Novel synthetic caustic composition

A method of fracking a hydrocarbon-bearing formation using a cross-linked polymer gel, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a hydrocarbon-bearing formation;
• providing a polymer;
• providing a cross-linking activator and adding such to the polymer;
• adding to the polymer mixture a caustic composition comprising:
• a caustic component;
• an amino acid additive adapted to provide an extended buffering effect to the caustic composition when such is exposed to an acid;
• and
• water;
• wherein the amino acid additive is selected from the group consisting of:
• alanine;
• arginine;
• asparagine;
• aspartic acid;
• cysteine;
• glutamic acid;
• glutamine;
• histidine;
• isoleucine;
• leucine;
• lysine;
• methionine;
• phenylalanine;
• proline;
• serine;
• threonine;
• tryptophan;
• tyrosine;
• valine and salts thereof,
• adding a proppant to the resulting polymer mixture;
• and
• injecting said resulting polymer-proppant composition into the formation.

An aqueous caustic composition comprising:

• a caustic component;
• an amino acid additive adapted to provide an extended buffering effect to the caustic composition when such is exposed to an acid;
• and
• water;
• wherein the amino acid additive is selected from the group consisting of:
• alanine;
• arginine;
• asparagine;
• aspartic acid;
• cysteine;
• glutamic acid;
• glutamine;
• histidine;
• isoleucine;
• leucine;
• lysine;
• methionine;
• phenylalanine;
• proline;
• serine;
• threonine;
• tryptophan;
• tyrosine;
• valine and salts thereof, and wherein the caustic component is present in a concentration of up to 40 wt % of the composition and the caustic component and the additive are present in a molar ratio ranging from 15:1 to 5:1.