Chlorine dioxide-mediated polymer hydration

Abstract

A method includes adding an amount of chlorine dioxide from about 10 ppm to about 400 ppm to an aqueous base fluid to provide a treated fluid, adding a water-soluble polymer to the treated fluid, thereby forming a hydrated polymer, the amount of chlorine dioxide added confers a viscosity increase allowing a reduction in the amount of water-soluble polymer to obtain a target viscosity by about 25% to about 75% relative to a control fluid lacking chlorine dioxide.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 adding an amount of chlorine dioxide from about 10 ppm to about 400 ppm to an aqueous base fluid to provide a treated fluid;   adding a water-soluble polymer to the treated fluid, thereby forming a hydrated polymer;
 wherein the amount of chlorine dioxide added confers a viscosity increase allowing a reduction in the amount of water-soluble polymer to obtain a target viscosity by about 25% to about 75% relative to a control fluid lacking chlorine dioxide. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of chlorine dioxide is in a range from about 10 to about 50 ppm. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of chlorine dioxide is in a range from about 50 ppm to about 300 ppm. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of chlorine dioxide is in a range from about 50 ppm to about 200 ppm. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of chlorine dioxide is in a range from about 100 ppm to about 250 ppm. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of chlorine dioxide is in a range from about 150 ppm to about 200 ppm. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of a polyacrylate, a polyacrylamide, a cellulose, a xanthan gum, a guar gum, a diutan, a wellan, a glucan, a glycan, a dextran, an alginate, a curdlan, a pullulan, and combinations thereof and derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of a polyacrylamide, partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, sulfonated polyacrylamide, methyl cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose, sulfonated carboxymethylcellulose, sulfonated carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose, sulfonated hydroxyethylcellulose, sulfonated methylhydroxypropylcellulose, sulfonated methylcellulose, sulfonated ethylcellulose, sulfonated propylcellulose, sulfonated ethylcarboxymethylcellulose, sulfonated methylethylcellulose, sulfonated hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, guar, hydroxypropylguar, succinoglycan, scleroglucan, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble polymer is a polyacrylamide. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous base fluid is production water from a subterranean formation. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous base fluid is a production fluid recovered from a polymer flood or a steam flood. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous base fluid is selected from the group consisting of fresh water, salt water, brine, seawater, reclaimed water, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding an additive selected from the group consisting of a corrosion inhibitor, a pH control additive, a surfactant, a salt, a breaker, a fluid loss control additive, a scale inhibitor, an asphaltene inhibitor, a paraffin inhibitor, a biocide, a crosslinker, a fluid stabilizer, a chelant, a foaming agent, a defoamer, an emulsifier, a demulsifier, an iron control agent, an alcohol solvent, a mutual solvent, an oxygen scavenger, a particulate diverter, a gas, a friction reducer, an activator, a retarder, and combinations thereof.