Clean Viscosified Treatment Fluids and Associated Methods

Abstract

Treatment fluids comprising an aqueous base fluid, a viscosifying agent, and a compliant dual-functional additive are provided. The present invention provides methods of using the treatment fluids in subterranean formations. One example of a suitable method includes providing a fracturing fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, a viscosifying agent, and a compliant dual-functional additive that acts as a fluid loss control agent and a breaker and introducing the fracturing fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one or more fractures in the subterranean formation.

1 . A method comprising:
 providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, a viscosifying agent, and a compliant dual-functional additive; and   introducing the treatment fluid into at least a portion of the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the compliant dual-functional additive restricts the flow of a fluid through pore throats within the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the compliant dual-functional additive comprises an ester selected from the group consisting of: ethyl formate, propyl formate, butyl formate, amyl formate, anisyl formate, methyl acetate, propyl acetate, triacetin, butyl propionate, isoamyl propionate, ethyl lactate, methyl butyrate, ethyl isobutyrate, butyl isobutyrate, diethyl malonate, butyl ethyl malonate, dimethyl succinate, diethyl succinate, diethyl malate, diethyl tartrate, dimethyl tartrate, triethyl citrate, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the compliant dual-functional additive degrades to form an acid, and the acid acts as a viscosity reducing agent for the treatment fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of: formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the viscosifying agent is selected from the group consisting of: a carboxymethylguar, a carboxymethylhydroxyethylguar, a carboxymethylhydroxypropylguar, a hydroxyethyl cellulose, a carboxyethylcellulose, a carboxymethylcellulose, a carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose, diutan gum, a xanthan gum, a galactomannan, a cellulose derivative, a hydroxyethylguar, a hydroxypropylguar, a scleroglucan, a wellan, a starch, an acrylamide, an acrylate and any derivative and combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the viscosifying agent is crosslinked. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a self-degrading filter cake is formed. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 providing a fracturing fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, a viscosifying agent, and a compliant dual-functional additive that acts as a fluid loss control agent and a breaker; and   introducing the fracturing fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one or more fractures in the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the compliant dual-functional additive comprises an ester selected from the group consisting of: ethyl formate, propyl formate, butyl formate, amyl formate, anisyl formate, methyl acetate, propyl acetate, triacetin, butyl propionate, isoamyl propionate, ethyl lactate, methyl butyrate, ethyl isobutyrate, butyl isobutyrate, diethyl malonate, butyl ethyl malonate, dimethyl succinate, diethyl succinate, diethyl malate, diethyl tartrate, dimethyl tartrate, triethyl citrate, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the compliant dual-functional additive degrades to form an acid, and the acid acts as a viscosity reducing agent for the fracturing fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of: formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the viscosifying agent is selected from the group consisting of a carboxymethylguar, a carboxymethylhydroxyethylguar, a carboxymethylhydroxypropylguar, a hydroxyethylcellulose, a carboxyethylcellulose, a carboxymethylcellulose, a carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose, diutan gum, a xanthan gum, a galactomannan, a cellulose derivative, a hydroxyethylguar, a hydroxypropylguar, scleroglucan, a wellan, a starch, an acrylamide, an acrylate and any derivative and combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the viscosifying agent is crosslinked. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, a viscosifying agent, and a compliant dual-functional additive that comprises a fluid loss control agent and a breaker;   introducing the treatment fluid into at least a portion of the subterranean formation; and   allowing the dual-functional additive to minimize fluid loss by obstructing at least one pore throat in the subterranean formation.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the compliant dual-functional additive comprises an ester selected from the group consisting of: ethyl formate, propyl formate, butyl formate, amyl formate, anisyl formate, methyl acetate, propyl acetate, triacetin, butyl propionate, isoamyl propionate, ethyl lactate, methyl butyrate, ethyl isobutyrate, butyl isobutyrate, diethyl malonate, butyl ethyl malonate, dimethyl succinate, diethyl succinate, diethyl malate, diethyl tartrate, dimethyl tartrate, triethyl citrate, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the compliant dual-functional additive releases an acid and the acid interacts with the viscosifying agent so as to reduce the viscosity of the treatment fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of: formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the viscosifying agent is selected from the group consisting of: a carboxymethylguar, a carboxymethylhydroxyethylguar, a carboxymethylhydroxypropylguar, a hydroxyethylcellulose, a carboxyethylcellulose, a carboxymethylcellulose, a carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose, diutan gum, a xanthan gum, a galactomannan, a cellulose derivative, a hydroxyethylguar, a hydroxypropylguar, a scleroglucan, a wellan, a starch, an acrylamide, an acrylate and any derivative and combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein a self-degrading filter cake is formed.