Cross-linked well treating fluids
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorMarcel Rietjens
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Abstract
The present invention provides improved cross-linked well treating fluids and methods for preparing and using the fluids in treating wells such as fracturing subterranean zones therein. The improved cross-linked treating fluids comprise water, a galactomannan gelling agent, a cross-linking agent for cross-linking the galactomannan gelling agent, and a viscosity stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of formaldehyde, formic acid, or mixtures thereof. The viscosity stabilizing agent alters the properties of the well treating fluids and enables them to retain their viscosity over prolonged periods of time when compared to prior well treating fluids.
Claims17
An improved method for treating a subterranean zone penetrated by a wellbore comprising the steps of:
- preparing an improved cross-linked aqueous well treating fluid comprising:
- water;
- a galactomannan gelling agent;
- a cross-linking agent for cross-linking said galactomannan gelling agent;
- a viscosity stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of formic acid and mixtures of formaldehyde and formic acid;
- and
- pumping said treating fluid into said subterranean zone, wherein said formic acid or mixture of formaldehyde and formic acid function to stabilize the viscosity of said fluid.
An improved cross-linked aqueous well treating fluid comprising:
- water;
- guar present in said treating fluid in an amount of about 0.30% by weight of said water;
- a borate ion releasing compound present in said treating fluid in an amount of about 0.2% by weight of said water;
- and
- formic acid present in said treating fluid in an amount of about 0.1% by weight of said water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.