Abstract:
Viscous aqueous solutions are prepared which maintain a certain viscosity range over a predetermined period of time (i.e., induction period) and which thereafter break, i.e., decrease in viscosity over a very short period of time. The viscous aqueous solution comprises a polysaccharide having an ability to thicken water and dispersed or dissolved in the aqueous solution an effective quantity of an organic ester which, at a temperature at which it is desired to break the viscous solution, hydrolyzes over a delayed period of time to form an acid which degrades the polysaccharide, thus causing a splitting of the polysaccharide chain and a decrease in the viscosity of the solution.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Viscous aqueous solutions are employed in many processes. For example, they are employed to fracture subterranean formations penetrated by a borehole for increasing the production of petroleum fluids, e.g. crude oil and natural gas. Viscous aqueous solutions are also employed in the secondary recovery of oil from oil bearing subterranean formations by fluid drive processes. Also, various drilling fluids are based upon viscous aqueous liquids. 
     In all of these processes it is oftentimes desirable to decrease the viscosity of the viscous aqueous solution after a period of time to permit clean up of the formation, disposal of the aqueous solution and the like. Many &#34;breakers&#34; have been developed to cause a degradation of various thickening agents in such processes. However, most of these breakers immediately start to degrade the polymer thereby lowering the efficiency of the process. Therefore, these breakers in many instances can only be employed below critical elevated temperature levels or must be injected in a secondary fluid to contact the viscous fluid in its subterranean location. There is a need for a viscous aqueous system which can be employed at an elevated temperature and which will maintain a certain viscosity range for a certain period of time and then thereafter break to permit easy recovery and clean up of a formation. The present invention concerns such a discovery. 
     Summary of the Invention 
     A viscous aqueous solution is provided comprising a thickening quantity of a polysaccharide and as a breaker an organic ester which hydrolyzes over a certain period of time to release an acid which causes the acid hydrolysis of the polysaccharide with a corresponding splitting of the polysaccharide chain and a decrease in the viscosity of the solution. 
     The viscous aqueous solution may be employed as a fracturing fluid, as a workover fluid, as a drilling fluid and in other processes where such characteristics are desired. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known that acetal linkages, i.e. dialkoxy groups attached to the same carbon group, are susceptible to acid hydrolysis and splitting. Polysaccharides, i.e. high molecular weight carbohydrates, contain many acetal linkages. Polysaccharides are sometimes viewed as condensation polymers in which monosaccharides or their derivatives, e.g. uranic acids or amino sugars, have glycosidically joined with the elimination of elements of water. Polysaccharides which may be employed in the practice of the present invention include natural occurring polysaccharides which are dispersible in cold or hot water to produce viscous solutions. Also included are polysaccharides in water soluble or water swellable forms, which are the derivatives or modifications of natural occurring polysaccharides, e.g. celluloses and various gums, which in their natural form are substantially insoluble in water. 
     One group of polysaccharides which is within the scope of the invention are the industrial gums such as those generally classified as exudate gums, seaweed gums, seed gums, microbial polysaccharides; and hemicelluloses (cell wall polysaccharides found in land plants) other than cellulose and pectins. Included by way of specific example are xylan, mannan, galactan, L-arabino-xylans, L-arabino-D-glucurono-D-xylans; 4 O-methyl-D-glucurono-D-xylans; Larabino-(4 O-methyl-D-glucurono)-D-xylans; D-gluco-D-mannans; D-galacto-D-mannans and arabino-D-galactans, algin, such as sodium alginate, carrageenin, fucordan, laminaran, agar, gum arabic, gum ghatti, gum karaya, tamarind gum, tragacanth gum, guar gum, locust bean gums and the like. Modified gums such as carboxyalkyl derivatives (e.g. carboxymethyl guar and hydroxyalkyl derivatives, e.g. hydroxypropyl guar) can also be employed. Modified celluloses and starches and derivatives thereof can also be employed. Hereinafter these are referred to as water soluble cellulose and starch. There are literally thousands of such materials which have varying properties that can be employed in the practice of the present invention, for example, cellulose ethers, esters and the like. 
