Cross-linkers for hydraulic fracturing fluid

Abstract

A method of forming a wellbore fluid, the method including introducing a hydratable polymer and introducing a crosslinker comprised of at least a silica material, the crosslinker having a dimension of from about 5 nm to about 100 nm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming a wellbore fluid, the method comprising:
 introducing a polymer; and   introducing a crosslinker comprised of at least a silica material, the crosslinker having a dimension of from about 5 nm to about 100 nm.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydratable polymer is a polysaccharide. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydratable polymer is present in an amount of from about 0.05 weight percent to about 10 weight percent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydratable polymer is selected from the group consisting of guar, hydropropyl guar (HPG), carboxymethyl guar (CMG), carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar, cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose (CMHEC), xanthan, diutan, whelan gum, polyacrylamide, polyacrylate polymers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the crosslinker comprises particles with a dimension of from about 10 nm to about 20 nm. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the silica material comprises is borosilicate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the content of boron in the wellbore fluid is between 0.5 and 10 ppm by weight elemental boron. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the wellbore fluid contains not more than 5 ppm boron for each gram of the hydratable polymer per liter of the wellbore fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the silica has a concentration of 20-50 wt % in the crosslinker. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the crosslinker further comprises zirconium, titanium, aluminum, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a hydratable polymer. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an aqueous medium is introduced to the wellbore fluid. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein a breaker is introduced to the wellbore fluid. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the breaker is encapsulated or in an enclosure. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein a surfactant is introduced to the wellbore fluid. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein a friction reducer is introduced to the wellbore fluid. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein an organoamino compound is introduced to the wellbore fluid. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a proppant is introduced to the wellbore fluid. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a fiber is introduced to the wellbore fluid. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a gas is injected into the wellbore fluid.