Synthesis and evaluation of water-soluble fracturing fluid thickener based on hydrophobic association

A cyclic quaternary ammonium salt type hydrophobic monomer VIM-16 was synthesized by 1-vinylimidazole and 1-bromohexadecane, and the hydrophobically associative polymer PAAV was prepared with AM and AMPS. It was cross-linked with 0.3% zirconium acetylacetonate to form a viscoelastic fracturing fluid. The rheological properties of it were found to have good thickening and shear resistance properties. Using 0.2% gel breaker, the gel was completely broken. No residue, it was a low damage fracturing fluid. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the microscopic morphology, and the morphology after cross-linking to form the jelly showed a uniform, regular and ordered network structure.