Methods for removing residual polymer from a hydraulic fracture

A method for removing a residual polymer from a hydraulic fracture comprising not necessarily in this order:

• injecting a plurality of aliquots of viscoelastic surfactant (VES) gelled fluid into a subterranean formation, where a regular stop-start interval exists between the injection of each aliquot, where the regular stop-start interval comprises from about 0.5 minutes to about 30 minute between the injecting of each aliquot, where the viscoelastic surfactant gelled fluid comprises:
• water;
• at least one viscoelastic surfactant in an amount effective to increase the viscosity of the water;
• and
• at least one internal breaker selected from the group consisting of bacteria, transition metal ion sources, saponified fatty acids, mineral oils, hydrogenated polyalphaolefin oils, saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and combinations thereof;
• contacting at least some of the residual polymer in the hydraulic fracture with the VES gelled fluid;
• reducing the viscosity of the VES gelled fluid with the internal breaker to form a broken fluid;
• and
• removing at least a portion of the residual polymer along with a majority of the broken fluid.