Dual-Mechanism Thickening Agents for Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to multi-arm star macromolecules which are used as thickening agents or rheology modifiers, including use in hydraulic fracturing fluid compositions. In one aspect of the invention, a star macromolecule is capable of thickening via a dual mechanism comprising (1) self-assembly of the hydrophobic polymerized segments of the star macromolecules via hydrophobic interactions or associations, and (2) association, reaction, or combination of the hydroxyl-containing polymerized segments of one or more of the star macromolecules.
5 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A star macromolecule represented by Formula (I):
-
14. A dual-mechanism thickening agent, comprising a star macromolecule having a molecular weight of between 150,000 g/mol and 5,000,000 g/mol that forms a homogeneous gel when dissolved in water at a concentration of at least 0.05 wt. %;
wherein the gel has; i) a dynamic viscosity of at least 20,000 cP; ii) a salt-induced break value of at least 60%; iii) a shear-thinning value of at least 10; iv) an increase in dynamic viscosity of at least 5,000 cP in a 0.2 wt. % Borax aqueous solution, according to Borate-Crosslinker Thickening Test;
orv) combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
Specification