Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
  • C09K8/60—Compositions for stimulating production by acting on the underground formation
  • C09K8/62—Compositions for forming crevices or fractures
  • C09K8/72—Eroding chemicals, e.g. acids
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
  • C09K8/60—Compositions for stimulating production by acting on the underground formation
  • C09K8/62—Compositions for forming crevices or fractures
  • C09K8/72—Eroding chemicals, e.g. acids
  • C09K8/74—Eroding chemicals, e.g. acids combined with additives added for specific purposes
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • C09K2208/00—Aspects relating to compositions of drilling or well treatment fluids
  • C09K2208/30—Viscoelastic surfactants [VES]

Definitions

• the present invention relates to methods and compositions for treating subterranean formations. More particularly, the present invention relates to treatment fluids that comprise a methyl ester sulfonate (“MES”) surfactant, and associated acidizing methods.
• MES methyl ester sulfonate
• the production of desirable fluids from subterranean formations may often be enhanced by stimulating a region of the formation surrounding a well bore.
• the subterranean formation comprises acid-soluble components, such as those present in carbonate and sandstone formations
• stimulation is often achieved by contacting the formation with a treatment fluid comprising an acid.
• acid stimulation treatments are often referred to as "acidizing" the formation. For example, where hydrochloric acid contacts and reacts with calcium carbonate in a formation, the calcium carbonate is consumed to produce water, carbon dioxide, and calcium chloride.
• the water and salts dissolved therein may be recovered by producing them to the surface, e.g., "flowing back" the well, leaving a desirable amount of voids (e.g., wormholes) within the formation, which enhance the formation's permeability and may increase the rate at which hydrocarbons subsequently may be produced from the formation.
• One method of acidizing known as “fracture acidizing,” comprises injecting a treatment fluid comprising an acid into the formation at a pressure sufficient to create or enhance one or more fractures within the subterranean formation.
• matrix acidizing comprises injecting the treatment fluid into the formation at a pressure below that which would create or enhance one or more fractures within the subterranean formation.
• various additives may be added to the treatment fluid.
• One such additive is a gelling agent which may, among other things, increase viscosity of the treatment fluid for improved diversion and particulate suspension, increase penetration into the reservoir by decreasing the reactivity of such fluid, reduce fluid loss, and/or reduce pumping requirements by reducing friction in the well bore.
• the acidizing treatment may be self-diverting to further enhance the treatment.
• a self- diverting acid treatment may effectively place the acid in a desired region within the subterranean formation, thereby creating a more optimal interaction of the acid with the acid- soluble components of the formation, which may create a desired network of channels that may penetrate deeper into the formation than a conventional acid stimulation treatment.
• One such self-diverting treatment fluid includes a crosslinkable gelling agent, a crosslinking agent, and a pH buffer to provide a crosslink within a certain pH range.
• a crosslinkable gelling agent comprising crosslinkable polyacrylamide-based polymers has been found to be useful in calcium carbonate formations.
• the pH of the self-diverting treatment fluid increases, which causes the fluid to viscosify so as to form a gel that, inter alia, temporarily plugs the perforations or natural fractures accepting the most fluid flow.
• the remaining treatment fluid encounters the gel, it is diverted to other portions of the formation.
• the viscosified treatment fluid may be "broken” by reducing its viscosity to a more readily pumpable level, so that the full productivity of the well can be restored.
• surfactants have been used as gelling agents.
• Certain surfactants when mixed with an aqueous fluid having a certain ionic strength, are capable of forming a viscous fluid that has certain elastic properties, one of which may be shear thinning.
• Surfactant molecules (or ions) at specific conditions may form micelles (e.g., worm-shaped micelles, rod-shaped micelles, etc.) in an aqueous fluid.
• these micelles may impart increased viscosity to the aqueous fluid, such that the fluid exhibits viscoelastic behavior due, at least in part, to the association of the surfactant molecules contained therein.
• these treatment fluids exhibiting viscoelastic behavior may be used in a variety of subterranean treatments where a viscosified treatment fluid may be useful.
• these surfactants may be used in place of conventional polymeric gelling agents in acidizing treatments.
