Breakers for gelled fracturing fluids
A fracturing fluid for a downhole environment is disclosed, comprising a water-sensitive gel; and a hydrated breaker. A fracturing fluid for a downhole environment is also disclosed, the fracturing fluid comprising a water-sensitive carrier and a breaker, the breaker comprising one or more hydrates, and wherein water of the one or more hydrates is releasable so as to act with the water-sensitive carrier to reduce the viscosity of the fluid. A method of treating a downhole environment with a fracturing fluid is also disclosed, the method comprising: providing to the downhole environment a fluid comprising a water-sensitive carrier and a breaker, the breaker comprising one or more hydrates; and allowing water from the one or more hydrates to release so as to act with the carrier to reduce the viscosity of the fluid.
1. A method of treating a downhole environment, the method comprising:
adding a gelling agent and a hydrated breaker to a fracturing fluid to produce a water-sensitive gel, the hydrated breaker being in solid form and having a crystalline framework containing water that is bound within the crystalline framework prior to addition to the fracturing fluid and releasable into the fracturing fluid to act on the water-sensitive gel to reduce the viscosity of the fracturing fluid; and treating a downhole environment with the water-sensitive gel, in which the hydrated breaker is selected to release water bound within the crystalline framework at a delayed rate while treating the downhole environment.
2. A method of treating a downhole environment with a fracturing fluid, the method comprising:
adding to a fracturing fluid a water-sensitive carrier and a breaker, the breaker being in solid form and comprising one or more hydrates prior to addition to the fluid;
providing to the downhole environment the fluid and allowing water from the one or more hydrates to release at a delayed rate while treating the downhole environment so as to act with the carrier to reduce the viscosity of the fluid.
3. The method according to claim 2 , comprising removing from the downhole environment the fluid of reduced viscosity.