Fracturing with viscoelastic surfactant based fluid
View Patent ↗A subterranean fracturing fluid, which is relatively harmless to both the environment and subterranean formations includes an amphoteric surfactant, specifically a betaine surfactant and an organic electrolyte or an alcohol in an aqueous medium. Depending upon the proportions of the ingredients, and fluid can be foamed.
1. A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising the step of injecting a visoelastic surfactant based fracturing fluid into the formation at a pressure sufficient to initiate fracturing, said fluid consisting of
a) an aqueous medium,
b) a betaine surfactant having the general formula
wherein R is an alkyl, alkylene or acyl group containing 16-24 carbon atoms and
c) a compound selected from the group consisting of dodecyl benzene sulphonate salt, hexadecylbenzene sulphonate salt, xylene sulphonate salt; cumene sulphonate salt; hexa-diphenyl oxide disulfonate salt, decyl diphenyl oxide disulfonate salt, decanol, dodecanol, tetradecanol, hexadecanol and benzyl alcohol.
2. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein R is an alkyl group having 16-24 carbon atoms.
3. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein R is an alkylene group having 16-24 carbon atoms and 102 double bonds.
4. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein R is an acyl group having 16-24 carbon atoms.
5. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the betaine surfactant is in the range of 0.1-6.0% by weight of the said fluid.
6. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is selected from the group consisting of erucyl dimethyl betaine, docosyl dimethyl betaine, octadecyl dimethyl betaine, hexadecyl dimethyl betaine, and tallow dimenthyl betaine.
7. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is hexadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is dodecyl benzene sulphonate salt.
8. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is hexadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is cumene sulphonate salt.
9. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is hexadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is xylene sulphonate salt.
10. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is hexadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is hexa-diphenyl oxide disulfonate salt.
11. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is hexadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is decyl diphenyl oxide disulfonate salt.
12. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is octadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is dodecyl benzene sulphonate salt.
13. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is octadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is cumene sulphonate salt.
14. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is octadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is xylene sulphonate salt.
15. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is octadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is hexa-diphenyl oxide disulfonate salt.
16. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is octadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is decyl diphenyl oxide disulfonate salt.
17. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is hexadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is decanol.
18. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is hexadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is benzyl alcohol.
19. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is hexadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is hexadecanol.
20. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is hexadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is tetradecanol.
21. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is octadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is decanol.
22. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is octadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is tetradecanol.
23. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is octadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is benzyl alcohol.
24. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said betaine surfactant is octadecyl dimethyl betaine and said compound (c) is hexadecanol.
25. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said fracturing fluid further includes N 2 and CO 2 .
26. A method of fracturing according to the method of claim 1 , wherein said fracturing fluid further includes a particulate material suspended therein.