Patent ID: 6823939
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: C09K,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of treating a subterranean zone penetrated by a well bore comprising introducing into said subterranean zone by way of said well bore an aqueous treating fluid consisting essentially of an aqueous liquid and one or more inorganic monovalent salts, multivalent salts or both in an amount no greater than about 5% by weight of said aqueous liquid, and one or more synthetic hectorite clay gelling and thixotropy imparting agents selected from the group consisting of:a synthetic hectorite clay having the composition by weight on a dry basis of 59.5% SiO2, 27.5% MgO, 0.8% Li2O and 2.8% Na2O, a synthetic hectorite clay having the composition by weight on a dry basis of 54.5% SiO2, 26.0% MgO, 0.8% Li2O, 5.6% Na2O and 4.1% P2O5, and synthetic hectorite clay having the composition by weight on a dry basis of 54.5% SiO2, 26.0% MgO, 0.8% LiO2, 5.6% Na2O, 4.1% P2O5 and also containing inorganic polyphosphate peptizers.