• the reaction by-products and/or spending of the acid may provide the conditions necessary for viscosification of the treatment fluid so as to form a gel that, inter alia, temporarily plugs the perforations or natural fractures accepting the most fluid flow and diverts the remaining treatment fluid and/or another fluid to other regions of the formation.
• the viscosity of the treatment fluid may be reduced after introduction into the subterranean formation without the need for conventional gel breakers (e.g., oxidizers). This should allow a substantial portion of the treatment fluid to be produced back from the formation without the need for expensive remedial treatments.
• gelling agents tend to have undesirable environmental characteristics (e.g., toxicity) and/or may be limited by strict environmental regulations in certain areas of the world.
• the present invention relates to methods and compositions for treating subterranean formations. More particularly, the present invention relates to treatment fluids that comprise a MES surfactant, and associated methods.
• the present invention provides a method of acidizing a subterranean formation comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, an acid, and a MES surfactant; introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore that penetrates the subterranean formation; and allowing at least a portion of the treatment fluid to react with at least a portion of the subterranean formation so that at least one void is formed in the subterranean formation.
• the present invention provides a method of acidizing a subterranean formation comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, an acid, and a MES surfactant; introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore that penetrates the subterranean formation; allowing a first portion of the treatment fluid to react with at least a first portion of the subterranean formation so that a void is formed in the subterranean formation and the first portion of the treatment fluid forms a gel sufficient to divert flow; and allowing the gel to at least partially divert a second portion of the treatment fluid and/or another fluid into a second portion of the subterranean formation.
• the present invention provides a method of acidizing a subterranean formation comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, an acid, and a MES surfactant; introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore that penetrates the subterranean formation at or above a pressure sufficient to create or enhance one or more fractures in at least a portion of the subterranean formation; and allowing at least a portion of the treatment fluid to react with at least a portion of the subterranean formation so that at least one void is formed in the subterranean formation.
• Figure 1 is a plot of temperature versus viscosity as measured using a nonscanning shear rate procedure on a Farm Model 50 viscometer for sample fluids that comprises a MES surfactant and concentrations of sodium chloride.
• Figure 2 is a plot of shear stress versus storage modulus, loss modulus, and phase angle as measured using a Haake Rheostress RS 150 stress-controlled rheometer for a sample fluid that comprises a MES surfactant and sodium chloride.
• Figure 3 is a plot of shear stress versus storage modulus, loss modulus, and phase angle as measured using a Haake Rheostress RS 150 stress-controlled rheometer for another sample fluid that comprises a MES surfactant and sodium chloride.
• the present invention relates to methods and compositions for treating subterranean formations. More particularly, the present invention relates to treatment fluids that comprise a MES surfactant, and associated acidizing methods.
• the treatment fluids of the present invention generally comprise an MES surfactant and an aqueous base fluid. In one embodiment the fluids also include an acid.
• the treatment fluids of the present invention may exhibit viscoelastic behavior which may be due, at least in part, to the association of at least a portion of the MES surfactant into a plurality of micellar structures.
• the MES surfactants suitable for use in the present invention are described by the following formula:
• R is an alkyl chain of from about 10 carbon atoms to about 30 carbon atoms. In certain embodiments, R is an alkyl chain of from about 16 carbon atoms to about 22 carbon atoms.
• An example of a suitable MES surfactant of Formula I is a palm-oil derivative commercially available from Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Duncan, Oklahoma, under the trade name EFSTM-4 surfactant. MES surfactants are believed to be relatively environmentally benign, in most instances, because they are biodegradable in most environments. The MES surfactants of Formula I are a class of anionic surfactants that have been found to cause fluids to exhibit viscoelastic properties.
• the MES surfactant molecules may associate to form micelles because of their hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions. These micelles may function, among other things, to increase the viscosity of the fluid therein. These micelles may be rod-shaped, worm-shaped, or any of a variety of other shapes that will viscosify a fluid where present in sufficient concentrations.
• a sufficiently high concentration of ions to facilitate micelle formation may be maintained, inter alia, by the addition of a water-soluble salt or the interaction of the fluid and/or certain components contained therein with other materials resident in the subterranean formation that generate ions in the presence of the fluid and/or its components.