     In general, any of the water-soluble cellulose ethers can be used in the practice of the invention. Those cellulose ethers which can be used include, among others, the various carboxyalkyl cellulose ethers, e.g. carboxyethyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC); mixed ethers such as carboxyalkyl ethers, e.g. carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (CMHEC); hydroxyalkyl celluloses such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose; alkylhydroxyalkyl celluloses such as methylhydroxypropyl cellulose; alkyl celluloses such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and propyl cellulose; alkylcarboxyalkyl celluloses such as ethylcarboxymethyl cellulose; alkylalkyl celluloses such as methylethyl cellulose; and hydroxyalkylalkyl celluloses such as hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose; and the like. Many of the cellulose ethers are commercially available in various grades. The carboxy-substituted cellulose ethers are available as the alkali metal salt, usually the sodium salt. However, the metal is seldom referred to and they are commonly referred to as CMC, CMHEC, etc. For example, water-soluble CMC is available in various degrees of carboxylate substitution ranging from about 0.3 up to the maximum degree of substitution of 3.0. In general, CMC having a degree of substitution in the range of 0.4 to 1.2 is preferred. Frequency, CMC having a degree of substitution in the range of 0.65 to 0.85 is a more preferred cellulose ether. CMC having a degree of substitution less than the above-preferred ranges is usually less uniform in properties and thus less desirable for use in the practice of the invention. CMC having a degree of substitution greater than the above-preferred ranges usually has a lower viscosity and more is required in the practice of the invention. The degree of substitution of CMC is commonly designated in practice as CMC-7, CMC-9, CMC-12, etc., where the 7, 9 and 12 refer to a degree of substitution of 0.7, 0.9 and 1.2, respectively. 
     Organic ester breakers are employed which, at an elevated temperature, hydrolyze in an aqueous solution to form an acid or acids which in turn cause the hydrolysis and the breaking of the polysaccharide. Esters which may be employed include low molecular weight (C 1  -C 12 ) esters of organic carboxylic acids or mixtures thereof. Both mono and polycarboxylic acid esters can be employed including those which contain chloride substituents which upon hydrolysis form both a carboxylic acid and hydrochloric acid. Dicarboxylic acid esters are found generally to be preferred in the practice of the invention because of their initial slow hydrolysis and accelerated hydrolysis at elevated temperatures of 150°F or higher. Examples of esters which may be employed include methyl formate, ethyl formate, ethylchloro acetate, triethyl phosphate, butyl formate, diethyl oxalate, dimethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, triglycerol acetate, ethyl trifluoro acetate, ethyl trichloro acetate, diethyl maleate, ethyl lactate and diethyl tartrate. 
     The amount of polysaccharide to be employed in the viscous aqueous solution depends on such factors as the desired maximum viscosity, the intended use of the viscous aqueous solution and the like. For example, if the aqueous solution is to be employed as a fracturing fluid, viscosities ranging from about 20 to about 1000 centipoise measured at 100 RPM on a Fann Model 35 Viscometer at a temperature ranging from about 60° to 200°F are desirable. In flooding techniques aqueous solutions having viscosities ranging from slightly greater than water to about 100 centipoise at 60° to 200°F are desirable, and for drilling fluids viscosities in the range of about 5 to about 1000 centipoise at temperatures ranging from 60° to 200°F are desirable. The exact amount of polysaccharide to be employed will depend on the particular polysaccharide, its ability to increase the viscosity of the fluid, the temperature of the intended use of the fluid and the like. All of these parameters are easily ascertained by simple laboratory experiments and well-known characteristics of the various polysaccharides available on the commercial market. Generally the polysaccharide is employed in an amount ranging from about 10 to about 200 pounds of polysaccharide per 1000 gallons of aqueous solution. 
     The amount of organic ester breaker to be employed will vary depending on the particular organic ester employed, the temperature of the viscous aqueous solution when it is to be broken, the time delay that is desired and the like. 
     The organic ester breaker is employed in an amount ranging from about 0.02 to about 2.0 equivalent weights of ester per equivalent weight of the polysaccharide. The equivalent weight of the polysaccharide for the purpose of calculating the amount of breaker to be employed is the molecular weight of the monosaccharide which makes up the polysaccharide molecule. For example, the equivalent weight of guar gum is 162 (i.e., the molecular weight of a single sugar unit). As another example the equivalent weight of hydroxyethyl cellulose (with a hydroxyethyl group molar substitution of 2.5) is 272. The equivalent weight of the ester is the molecular weight of the ester divided by the number of carboxyl groups in the corresponding acid. For example the equivalent weight of diethyl oxalate is 73. 
