Organic acid-enhanced viscoelastic surfactant and its application in fracturing fluids

Li Z. Kang W. Zhao Y. Yang H. Li M. Kang X. Zhu T. Zhou B. Sarsenbekuly B. Aidarova S.
18 February 2021 American Chemical Society

Energy and Fuels
2021 #35 Issue 4 3130 - 3139 pp.

Viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fracturing fluids, with the advantages of low residues, complete gel breaking, and low formation damage, have received considerable attention in hydraulic fracturing techniques. However, the complicated synthesis process and high costs limit the widespread application of VESs. Herein, a VES fracturing fluid composed of wormlike micelles was developed by coupling an ultralong hydrophobic chain surfactant N-erucamidopropyl-N,N-dimethylamine (EA), with p-phthalic acid (p-PA), which behaved as a Gemini-likesurfactant via noncovalent interactions. The macroscopic appearance and viscosity of this fluid were responsive to the regulation of pH values. Then, the related fracturing performance of this fluid was systematically investigated, from which it could be concluded that the VES fluid exhibited good temperature and shear resistance, excellent proppant-carrying and gel-breaking abilities and also caused less damage to core permeability and low corrosion of steel under acidic conditions. Finally, the rheological properties of the VES fluid could be switched multiple times without any decay by changing the pH values, indicating its excellent reusability for fracturing procedures. Consequently, this study demonstrates potential applications of reusable VES fracturing fluids based on supramolecular pH-responsive surfactants.

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Key Laboratory of Unconventional Oil & Gas Development, China University of Petroleum (East China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266580, China
School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China
Research Institute of Petroleum Engineering, SINOPEC Henan Oilfield Company, Nanyang, 473132, China
Kazakh-British Technical University, Almaty, 050000, Kazakhstan

Key Laboratory of Unconventional Oil & Gas Development
School of Petroleum Engineering
Research Institute of Petroleum Engineering
Kazakh-British Technical University

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