ABSTRACT
To obtain a new fracturing fluid viscosifier, hexadecyl dimethyl amine was used to modify carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (CMHEC) to obtain a product called HD-CMHEC with high viscosity. The rheological properties of HD-CMHEC solutions and CMHEC solutions were studied. For the concentration of 0.3%, the viscosity of CMHEC and HD-CMHEC solutions is, respectively, 19.0 mPa · s and 73.6 mPa · s, respectively. The viscosity of HD-CMHEC solution increases 2.8 times than before. The thixotropy and viscoelasticity of HD-CMHEC solutions become stronger. As a typical viscoelastic fluid, HD-CMHEC solutions show better rheological performance than that of CMHEC solutions. The gelling process of HD-CMHEC solutions under steady shear was studied in detail. The concentrations of HD-CMHEC solutions, shear rates, and crosslinking agent were investigated. Viscosity versus time curves during the crosslinking process were obtained. The four-parameter crosslinking rheokinetics equation can describe the gelling process of HD-CMHEC solutions under different conditions well. Study on the gelling process of HD-CMHEC solutions under steady shear contributes to the understanding of gel formation, and provides theoretical guidance for exploration and exploitation of the system.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Acknowledgments
This project was granted financial support from the National High Technology Research and Development Program “863” Project of China (2013AA064801).