Methods for improving friction reduction in aqueous brine

1. A method of improving friction reduction properties of an aqueous treatment fluid, comprising:

(i) providing a water in oil emulsion comprising:

(a) from about 10% to about 35% by weight friction reducing polymer;

(b) at least about 3% by weight of a salt; and

(c) an inverting surfactant; and

(ii) inverting the emulsion in an aqueous treatment fluid containing brine;

wherein the resultant aqueous treatment fluid has an improvement in friction reduction, when compared to a similar aqueous treatment fluid in which the inverted emulsion does not contain salt.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt is an inorganic salt.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the friction reducing polymer comprises about 10% to about 60% anionic monomers by weight.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anionic monomer is acrylic acid.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt is present in an amount of about 0.5% to the point of saturation of the aqueous phase of the emulsion.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the friction reducing polymer comprises a latex polymer, or a copolymer of acrylamide, acrylate, or combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the friction reducing polymer is an anionic polymer.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the friction reducing polymer is a cationic polymer.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the friction reducing polymer is an amphoteric polymer.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the friction reducing polymer is a non-ionic polymer.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the brine comprises sea water; naturally-occurring brine; a chloride-based, bromide-based, formate-based, or acetate-based brine containing monovalent and/or polyvalent cations or combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the inorganic salt is ammonium chloride or ammonium sulfate.