Enzymatic degradation of guar galactomannans: A rheological study
- North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States)
Aqueous gels of guar gum and its derivatives are widely used in hydraulic fracturing for enhancing oil or gas production. Subsequently, these gels need to be degraded and flushed out of the wells to provide passage for oil or gas flow. The use of thermostable enzymes to hydrolyze the guar gums offers a novel and viable approach to polymer degradation for this application. Most wells of commercial interest are at high temperatures and the use of enzymatic degradation can lead to a significant expansion in the use of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas recovery. In this study, steady shear measurements are used to determine the effect of several enzymes on polymer viscosity. The effect of various parameters such as enzyme type and concentration, temperature of hydrolysis and pH of the solutions on the extent and kinetics of polymer degradation are discussed.
- OSTI ID:
- 126164
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950402--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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