• these micelles may become unstable, thereby disassociating or forming a micellar structure that is not conducive to viscosifying a fluid. This disassociation and/or modification of the micellar structure leads to a reduction in viscosity for the treatment fluid.
• M is preferably a compound or element that will form a salt. More preferably, M is selected from Na, K, Mg, Ca, Li, Cs 5 NH 4 , and amines such as triethanolamine, isopropylamine and allylamine
• the MES surfactants should be present in an embodiment of a treatment fluid of the present invention in an amount sufficient to provide a desired viscosity (e.g., sufficient viscosity to divert flow, reduce fluid loss, etc.) through the formation of the desired micelles.
• the MES surfactants may be present in the treatment fluids of the present invention in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 15% by weight of the fluid ("bwof ' ).
• the MES surfactants may be present in the treatment fluids of the present invention in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 5% bwof.
• MES surfactant to include in a treatment fluid of the present invention based on a number of factors, including the desired viscosity, the ionic strength of the fluid, and/or the amount and type of co-surfactant employed.
• the aqueous base fluid used in the treatment fluids of the present invention may comprise fresh water, saltwater (e.g., water containing one or more salts dissolved therein), brine (e.g., saturated saltwater), seawater, or combinations thereof.
• saltwater e.g., water containing one or more salts dissolved therein
• brine e.g., saturated saltwater
• seawater or combinations thereof.
• the water may be from any source, provided that it does not contain components that might adversely affect the stability and/or performance of the treatment fluids of the present invention.
• the acid of the treatment fluids of the present invention may comprise organic acids, inorganic acids, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof.
• An acid with an extremely low pH e.g., concentrations of HCl greater than about 15%
• suitable acids include, but are not limited to, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, formic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfamic acid, acetic acid, derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof.
• the acid may be present in the treatment fluids in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 20% bwof.
• the acid may be present in the treatment fluids of the present invention in an amount of from about 5% to about 15% bwof.
• the treatment fluids of the present invention may optionally comprise a water-soluble salt.
• the treatment fluids of the present invention may contain no salts so that micelle formation does not occur until a desired time, for example, after the treatment fluid is introduced into the well bore.
• the aqueous base fluid may contain the water-soluble salt, for example, where saltwater, a brine, or seawater is used as the aqueous base fluid.
• Suitable water-soluble salts may comprise ammonium, lithium, sodium, potassium, cesium, magnesium, calcium, or zinc cations, and chloride, bromide, iodide, formate, nitrate, acetate, cyanate, or thiocynate.
• suitable water- soluble salts that comprise the above-listed anions and cations include, but are not limited to, ammonium chloride, lithium bromide, lithium chloride, lithium formate, lithium nitrate, calcium bromide, calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, calcium formate, sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium formate, sodium nitrate, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, potassium nitrate, potassium formate, cesium nitrate, cesium formate, cesium chloride, cesium bromide, magnesium chloride, magnesium bromide, zinc chloride, zinc bromide, and combinations thereof.
• the water-soluble salt may be present in the treatment fluids of the present invention in an amount in the range of from about 1% to about 10% bwof. In certain other embodiments, the water-soluble salt may be present in the treatment fluids of the present invention in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 10% bwof.
• the treatment fluids of the present invention may optionally comprise a co-surfactant, among other things, to facilitate the formation of and/or stabilize the foam, increase salt tolerability, and/or stabilize the treatment fluid.
• the co-surfactant may comprise any surfactant suitable for use in subterranean environments that does not adversely affect the treatment fluid.
• suitable co-surfactants include betaines (e.g., cocobetaine, cocoamidopropylbetaine), amine oxides, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.
• the treatment fluids of the present invention may be foamed by injection of a gas therein, wherein a co-surfactant (such as a cocobetaine) is included in the treatment fluids of the present invention to facilitate the formation of and/or stabilize the foam.
• a co-surfactant such as a cocobetaine
• the co-surfactant may act to at least partially stabilize the treatment fluids.
• the co- surfactants may be present in the treatment fluids of the present invention in an amount sufficient to optimize the performance of the treatment fluid in a particular application, as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art.
