A new fracturing fluid with combination of single phase microemulsion and gelable polymer system

The purpose of this study was to construct a new fracturing fluid named as SPME-Gel with the combination of a single phase microemulsion (SPME) and a gelable polymer system, which could reduce the polymer loading, improve other properties of the gelled polymer with good synergistic effect. The formulation of single phase microemulsion system was obtained from the phase diagram experiments. SPEM-Gel formulations were prepared by adding SPME into a gelable polymer system at various concentrations with the characteristics of high viscosity, low fluid loss and low friction. Furthermore, the broken SPME-Gel systems have low residues remaining in formation, low surface tension, low pressure to initiate cleanup and high core permeability maintaining. Thus, SPME-Gel is a promising formulation with the advantages of reducing formation damage, lowering the initiate cleanup pressure and maintaining the original core regain for fracturing treatment. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.