Polymeric Additives for Enhancement of Treatment Fluids Comprising Viscoelastic Surfactants and Methods of Use

Abstract

Polymeric additives used with viscoelastic surfactants, fluids comprising such additives and viscoelastic surfactants, and associated methods of use, are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing a treatment fluid that comprises an aqueous base fluid, a viscoelastic surfactant, and an amphiphilic polymer, the amphiphilic polymer comprising a hydrophobic component, and a hydrophilic component comprising at least 15 monomer units; and introducing the treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A treatment fluid comprising:
 an aqueous base fluid;   a viscoelastic surfactant; and   an amphiphilic polymer that comprises (1) a hydrophobic component selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polystyrene, and combinations thereof and (2) a hydrophilic component comprising at least 15 monomer units and being selected from the group consisting of an ethoxylate, polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyacrylic acid (PAA), polyethylacetate, dimethylacrylamide (DMA), n-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyethyleneimine (PEI), derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         24 . The treatment fluid of  claim 23 , wherein the aqueous base fluid comprises at least one brine. 
     
     
         25 . The treatment fluid of  claim 23 , wherein the viscoelastic surfactant comprises at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of: a methyl ester sulfonate, a hydrolyzed keratin, a sulfosuccinate, a taurate, an amine oxide, an ethoxylated amide, an alkoxylated fatty acid, an alkoxylated alcohol, an ethoxylated fatty amine, an ethoxylated alkyl amine, a betaine, a modified betaine, an alkylamidobetaine, a quaternary ammonium compound, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The treatment fluid of  claim 23 , wherein the treatment fluid does not comprise a zwitterionic surfactant. 
     
     
         27 . The treatment fluid of  claim 23 , wherein the viscoelastic surfactant comprises a catanionic surfactant system. 
     
     
         28 . The treatment fluid of  claim 23 , wherein the viscoelastic surfactant is present in the treatment fluid in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of the treatment fluid. 
     
     
         29 . The treatment fluid of  claim 23 , wherein the amphiphilic polymer is present in the treatment fluid in an amount of from about 1 mol % to about 5 mol % based on the amount of the viscoelastic surfactant. 
     
     
         30 . The treatment fluid of  claim 23 , wherein the treatment fluid further comprises at least one salt. 
     
     
         31 . A subterranean treatment additive comprising:
 a viscoelastic surfactant; and   an amphiphilic polymer that comprises (1) a hydrophobic component selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polystyrene, and combinations thereof and (2) a hydrophilic component comprising at least 15 monomer units and being selected from the group consisting of an ethoxylate, polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyacrylic acid (PAA), polyethylacetate, dimethylacrylamide (DMA), n-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyethyleneimine (PEI), derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         32 . The subterranean treatment additive of  claim 31 , wherein the viscoelastic surfactant comprises at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of: a methyl ester sulfonate, a hydrolyzed keratin, a sulfosuccinate, a taurate, an amine oxide, an ethoxylated amide, an alkoxylated fatty acid, an alkoxylated alcohol, an ethoxylated fatty amine, an ethoxylated alkyl amine, a betaine, a modified betaine, an alkylamidobetaine, a quaternary ammonium compound, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         33 . The subterranean treatment additive of  claim 31 , wherein the treatment fluid does not comprise a zwitterionic surfactant. 
     
     
         34 . The subterranean treatment additive of  claim 31 , wherein the viscoelastic surfactant comprises a catanionic surfactant system.