydroxyl alkyl, polyalkoxy with the degree of polymerization ranging from 2 to 30, hydroxyl alkyl sulfonate, alkyl sulfonate or alkylarysulfonate;
• R4 is hydrocarbon, saturated or unsaturated;
• or wherein any two of R2, R3, and R4, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, from a heterocyclic ring;
• and X− is selected from the group consisting of halides;
• oxo ions of phosphorous, sulfur or chloride;
• and organic anions.