Optimized renewable dual-biopolymer hydraulic fracturing fluid with zirconium crosslinker for enhanced thermal stability

Abstract

The declining productivity of conventional reservoirs has increasingly shifted attention toward the development of unconventional resources, where efficient and sustainable hydraulic fracturing (HF) fluids are critical to successful reservoir stimulation. In this study, a polymer-based fracturing fluid was formulated and optimized through the synergistic incorporation of two renewable biopolymers, guar gum and xanthan gum, together with a newly synthesized zirconium (Zr)-based crosslinker. A controlled breaker was also incorporated to facilitate the gradual reduction of fluid viscosity following fracturing operations. The proposed formulation was designed to enhance the mechanical stability of the fracturing fluid while simultaneously addressing practical technical and economic requirements. A series of fluid formulations with different concentrations of the biopolymers and crosslinking agent was prepared, and their rheological characteristics were systematically investigated. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the rheological performance and quantify the interactions among the formulation variables. The principal rheological parameters, including apparent viscosity (AV), plastic viscosity (PV), and yield point (YP), were determined, and the experimental data were subsequently characterized using the Bingham plastic, Herschel–Bulkley, and power-law models. In addition, proppant suspension experiments were performed to evaluate the capacity of the formulated fluid to maintain proppant particles in suspension under elevated-temperature conditions. The results indicated that the optimum formulation comprised 1 wt% guar gum, 1 wt% xanthan gum, and 0.05 wt% each of the Zr-based crosslinker and breaker. At 105 °C, the optimized fluid exhibited an apparent viscosity of 140 cP and a plastic viscosity of 121 cP, demonstrating its ability to maintain a stable rheological structure under high-temperature conditions. The proppant suspension test further showed that approximately 89% of the introduced proppant remained suspended after 30 min, confirming the high structural stability and particle-carrying capacity of the developed fluid. The principal novelty of this work lies in the synthesis and application of a Zr-based crosslinker in combination with two renewable natural biopolymers, along with the incorporation of a controlled breaker to regulate post-treatment viscosity. Furthermore, the formulation strategy was developed in conjunction with techno-economic considerations, providing a more comprehensive basis for fluid optimization. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the potential of the proposed formulation as a cost-effective, high-performance, and bio-based hydraulic fracturing fluid for applications in unconventional reservoirs.