     The following examples indicate how these various parameters may effect the breaking time and the degree of breakage of various examples of suitable breakers. For any particular use simple laboratory procedures may be employed to ascertain the breaker-polysaccharide system most desired. 
     As indicated, the viscous aqueous solution may be employed for various purposes. For example, in fracturing subterranean formations penetrated by a borehole to increase the recovery of petroleum fluids, viscous aqueous solutions are pumped through the borehole at sufficient pressure to cause the formation to fracture. Well-known fracturing techniques and equipment may be employed in the practice of the present invention. The following examples will facilitate a more complete understanding of the practice of the present invention. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     Various viscous aqueous solutions were prepared by mixing a certain breaker and a thickening agent into water using a Waring Blender on low speed for 1 minute. The samples were then placed in a constant temperature bath and the viscosities measured periodically with a Fann Model 35 Viscometer at 100 rpm. In the first series of tests the aqueous solution contained an equivalent of 60 pounds of a fast hydrating hydroxyethyl cellulose per 1000 gallons of water. These tests are reported in the following Table I. In a second series of tests an aqueous solution was prepared containing an equivalent of 60 pounds of a fast hydrating hydroxyethyl cellulose and 40 pounds per 1000 gallons of water of a delayed hydrating glyoxal treated hydroxyethyl cellulose. These tests are reported in the following Table II. In a third series of tests a viscous aqueous solution was prepared containing an equivalent of 60 pounds of the fast hydrating hydroxyethyl cellulose and 90 pounds per 1000 gallons of the delayed hydrating hydroxyethyl cellulose. These tests are reported in the following Table III. 
     As a comparison hydrazine sulfate was employed to break a viscous fluid prepared as set forth above for the second series of tests. Hydrazine sulfate is a well-known oxidizer breaker for cellulose thickening agents. The results employing hydrazine sulfate are reported in Table IV. A comparison of the results reported in Table II with those of Table IV demonstrate the unique properties of the present invention. 
     
                                           TABLE I__________________________________________________________________________             Breaker  100 RPM Fann Viscosities (cps)Temperature       Concentration                      at Times (hours) of(°F)  Breaker    (gal/1000 gal)                      1  2  3  24 48 72__________________________________________________________________________200    None       None     45 39 36 12  3  6200    Ethyl formate             1        42 36 33  6  3 --200    Ethyl formate             5        36 21  9  3  3 --200    Ethyl formate             10       39  9  6  3  3 --175    None       None     84 75 72 60 51 45175    Ethyl chloroacetate             1        78 75 69 21 12  6175    Ethyl chloroacetate             5        78 72 69 12  3  3175    Ethyl chloroacetate             10       78 72 69  6  3  3175    Ethyl formate             1        78 72 66 33 15  9175    Ethyl formate             5        72 72 57  9  3  6175    Ethyl formate             10       69 63 45  6  3  3175    Triethyl phosphate             1        84 75 72 54 18  9175    Triethyl phosphate             5        81 75 72 54 36 15175    Triethyl phosphate             10       81 72 69 24  9  6175    Methyl formate             1        75 72 63 45 -- --175    Methyl formate             5        75 69 66  9 -- --175    Methyl formate             10       72 69 63  6 -- --175    Methyl formate             1        75 69 69 15  6  6175    Methyl formate             5        69 60 57  9  6  6175    Methyl formate             10       66 60 54  3  6  6__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     
                                           TABLE II__________________________________________________________________________             Breaker  100 RPM Fann Viscosities (cps)Temperature       Concentration                      at Times (hours) of(°F)  Breaker    (gal/1000 gal)                      1   2   3   4   24  48  72__________________________________________________________________________200    None       None     237 --  --  204 186 174 --200    Methyl acetate             1        213 --  --  168 75  27  --200    Methyl acetate             5        189 --  --  147 60  24  --200    Ethyl acetate             1        216 --  --  150 54  24  --200    Ethyl acetate             5        216 --  --  162 75  33  --200    Ethyl salicylate             5        225 --  --  198 141 87  --200    Ethyl salicylate             10       225 --  --  204 69  36  --200    Ethyl propionate             5        216 --  --  144 69  36  --200    Ethyl propionate             10       210 --  --  165 89  39  --200    Methyl laurate             5        207 --  --  192 180 165 --200    n-butyl acetate             1        180 174 --  --  84  --  --200    n-butyl acetate             5        180 171 --  --  60  --  --200    sec-butyl acetate             1        192 --  --  --  105 --  --200    sec-butyl acetate             5        192 --  --  --  90  --  --200    Butyl lactate             1        195 --  165 --  60  --  --200    Butyl lactate             5        195 --  177 --  114 --  --200    Methyl formate             1        198 --  168 --  24  --  --200    Methyl formate             5        186 --  96  --  33  --  --200    Methyl formate             10       186 --  27  --  3   --  --200    Ethyl formate             5        219 --  --  --  6   3   --200    Butyl formate             1        186 177 --  156 63  27  10200    Butyl formate             5        195 186 --  144 6   6   --200    Ethyl chloroacetate             5        225 --  --  126 3   3   --200    Ethyl chloroacetate             10       201 --  --  75  3   3   --175    n-butyl acetate             1        267 252 --  --  204 --  --175    n-butyl acetate             5        258 240 --  --  180 --  --175    sec-butyl acetate             1        261 --  --  --  231 --  --175    sec-butyl acetate             5        255 --  --  --  195 --  --175    Butyl lactate             1        264 --  258 --  228 --  --175    Butyl lactate             5        264 --  252 --  237 --  --175    Methyl formate             1        294 282 279 --  165 --  --175    Methyl formate             5        291 279 273 --  72  --  --175    Methyl formate             10       294 282 270 --  21  --  --175    Methyl formate             1        279 258 252 --  126 57  24175    Methyl formate             5        282 258 252 --  24  9   6175    Methyl formate             10       282 258 252 --  12  6   3 175*  Methyl formate             5        --  --  --  --  15  9   3 175*  Methyl formate             10       255 240 207 --  9   --  --175    Ethyl formate             1        285 282 276 --  222 141 87175    Ethyl formate             5        273 264 258 --  105 30  12175    Ethyl formate             10       261 249 246 --  51  15  9175    Butyl formate             1        285 270 --  252 222 195 --175    Butyl formate             5        258 252 --  246 126 48  15150    Ethyl chloroacetate             1        333 336 336 --  315 --  --150    Ethyl chloroacetate             5        333 342 339 --  273 --  --150    Ethyl chloroacetate             10       339 345 342 --  231 --  --150    Ethyl formate             1        366 342 342 --  330 297 231150    Ethyl formate             5        360 342 339 --  258 171 99150    Ethyl formate             10       354 342 336 --  257 111 39150    Triethyl phosphate             1        348 336 330 --  327 336 330150    Triethyl phosphate             5        342 333 330 --  330 339 336150    Triethyl phosphate             10       339 333 330 --  320 327 318__________________________________________________________________________ *Mix water contained 2% KCl 
    
     
                                           TABLE III__________________________________________________________________________             Breaker  100 RPM Fann Viscosities (cps)Temperature       Concentration                      at Times (hours) of(°F)  Breaker    (gal/1000 gal)                      1    2    3    24   48   72__________________________________________________________________________200    Methyl formate             1        564  --   501  60    18  --200    Methyl formate             5        555  --   327   3    3   --200    Methyl formate             10       552  --   111   6    3   --175    None       None      900+                            900+                                 900+                                     864  855  885175    Methyl formate             1        711  687  690  483  285  156175    Methyl formate             5        705  705  690  111   27   12175    Methyl formate             10       708  699  681   36   12   6175    Ethyl formate             1        786  825  822  675  546  240175    Ethyl formate             5        725  804  789  435  180   27175    Ethyl formate             10       789  780  744  198   51   15175    Ethyl chloroacetate             1        843  831  840  756  708  240175    Ethyl chloroacetate             5        849  852  843  652  144  240175    Ethyl chloroacetate             10       819  822  819  294   12  --175    Triethyl phosphate             1        810  828  810  783  756  741175    Triethyl phosphate             5         900+                           897  882  843  804  573175    Triethyl phosphate             10       807  810  804  780  714   15__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE IV______________________________________ Hydrazine Sulfate                100 RPM Fann ViscositiesTemp. Concentration  (cps) at Times (hours) of(°F) (lb/1000 gal)  1       2     18    24______________________________________130   0              330     --    --    --130   10             324     303   138   66130   20             294     309   171   99150   0              305     --    --    --150   10             270     189   51    15150   20             270     225   45    12175   0              270     --    --    --175   5              174     117   36     9175   10             186     108   21     6200   None           237     --    --    186200   0.5            126     108   54    39200   2              111      93   27     9______________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 2 
     In this example the effect of various esters on the viscosity of an aqueous solution thickened with an equivalent of 60 pounds of guar gum per 1000 gallons of water at 176°F was determined. The viscosity was determined according to the same procedure described in Example 1. The amount of breaker is expressed as equivalent of ester per equivalent of guar gum. The equivalent weight of guar was taken as 162 (mol. wt. of the single sugar unit). The equivalent weight of the ester was taken as the molecular weight of the ester divided by the number of carboxylic groups in the corresonding acid. The results of these tests are reported in the following Table V. 
