Study on rheology and thermal stability of mixed (nonionic–anionic) surfactant based fracturing fluids

Mixed surfactant systems have gained significant importance in the development of fracturing fluid due to polymorphism of self-assembly structures that have combined properties of the surfactants in the mixture. In this article, a comparative study on the phase behavior and viscoelastic properties of mixed surfactant based fluids, prepared from Tween 80+NaOA/2-ethyl hexanol/clove oil/water and Tween 20+NaOA/2-ethyl hexanol/clove oil/water quaternary system is investigated in details. The viscoelastic surfactant (VES) based fluids prepared from the former system offered superior rheological properties than the latter system. The addition of 0.1% NaOH and 500 ppm ZnO nano-particles in the VES fluids presented enhanced viscoelastic properties as concluded by static and dynamic rheological tests. Miscibility test indicated the miscibility of the VES fluids with water, unlike in the presence of diesel oil and satisfactory proppant suspension capabilities were exhibited by the developed fluids. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 2177–2187, 2016