Self-assembly networks of wormlike micelles and hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide with high performance in fracturing fluid application

Dynamic rheology and steady shear viscosity of an aqueous salt solution of 2 wt% viscoelastic gemini surfactant 1,2-N,N′-bis (dimethyloctadecyl) ethene ammonium bromide and its mixture with low molecular weight hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide (HMPAM) were investigated. The solution of surfactant in the presence of potassium chloride exhibited typical Maxwellian fluid behavior with a single stress relaxation time, indicating the formation of transient networks of entangled wormlike micelles (WLMs). Polymer profoundly affected the rheological properties of WLMs. The WLMs/HMPAM system demonstrated higher plateau modulus and zero-shear viscosity than the single WLMs system by self-assembling into common networks which was identified by scanning electron microscopy morphology. In contrast to the WLMs system, the WLMs/HMPAM system exhibited better temperature and shear resistance while retaining complete responsiveness to hydrocarbons. Based on the fracturing fluid application evaluation, the WLMs/HMPAM system had an applicable temperature, which was 30 °C higher than the WLMs system, and the core damage rate showed that the WLMs/HMPAM system was very promising in clean fracturing fluid application.