Method of slickwater fracturing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of slickwater hydraulic fracturing of a subterranean formation comprising introducing into a wellbore an aqueous fracturing fluid comprising a nonionic polymer and polyethylene oxide.

1 . A method of slickwater fracturing comprising introducing into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation an aqueous fracturing fluid comprising:
 a) a nonionic polymer that is not polyethylene oxide; and   b) polyethylene oxide   
       at a pressure sufficient to create or enlarge a fracture in the subterranean formation. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nonionic polymer is non-derivatized guar or derivatized guar. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nonionic polymer is a polysaccharide. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous fracturing fluid further comprises:
 c) a cationic, anionic, zwitterionic or nonionic surfactant, other than polyethylene oxide or the nonionic polymer.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fracturing fluid does not contain a surfactant. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fracturing fluid does not contain a crosslinking agent or a component which is crosslinked. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fracturing fluid further comprises a proppant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the fracturing fluid further comprises:
 c) a nonionic surfactant, other than polyethylene oxide and the nonionic polymer.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous fracturing fluid has viscosity of less than 15 cP at 300 rpm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising creating a partial monolayer in the created or enlarged fracture with the proppant. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the apparent specific gravity of the proppant is less than or equal to 2.25. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the apparent specific gravity of the proppant is less than or equal to 1.75. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of polyethylene oxide in the aqueous fracturing fluid is between from about 0.05 to about 0.2 weight percent. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of nonionic polymer:polyethylene oxide is from about 1:5 to about 5:1. 
     
     
         15 . A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising introducing into a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation under turbulent flow an aqueous fracturing fluid comprising:
 a) a nonionic polymer that is not polyethylene oxide; and   b) polyethylene oxide at a pressure sufficient to create or enlarge a fracture in the subterranean formation, wherein the amount of shear degradation from the turbulent flow of the aqueous fracturing fluid is less than when a substantially similar aqueous fracturing fluid is introduced into the wellbore which does not contain the nonionic polymer.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the amount of shear degradation of polyethylene oxide from the turbulent flow of the aqueous fracturing fluid containing the nonionic polymer and polyethylene oxide is at least 40% less than the amount of shear degradation resulting from the substantially similar aqueous fracturing fluid without the addition of the nonionic polymer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the fracturing fluid further comprises a proppant. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising creating a partial monolayer in the created or enlarged fracture with the proppant. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the apparent specific gravity of the proppant is less than or equal to 2.25. 
     
     
         20 . A method of slickwater fracturing comprising introducing into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation an aqueous fracturing fluid having a viscosity of less than 15 cP at 300 rpm at a pressure sufficient to create or enlarge a fracture in the subterranean formation, wherein the aqueous fracturing fluid comprises a non-derivatized guar or derivatized guar or a combination thereof, polyethylene oxide and proppant. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising creating a partial monolayer in the created or enlarged fracture with the proppant.