Rheology of crosslinked foams

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · SPE Production and Facilities

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/28512-PA· OSTI ID:227851

Harris, P C; Heath, S J

The rheology of foam fracturing fluids has been previously described as a yield-pseudoplastic fluid for a broad range of qualities, linear gel concentrations, and temperatures. With the increased use of foams for fracturing with higher proppant concentrations, cross-linking agents are often added. Because the viscous character of the external phase of the foam strongly influences the viscous properties of the foam, the viscosity of the foam will increase if the external phase is crosslinked. Rheological properties of 25%- to 75%-quality N{sub 2} foams containing borate-crosslinked guar were measured on the recirculating flow-loop viscometer at temperatures from 75 to 300 F. When polymer was crosslinked in the foam, viscosity increased by factors of 3 to 10 or more over foams that contained only linear gel. The fluid viscosity developed in a foam is a product of gas quality, external phase fluid viscosity, and crosslinking of the polymer in the external phase. The extent to which each of these factors is important depends upon both the quality and the concentration of the crosslinked polymer. Viscosity resulting from borate crosslinking is a stronger factor than either quality or linear polymer concentration. Borate crosslinking influence is greatest at low quality and at high polymer concentration.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 227851
• Journal Information: SPE Production and Facilities, Journal Name: SPE Production and Facilities Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 11; ISSN 1064-668X; ISSN SPRFEZ
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FRACTURING FLUIDS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
PERFORMANCE
RHEOLOGY
WELL STIMULATION