• the co-surfactant is included to increase salt tolerability or to stabilize the treatment fluid
• the co-surfactant is present in a co-surfactant to MES surfactant weight ratio in the range of from about 1 :3 to about 3:1.
• the treatment fluids of the present invention may further comprise particulates (such as proppant particulates) suitable for use in subterranean applications.
• Particulates suitable for use in the present invention may comprise any material suitable for use in subterranean operations.
• Suitable particulate materials include, but are not limited to, sand, bauxite, ceramic materials, glass materials, polymer materials, Teflon materials, nut shell pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising nut shell, pieces seed shell pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising seed shell pieces, fruit pit pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising fruit pit pieces, wood, composite particulates, and combinations thereof.
• Suitable composite particulates may comprise a binder and a filler material wherein suitable filler materials include silica, alumina, fumed carbon, carbon black, graphite, mica, titanium dioxide, meta-silicate, calcium silicate, kaolin, talc, zirconia, boron, fly ash, hollow glass microspheres, solid glass, and combinations thereof.
• suitable filler materials include silica, alumina, fumed carbon, carbon black, graphite, mica, titanium dioxide, meta-silicate, calcium silicate, kaolin, talc, zirconia, boron, fly ash, hollow glass microspheres, solid glass, and combinations thereof.
• the particulate size generally may generally range from about 2 mesh to about 400 mesh on the U.S. Sieve Series; however, in certain circumstances, other sizes may be desired and will be entirely suitable for practice of the present invention.
• preferred particulates size distribution ranges are one or more of 6/12, 8/16, 12/20, 16/30, 20/40, 30/50, 40/60, 40/70, or 50/70 mesh.
• the term "particulate,” as used in this disclosure includes all known shapes of materials, including substantially spherical materials, fibrous materials, polygonal materials (such as cubic materials), and mixtures thereof.
• the particulates included in the treatment fluids of the present invention may be coated with any suitable resin or tackifying agent known to those of ordinary skill in the art that does not adversely affect other components of the treatment fluid.
• the treatment fluids of the present invention may further comprise an additive for maintaining and/or adjusting pH (e.g., pH buffers, pH adjusting agents, etc.).
• an additive for maintaining and/or adjusting pH e.g., pH buffers, pH adjusting agents, etc.
• the additive for maintaining and/or adjusting pH may be included in the treatment fluids, among other things, to maintain the pH in, or adjust the pH to, a desired range and thereby maintain, or provide, the necessary ionic strength to form the desired micellar structures.
• the additive for maintaining and/or adjusting pH may also be included in the treatment fluids to prevent precipitation of by-products of the acidizing reaction.
• suitable additives for maintaining and/or adjusting pH include, but are not limited to, sodium acetate, acetic acid, sodium or potassium diacetate, sodium or potassium phosphate, sodium or potassium hydrogen phosphate, sodium or potassium dihydrogen phosphate, combinations thereof, derivatives thereof, and the like.
• the additive for adjusting and/or maintaining pH may be present in the treatment fluids of the present invention in an amount sufficient to maintain and/or adjust the pH of the fluid.
• One of ordinary skill in the art, with the benefit of this disclosure, will recognize the appropriate additive for maintaining and/or adjusting pH and amount thereof to use for a chosen application.
• the treatment fluids of the present invention may optionally comprise additional additives, including, but not limited to, corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, fluid loss control additives, gas, emulsifiers, paraffin inhibitors, asphaltene inhibitors, catalysts, hydrate inhibitors, iron control agents, clay control agents, biocides, friction reducers, combinations thereof and the like.
• additional additives including, but not limited to, corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, fluid loss control additives, gas, emulsifiers, paraffin inhibitors, asphaltene inhibitors, catalysts, hydrate inhibitors, iron control agents, clay control agents, biocides, friction reducers, combinations thereof and the like.
• a gas such as air, nitrogen, or carbon dioxide.
• the treatment fluids of the present invention may be prepared by any suitable method.
• the treatment fluids may be prepared on the job site.
• a MES surfactant may be combined with an aqueous base fluid and an acid.
