Alternative Fracturing Fluids: Expanding the Field of Possible Applications and Properties of Hydrophobically Modified Polyacrylamide

In this paper, the properties of an alternative fluid for hydraulic fracturing (HF) technology based on hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide (HM-PAAm) are studied. HM-PAAm forms gels as a result of cross-linking of polymer chains by hydrophobic domains. Such cross-links are strong enough to impart resistance to temperature, but they can break and recombine under external influences, which makes it possible to restore properties after strong mechanical shear stresses. In the work, the influence of polymer concentration, temperature, and shear rate on the rheological properties of the gels was studied and the conditions for producing gels promising for use in hydraulic fracturing technology were determined.