Abstract
For the past decade, hydraulic fracturing has been an effective way of stimulating low-permeable reservoirs to increase hydrocarbon productivity. The development of clean and cost-effective fracturing fluid is a key aspect of the hydraulic fracturing process. Studies on smart wormlike viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fluid applicable in fracturing have been growing significantly as revealed by many published scientific papers. This review intends to discuss the properties of VES fluid applicable in the fracturing process, the related limitations and future prospects of these fluids are also included. The influence and mechanisms of different parameters and additives including temperature, concentration, pressure, pH, light, redox reactions, carbon dioxide gas (CO2), nitrogen gas (N2) and organic/inorganic additives significant in improving the properties of VES fluids are emphasized. In contrast with conventional surfactants, the tri-cationic surfactant with the optimum amount of organic salt demonstrated excellent rheology and aggregation properties enough to withstand high temperature (180 °C) which is useful in high reservoir temperature conditions. The rheological properties of gemini surfactants and nanoparticles (NPs) VES enhanced systems are used in low concentrations with improved viscoelasticity and extended stability to withstand high shear rate and temperature during the fracturing process. Likewise, the mixed VES-polymer fluid system has improved fracturing fluid properties than conventional VES or polymer on its own. The development prospects of clean and cost-effective VES fluids applicable in fracturing with varied reservoir conditions including salinity entail more studies especially with gemini-VES, NPs-VES, and reusable-VES fluids. The knowledge from this study is expected to expand understanding of the viscoelastic surfactant behaviors and its applications in the reservoir fracturing process in varied conditions.
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