• a salt or an additive for maintaining and/or adjusting pH may be combined with the aqueous base fluid, among other things, to adjust the pH, or maintain the pH, in a desired range to promote the desired micelle formation, such that the treatment fluid exhibits viscoelastic behavior.
• the additive for maintaining and/or adjusting pH may be combined with the aqueous base fluid either prior to, after, or simultaneously with the MES surfactant.
• a particulate additive e.g., a particulate scale inhibitor
• particulates e.g., gravel particulates or proppant particulates
• the MES surfactant may be combined with a surfactant solubilizer prior to its combination with the other components of the treatment fluid.
• the surfactant solubilizer may be any suitable surfactant solubilizer, such as water, simple alcohols, glycols, and combinations thereof.
• the MES surfactant may be provided in a mixture that comprises the surfactant solubilizer and the MES surfactant.
• the surfactant solubilizer may be provided in a mixture that comprises the surfactant solubilizer and the MES surfactant.
• the surfactant molecules present in the treatment fluids may associate to form the desired micelles, which, depending on a number of factors (e.g., MES surfactant concentration), may viscosify the treatment fluid.
• the micelles present in the treatment fluids of the present invention are generally sensitive to, among other things, the ionic strength of the treatment fluid, hydrocarbons, and shear stress. Further, they also may be sensitive to temperature. Accordingly, these treatment fluids containing the desired micelles may experience a viscosity decline after introduction into the well bore and/or penetration into the subterranean formation, without the need for external gel breakers. As previously discussed, this viscosity reduction is generally due to the dissociation and/or modification of the micellar structure.
• the viscosity of the treatment fluids of the present invention may be reduced by contact with the hydrocarbons contained therein.
• the treatment fluids of the present invention may experience a pH change, thereby facilitating a change in the ionic strength of the fluids.
• dilution of the treatment fluid may also facilitate a reduction in viscosity of the treatment fluid.
• a treatment fluid of the present invention may be diluted by contact with formation fluids and/or subsequently injected treatment fluids, thereby reducing the concentration of the desired micelles in the treatment fluid and/or changing the ionic strength of the treatment fluid.
• the treatment fluids of the present invention may be used in acidizing treatments, in which a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, an acid, and a MES surfactant may be provided, introduced into a well bore that penetrates a subterranean formation, and allowed to react with at least a portion of the subterranean formation so that at least one void is formed in the subterranean formation.
• the treatment fluid may be introduced into the well bore at or above a pressure sufficient to create or enhance one or more fractures in at least a portion of the subterranean formation.
• the treatment fluid may comprise other additives suitable for the acidizing treatment.
• the treatment fluid further may contain a salt, or an additive for maintaining and/or adjusting pH, so that the treatment fluid has the necessary ionic strength to provide a desired viscosity prior to introduction into the subterranean formation.
• the treatment fluid may be allowed to viscosify prior to, after, or simultaneously with the step of introducing the treatment fluid into the well bore. As previously discussed, the treatment fluid generally may experience a reduction in viscosity after introduction into the subterranean formation. After a chosen time, the treatment fluid may be recovered through the well bore.
• a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, an acid, and a MES surfactant may be employed as, among other things, a self-diverting acid.
• the treatment fluid may comprise other additives suitable for the acidizing treatment.
• the treatment fluid may be formulated so that its viscosity is initially very low (e.g., less than about 20 cP at 511 s "1 ).
• the treatment fluid prior to its introduction into the subterranean formation, it may be desired for the treatment fluid to have a viscosity sufficient to provide fluid loss control and/or to reduce friction created by the flow of treatment fluids in the subterranean formation.
• a viscosity sufficient to provide fluid loss control and/or to reduce friction created by the flow of treatment fluids in the subterranean formation.
• the treatment fluid may be introduced into a well bore that penetrates the subterranean formation and allowed to react with the subterranean formation.
• the presence of reaction by-products and/or spending of the acid may, inter alia, provide the conditions necessary for the viscosification of the treatment fluid into a gel sufficient to divert flow.
• the viscosity of the gel necessary to divert flow may depend on, among other factors, the depth of the gel plug created, the size of the wormhole to be plugged, the strength of the acid used, the composition of the treatment fluid to be diverted, the temperature of the subterranean formation, and the differential pressure.
