Chapter 6: Fracturing Fluids and Additives

This chapter covers the various fracturing fluids and additives necessary to achieve certain attributes that allow for successful stimulation. Included is a discussion of the properties desired in an ideal viscous fracturing fluid. This is followed by a discussion of the numerous fluids available, including water-based fluids, oil-based fluids, alcohol-based fluids, emulsion fluids, and foam-based fluids. The use of various additives in the fracturing fluid systems is also detailed. Because of the tremendous change that has occurred in the last few years relating to the use of slickwater and hybrid treatments, a large section on these types of fluids is included. The information should provide the design engineer with the basic knowledge needed to choose a base fluid and the important additives.