METHOD OF SLICKWATER FRACTURING
The present invention relates to a method of slickwater hydraulic fracturing of a subterranean formation comprising introducing into a wellbore an aqueous fracturing fluid comprising a nonionic polymer and polyethylene oxide.
1 . A method of slickwater fracturing comprising introducing into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation an aqueous fracturing fluid comprising:
a) a nonionic polymer that is not polyethylene oxide; and
b) polyethylene oxide
at a pressure sufficient to create or enlarge a fracture in the subterranean formation.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nonionic polymer is non-derivatized guar or derivatized guar.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nonionic polymer is a polysaccharide.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous fracturing fluid further comprises:
c) a cationic, anionic, zwitterionic or nonionic surfactant, other than polyethylene oxide or the nonionic polymer.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fracturing fluid does not contain a surfactant.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fracturing fluid does not contain a crosslinking agent or a component which is crosslinked.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fracturing fluid further comprises a proppant.
8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the fracturing fluid further comprises:
c) a nonionic surfactant, other than polyethylene oxide and the nonionic polymer.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous fracturing fluid has viscosity of less than 15 cP at 300 rpm.
10 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising creating a partial monolayer in the created or enlarged fracture with the proppant.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the apparent specific gravity of the proppant is less than or equal to 2.25.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the apparent specific gravity of the proppant is less than or equal to 1.75.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of polyethylene oxide in the aqueous fracturing fluid is between from about 0.05 to about 0.2 weight percent.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of nonionic polymer:polyethylene oxide is from about 1:5 to about 5:1.
15 . A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising introducing into a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation under turbulent flow an aqueous fracturing fluid comprising:
a) a nonionic polymer that is not polyethylene oxide; and
b) polyethylene oxide at a pressure sufficient to create or enlarge a fracture in the subterranean formation, wherein the amount of shear degradation from the turbulent flow of the aqueous fracturing fluid is less than when a substantially similar aqueous fracturing fluid is introduced into the wellbore which does not contain the nonionic polymer.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the amount of shear degradation of polyethylene oxide from the turbulent flow of the aqueous fracturing fluid containing the nonionic polymer and polyethylene oxide is at least 40% less than the amount of shear degradation resulting from the substantially similar aqueous fracturing fluid without the addition of the nonionic polymer.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the fracturing fluid further comprises a proppant.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising creating a partial monolayer in the created or enlarged fracture with the proppant.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the apparent specific gravity of the proppant is less than or equal to 2.25.
20 . A method of slickwater fracturing comprising introducing into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation an aqueous fracturing fluid having a viscosity of less than 15 cP at 300 rpm at a pressure sufficient to create or enlarge a fracture in the subterranean formation, wherein the aqueous fracturing fluid comprises a non-derivatized guar or derivatized guar or a combination thereof, polyethylene oxide and proppant.
21 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising creating a partial monolayer in the created or enlarged fracture with the proppant.