• the gel may divert subsequently injected fluids to other portions of the subterranean formation. Because the treatment fluid generally will first enter perforations or natural fractures accepting the most fluid (e.g., portions of the subterranean formation with higher permeabilities), other portions of this treatment fluid and/or other fluids (e.g., acidizing treatment fluids) subsequently introduced into the well bore may be diverted to less permeable portions of the subterranean formation.
• a treatment fluid may be provided and introduced into a well bore that penetrates a subterranean formation, and a first portion of the treatment fluid may be allowed to react with at least a first portion of the subterranean formation so that (1) at least one void is formed in the first portion of the subterranean formation and (2) the first portion of the treatment forms a gel sufficient to divert flow.
• the gel may be allowed to at least partially divert a second portion of the treatment fluid and/or another fluid into a second portion of the subterranean formation.
• the gelling and diversion optionally may be repeated as additional amounts of the treatment fluid are introduced into the well bore.
• the second portion of the treatment fluid may be allowed to react with at least the second portion of the subterranean formation so that (1) at least one void is formed in the second portion of the subterranean formation and (2) the second portion of the treatment fluid forms a gel sufficient to divert flow.
• the treatment fluid may be recovered through the well bore.
• MES surfactant EFSTM-4 surfactant
• a salt was included in the aqueous base fluid. Where included, the concentration and type of salt included in the aqueous base fluid were varied.
• each sample was observed to determine gel formation. For purposes of this example, a sample was considered gelled if it had a viscosity of greater than about 20 centipoise at 511 sec "1 .
• Table 1 The compositions of each sample and observations thereof are listed in Table 1.
• aqueous base fluid contained 15% hydrochloric acid by weight of the aqueous base fluid.
• a salt was included in the aqueous base fluid. Where included, the concentration and type of salt included in the aqueous base fluid were varied. Once prepared, each sample was observed to determine the gel formation. The compositions of each sample and observations thereof are listed in Table 4.
• aqueous base fluid contained 10% hydrochloric acid by weight of the aqueous base fluid.
• a salt was included in the aqueous base fluid. Where included, the concentration and type of salt included in the aqueous base fluid were varied. Once prepared, each sample was observed to determine the gel formation. The compositions of each sample and observations thereof are listed in Table 5.
• Example 1 indicates that a MES surfactant may be used to viscosity a fluid.
• Samples were prepared by mixing water with the following components: an MES surfactant in an amount of about 1.5% by weight of the sample; a cocobetaine in an amount of about 1.5% by weight of the sample; and various concentrations of sodium chloride (3.5%, 4.0%, 4.5%, 6.0%, and 7.0%).
• the MES surfactant included in the samples was an alpha- sulfo fatty acid methyl ester that is commercially available as ALPHA-STEP XMP-66® from Stepan Company, Northfield, Illinois. Further, the cocobetaine used in the samples is commercially available as Witco Rewoteric AM B-13®.
• the samples were each placed in the Rl rotor cup of a Fann Model 50 viscometer to determine the viscosities of the sample, utilizing a nonscanning shear rate procedure.
• the rotor cups containing the samples were set in motion at a constant rate of about 95 rpm providing a shear rate of about 82 sec "1 on the sample.
• the sample was brought up to about 230° F as the viscosities of the samples were measured.
• a plot of temperature ( 0 F) versus viscosity (cP) for each sample is provided in Figure 1.
• Table 8 identifies the maximum viscosities and corresponding temperatures for each sample.
• Example 2 illustrates that a MES surfactant may be used to viscosify a fluid.
• Rheological tests were performed on laboratory samples that were prepared as follows. Two samples were prepared by mixing water with the following components: an MES surfactant in an amount of about 5% by weight of the sample with about 5% sodium chloride. Sample A was used without adjusting the pH. The pH of Sample B was adjusted with NaOH to about 10. The MES surfactant included in the samples was an alpha-sulfo fatty acid methyl ester that is commercially available as EFSTM-4 Surfactant from Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Duncan, Oklahoma.
• Example 3 illustrates that a MES surfactant may be used to viscosify a fluid.

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