Method of gelling hydrocarbons and fracturing subterranean formations

A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore comprising:

• mixing a liquid hydrocarbon with a viscosifying effective amount of an alkyl orthophosphate acid ester, an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide and a reaction product resulting from the reaction of a water soluble source of aluminum or ferric ions and a C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 surface active amine in the presence of a water miscible organic solvent whereby said hydrocarbon liquid is caused to viscosify, said alkyl orthophosphate acid ester and alkali metal hydroxide being unmixed with said reaction product of said water soluble source of aluminum or ferric ions and said C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 surface active amine until the same are in contact with said hydrocarbon liquid.

A method of rapidly viscosifying a liquid hydrocarbon comprising:

• mixing said liquid hydrocarbon with an effective viscosifying amount of a first component comprising an admixture of an orthophosphate ester having the general formula ##STR2## wherein R is C.sub.6 to C.sub.18 and R.sub.1 is an alkyl radical of from C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 and an alkali metal hydroxide and a second component comprising the reaction product of a soluble source of aluminum or ferric ions and a C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 surface active amine in the presence of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 monohydric alcohol whereby said mixture is caused to rapidly viscosify and achieve a viscosity of at least about 4000 cp in less than 30 seconds as measured by a Brookfield Synchrolectric viscometer Model LTV using a #3 Spindle rotating at 12 rpm at ambient temperature when said first and second component are at a concentration of 0.5% by volume of said liquid hydrocarbon, said first and said second component being unmixed until substantially in contact with said liquid hydrocarbon.