     
                                           TABLE V__________________________________________________________________________                Final                     Viscosity (cps) (160 sec.sup..sup.-1)        Conc Equiv/                Solution                     at Time (hrs)Ester        Equiv Guar                pH   1   2   3   4   7   24  48  72__________________________________________________________________________None         --      7.4  94  21  --  92  88  80  --  46Diethyl oxalate        1.0     2.0  22   5  --  --  --  --  --  --Dimethyl phthalate        1.0     5.2  97  96  --  96  94  82  48  26Diethyl phthalate        1.0     --   95  93  --  94  91  91  --  41Dibutyl phthalate        1.0     7.1  94  94  --  92  91  84  --  55Triglyceryl acetate        1.0     --   98  93  --  91  87  47  18  --Ethyl trifluoro acetate        0.05    6.9  103 --  93  --  92  78  62  48        0.10    6.3  96  --  91  --  85  61  35  24Ethyl trichloro acetate        0.05    7.3  98  --  89  --  87  63  43  32        0.10    6.3  95  --  49  --  39  18  12  10Diethyl maleate        0.05    6.3  98  --  91  --  91  91  74  66        0.10    5.2  100 --  94  --  93  82  61  32Ethyl lactate        0.05    5.5  90  --  80  --  72  47  31  21        0.10    4.9  99  --  96  --  92  82  59  39Diethyl tartrate        0.05    5.6  98  --  96  --  93  84  69  47        0.10    4.7  95  --  92  --  89  49  25  14__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 3 
     The effect of different concentrations of breaker on the induction period (period over which viscosity remains within a desired range) and breaking time of a viscous aqueous solution containing an equivalent of 60 pounds of guar gum per 1000 gallons of solution was determined as follows: 
     Certain amounts of diethyl oxalate were added to different samples of the indicated viscous aqueous solution in a container. The container was then placed in a bath maintained at 176°F, and the viscosity of the viscous solution was determined periodically with a Fann viscometer at 100 rpm. The results of these tests are set forth in the following Table VI. 
     
                                           TABLE VI__________________________________________________________________________            Viscosity (cps) at Time IntervalTest    Equiv. Ester/        Final            (Hours)No. Equiv. Guar        pH  1    2    4    7    7.5  8    24   48__________________________________________________________________________1   No breaker   94.2 90.5 91.8 --   --   88.2 79.7 --2   1.0      2   21.6 4.8  --   --   --   --   --   --3   0.5      2.3 66.0 15.0 4.8  --   --   --   --   --4   0.2      2.6 87.0 58.2 20.2 5.4  --   --   --   --5   0.1      3.1 93.6 84.7 60.6 27.0 --   --   4.2  --6   0.05     3.5 96.5 89.4 82.3 --   64.8 --   19.4 6.6__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     EXAMPLE 4 
     The effect of various quantities of diethyloxalate on the induction and breaking time for an aqueous solution thickened with a fast hydrating hydroxyethyl cellulose at a fluid temperature of 176°F was determined. The thickened solution was prepared from an aqueous solution having an initial pH of 5.8. The cellulose was employed in an amount equal to 2.88 gms per 400 ml of water. The viscosities were determined with a Fann Viscometer at 100 rpm. The results of these tests are reported in the following Table VII. 
