A comprehensive review of beneficial applications of viscoelastic surfactants in wellbore hydraulic fracturing fluids

Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing integrates key technologies assisting in the establishment, increase, and stabilization of gas and oil production. In particular, the performance of the working fracturing- fluid system strongly influences the outcome of the production stimulation operation. There are many types of fracturing fluids involved in the field of oil and gas reservoir stimulation. However, conventional fracturing fluid such as guar gum fracturing fluid tends to deposit residues in many reservoirs, making it unsuitable for use in the hydraulic fracturing of tight reservoirs. The viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fracturing fluids, also referred to as clean fracturing fluids, are becoming more widely used because they are simple to prepare, offer excellent viscoelasticity, do not require cross-linking agents, break automatically when they encounter oil and/or formation water, are easy to return to discharge, and are less harmful to the formation. Moreover, the VES fracturing fluid systems rely on the network micellar structure formed by the viscous deformation and cross-linking of surfactants to transport proppants. VES systems change the way the fracturing fluid carries proppants in the traditional fracturing process. They also improve the conductivity of the filling layer’s ability and reduce the possibility of secondary damage to the reservoir by avoiding residue deposition. Substantial progress has been made in recent years regarding research and field application of VES fracturing fluids, and this study reviews that work. The most commonly used surfactants and their properties are described and critically assessed, together with their operational advantages and disadvantages, and areas for improvement in VES applications. In particular, the impacts of nanoparticles (NP) on VES-based fracturing fluids performance are identified, together with the specific fracturing fluids problems that VES deployments can help to resolve. The review also addresses the economic and environmental issues associated with VES fracturing fluids, and makes recommendations regarding future research required to further advance VES fracturing fluids applications.