Performance and field implementation of a new fracturing fluid consisting of hydrophobically associating polyacrylamide and anionic surfactant

The fundamental cause of the proppant suspension behavior in hydraulic fracturing fluids lies in its internal microcosmic network structure and structural strength. In addition to chemical crosslinking, another method to form a network structure is established in this paper. Hydrophobically associating polyacrylamide and an anionic surfactant self-assembly process was applied to form a network structure. Compared with crosslinked hydroxypropyl guar gel, the new fracturing fluid even has better proppant suspending properties in static conditions. The capability does not result from crosslinkage but from reinforced physical associations between chains. The performance of this new fracturing fluid was tested and the results showed that it can fully satisfy the requirement of fracturing fluid. Field test shows excellent stimulation effects during its applications in 400 wells in eight oilfields in China.