IP Library Granted Patent US 12,540,271
Granted Patent B2
US 12,540,271 · App. 18/734,074 · Granted Feb 3, 2026

Compositions for enhancing viscosity of subterranean fluids utilizing chelating agents

Inventors: Rajendra Arunkumar Kalgaonkar (Dhahran, SA); Amro Othman (Al Khobar, SA); Muhammed Shahzad Kamal (Dhahran, SA); Mohamed Mahmoud (Dhahran, SA); Murtada Saleh Aljawad (Dhahran, SA); Qasim Sahu (Muntazah, SA)
Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company; King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
C09K8/685C09K8/885C09K2208/28
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,540,271
App. No.
18/734,074
Granted
Feb 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A composition for use in well stimulation operations, the composition comprising a saline fluid, the saline fluid comprising between 50,000 ppm and 70,000 ppm; a polymer, the polymer operable to react with a crosslinker to increase a viscosity of the saline fluid; a zirconium crosslinker, the zirconium crosslinker operable to react with the polymer; and a chelating agent, the chelating agent comprises L-glutamic acid N, N diacetic acid (GLDA), wherein the GLDA is present in an amount between 1 wt % and 8 w t %.

Claims (20)

1 . A composition for use in well stimulation operations, the composition comprising:

a saline fluid, the saline fluid comprising between 50,000 ppm and 70,000 ppm;

a polymer, the polymer operable to react with a crosslinker to increase a viscosity of the saline fluid, wherein the polymer is present in an amount between 0.5 wt % and 0.6 wt %;

a zirconium crosslinker, the zirconium crosslinker operable to react with the polymer, wherein the zirconium crosslinker is present in an amount of 1 wt %; and

a chelating agent, the chelating agent comprises L-glutamic acid N, N diacetic acid (GLDA), wherein the GLDA is present in an amount between 1 wt % and 8 wt %,

wherein the composition has a viscosity in the range between 90 cP and 1000 cP after 4 hours,

wherein the composition has a pH between 10 and 14 where pH greater than 10 activates the zirconium crosslinker.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the saline fluid can be selected from the group consisting of seawater, produced water, and combinations of the same.

3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar (CMHPG) polymer.

4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition has a viscosity in the range between 90 cP and 1000 cP.

5 . A method of using a hydraulic fracturing fluid, the method comprising the step of:

injecting the hydraulic fracturing fluid into a formation during a well stimulation operation, wherein the hydraulic fracturing fluid comprises:

a saline fluid, the saline fluid comprising between 50,000 ppm and 70,000 ppm;

a polymer, the polymer operable to react with a crosslinker to increase a viscosity of the saline fluid, wherein the polymer is present in an amount between 0.5 wt % and 0.6 wt %;

a zirconium crosslinker, the zirconium crosslinker operable to react with the polymer wherein the zirconium crosslinker is present in an amount of 1 wt %; and

a chelating agent, the chelating agent comprises L-glutamic acid N, N diacetic acid (GLDA), wherein the GLDA is present in an amount between 1 wt % and 8 wt %; and

wherein the hydraulic fracturing fluid has a viscosity of 1000 cP before reaching the formation and a viscosity of between 90 cP and 100 cP after 1 hour, wherein the hydraulic fracturing fluid has a pH between 10 and 14, where pH greater than 10 activates the zirconium crosslinker.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the well stimulation operation is selected from the group consisting of fracturing and proppant transport.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the saline fluid can be selected from the group consisting of seawater, produced water, and combinations of the same.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the polymer comprises carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar (CMHPG) polymer.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2024
From: KALGAONKAR, RAJENDRA ARUNKUMAR; SAHU, QASIM
To: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 067626/0484 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2024
From: OTHMAN, AMRO; ALJAWAD, MURTADA SALEH; KAMAL, MUHAMMED SHAHZAD; MAHMOUD, MOHAMED
To: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & MINERALS
Reel/Frame 067626/0534 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250376618A1 · Dec 11, 2025
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