     
                                           TABLE VII__________________________________________________________________________               Viscosity (cps) at Time IntervalTest.sup.(1) Equiv. Ester/           Final               (HoursNo.   Equiv. Cellulose           pH  1   2   4   7   24  57  72__________________________________________________________________________1     0.2       3.1 90.5                   72.0                       41.4                           15.0                                4.8                                   --  --2     0.1       3.4 93.0                   75.0                       56.4                           36.0                                7.2                                   --  --  3.sup.(2) 0.1       7.6 90.0                   72.6                       68.5                           69.6                               54.6                                   36.6                                       27.04     0.1       3.3 85.8                   66.0                       50.4                           29.4                                4.8                                   --  --5     0.05      3.9 85.8                   73.8                       67.8                           63.6                               44.4                                   20.4                                       10.2__________________________________________________________________________ .sup.(1) In Test Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5 0.15 ml of a surfactant was added to the solution to help disperse organic ester in the water. In Test No. 4, no surfactant was added. .sup.(2) Solution also contained 1 gram of CaCO.sub.3 to simulate a carbonaceous formation. 
    
     EXAMPLE 5 
     In this example the effect of CaCO 3  and NaHCO 3  on the breaking of aqueous solutions thickened with hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) or guar gum and containing as a breaker diethyloxalate was determined. The tests were conducted at 176°F or 200°F with aqueous solutions which were thickened with 2.88 grams of the gum per 400 ml. of solution. Viscosities were determined periodically with a Fann Viscometer at 100 rpm. The results of the tests are set forth in the following Table VIII. 
     
                                           TABLE VIII__________________________________________________________________________                  CaCO.sub.3 Viscosity (cps) at TimeTest   Temp.     Equiv. Ester/                  or     Final                             Interval (Hours)No.   °F  Thickener        Equiv. Thickener                  NaHCO.sub.3                         pH  1   2   4   7   24  48__________________________________________________________________________1  176 HEC   0.1       CaCO.sub.3.sup.(1)                         7.5 60.6                                 59.4                                     55.8                                         50.4                                             28.8                                                 14.42  176 HEC   0.2       &#34;      7.2 61.2                                 58.1                                     55.8                                         52.8                                             26.4                                                 12.03  176 HEC   0.5       &#34;      7.0 59.4                                 60.0                                     51.6                                         56.4                                             38.4                                                 21.64  200 HEC   0.1       &#34;      7.2 38.4                                 37.2                                     32.4                                         25.2                                              8.4                                                 --5  200 HEC   0.2       &#34;      7.5 40.8                                 39.6                                     34.2                                         27.6                                              9.0                                                  5.46  200 HEC   0.5       &#34;      7.2 41.4                                 40.8                                     36.6                                         30.6                                             13.7                                                  9.67  176 Guar  0.5       NaHCO.sub.3.sup.(2)                         8.2 91.2                                 89.5                                     86.4                                         84.0                                             69.0                                                 46.28  176 Guar  0.5       &#34;      8.0 94.2                                 90.0                                     85.2                                         81.0                                             47.4                                                 13.89  176 Guar  0.1       CaCO.sub.3                         7.5 96.0                                 94.8                                     94.8                                         91.8                                             72.0                                                 50.410 176 Guar  0.1       CaCO.sub.3                         7.5 93.0                                 91.2                                     90.0                                         88.2                                             81.6                                                 73.2__________________________________________________________________________ .sup.(1) 1 Gram of CaCO.sub.3 was employed in Test Nos. 1-6 and 9-10. .sup.(2) 0.288 Gram of NaHCO.sub.3 was employed in Test No. 7 and 0.72 gram in Test No. 8. 
    
     This data and Test No. 3 of Example 4 clearly demonstrate the adverse effect of neutralizing ions on the breaking ability of esters. Because of this the behavior of the system is unpredictable in acid soluble formations, e.g., limestone, etc., and therefore it is preferred to employ the viscous aqueous solution of the present invention in the treatment, e.g., fracturing, flooding, etc., of formations which contain substantially no acid soluble minerals. The viscous aqueous solution can be successfully employed to treat sandstone and other similar siliceous formations.