FIELD: physics.
SUBSTANCE: aqueous viscoelastic liquid described in the application, thickened by a viscoelastic surfactant (VES), is stabilised and enhanced using an effective amount of oxide of alkali-earth metals and/or hydroxide of alkali-earth metals. Such liquids are more stable and have low capacity to precipitation or do not have the tendency to precipitate, particularly at high temperature. The additives can also reduce viscosity to a point where less quantity of VES is required to maintain that viscosity. These stable, enhanced, aqueous, viscoelastic liquids can be used as fracturing liquid in exploitation of underground hydrocarbon layers, for example using hydraulic fracturing.
EFFECT: increased viscosity and stability of the liquid, prevention of deposition of solid substances.
24 cl, 3 ex, 1 tbl, 4 dwg
