Breakers

During the fracture treatment, the stimulation fluid must be able to return to a low viscosity fluid state once the proppant is placed. This helps minimize the return of proppants–keeping the majority of proppant in the fractured zone–and maximize the return of fluids to the surface. Breakers are used to decrease fluid viscosity.

Breakers or gel breakers are specialized chemicals that ‘break’ the polymers and crosslinkers in the frac fluid, reducing the fluid viscosity and allowing easier cleanup after the treatment. Innospec’s GelBrake series of live and encapsulated oxidizing breakers can be used in hydraulic fracturing applications, at the end of jobs, and during flushes.

GelBrake Series

Innospec Oilfield Services offers a series of live and encapsulated oxidizing breakers that are specifically formulated for use in hydraulic fracturing applications, at the end of jobs, and during flushes. The effective temperature ranges are 130° to 330°F. Further laboratory testing is recommended to determine which breaker performs best with the fluid design, and to determine the optimal loadings.