Multi-functional surfactant complexes for use in subterranean formations

1. A method comprising:

providing a first solution comprising at least one surfactant and a second solution comprising at least one polymeric additive, wherein the surfactant and the polymeric additive carry opposite charges;

using a stop-flow mixing apparatus at a well site to mix the first and second solutions to form one or more multi-functional surfactant complexes that comprise the surfactant and the polymeric additive;

using a low-dose pumping apparatus at the well site to transfer the one or more multi-functional surfactant complexes from the stop-flow mixing apparatus to a blending apparatus at the well site, wherein the low-dose pumping apparatus is capable of transferring a fluid to the blending apparatus at a rate of less than 1 gallon per thousand gallons of fluid mixed in the blending apparatus;

using the blending apparatus to mix the one or more multi-functional surfactant complexes with an aqueous base fluid to form a treatment fluid; and

introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore at the well site penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the treatment fluid is a fracturing fluid, and the fracturing fluid is introduced into the well bore at a pressure sufficient to create or enhance one or more fractures within the subterranean formation.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the stop-flow mixing apparatus comprises an observation cell into which the first and second solutions flow after mixing, and a measurement device configured to monitor the contents of the observation cell, and

the method further comprises using the measurement device to confirm the presence of one or more multi-functional surfactant complexes in the observation cell.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the stop-flow mixing apparatus further comprises a stopping syringe in fluid communication with the observation cell; and

the method further comprises using the stopping syringe to stop the flow of the first and second solutions into the observation cell at a predetermined volume.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the measurement device comprises a UV-visible spectrometer.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the blending apparatus to mix a plurality of proppant particulates with the one or more multi-functional surfactant complexes and the aqueous base fluid to form the treatment fluid.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the blending apparatus comprises a pump and blending system, and the treatment fluid is introduced into the well bore using the pump and blending system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the surfactant comprises at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of: a sodium, potassium, or ammonium salt of a long chain alkyl sulfonate; a sodium, potassium, or ammonium salt of a long chain alkyl aryl sulfonate; a dialkyl sodium sulfosuccinate; an alkyl sulfate; an alkyl sulfonate; an alkoxylated sulfate; an ethoxylated alcohol; a polyglucoside; an ethoxylated long-chain alcohol; an alkyl ammonium bromide; a hydroxysultaine; and any combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymeric additive comprises at least one polymeric additive selected from the group consisting of: a friction reducer; a clay stabilizer; a biocide; a corrosion inhibitor; a scale inhibitor; and any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymeric additive comprises a clay stabilizer.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymeric additive is cationic and the surfactant is anionic.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the treatment fluid further comprises one or more salts.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the treatment fluid further comprises one or more additional surfactants.