Abstract
Guar gels crosslinked with transition-metal ions are used as fracturing fluids in oil well completion. The purpose of this paper is to provide a working guide to the rheology, and characterization of guar gels. The experimental techniques used to study guar rheology, which include dynamic oscillatory shear measurements and steady shear measurements are described. The rheological instruments used in this study and the preparation of guar samples is detailed. Observations on the factors controlling gel rheology, including chemical effects, sample preparation effects, and flow history effects are presented. A model that describes the rheology of gelling fluids is described. The model is based on the temporary network theories used to describe the rheology of polymer solutions. To this theory, the chemical kinetics of metal ion adsorption onto the guar polymer backbone and subsequent polymer-polymer crosslinking has been incorporated. In the final section recommendations for standard test procedures, for rheological instrumentation, and for future research are presented.
Original language | English (US) |
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State | Published - Mar 1984 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- General Engineering