Viscoelastic surfactant fracturing fluids and a method for fracturing subterranean formations
OwnerRobert T. Whaleninventor
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Abstract
Viscoelastic surfactant fluids for fracturing subterranean formations penetrated by a wellbore. The surfactant fluids are comprised of an aqueous medium; an effective amount of an inorganic water soluble salt; and an effective amount of at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of: i) anionic surfactants; ii) nonionic surfactants; and iii) hydrotropic surfactants. The surfactant compositions can be further stabilized and the viscosity increased by the addition of one or more hydrophobic organic alcohols. This invention also relates to a method for fracturing subterranean formations using said viscoelastic surfactant fluids.
Claims16
A method of fracturing a subterranean well formation comprising the steps of:
- i) providing a viscoelastic surfactant fracturing fluid composition comprised of an effective amount of one or more surfactants selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, and hydrotropic surfactants and one or more hydrophobic organic alcohols, in an aqueous medium, wherein said surfactant fracturing fluid composition is substantially free of polymer;
- and
- ii) pumping said fracturing fluid composition through a wellbore and into a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.