Patent ID: 8173580

Claim:
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising the steps of: a. blending together water and a hydratable polymer capable of gelling in the presence of a crosslinking agent; b. allowing the hydratable polymer to hydrate to form a hydrated polymer solution; c. adding a crosslinking agent comprising a polyboronic compound to the hydrated polymer solution to produce a crosslinked fracturing fluid, wherein the polyboronic compound is of the formula: wherein R 1 -R 6 is hydrogen, alkyl group, alkenyl group, alkynyl group, aryl group, or combinations thereof; X is carbon, nitrogen, silicon, or combinations thereof; Y is a straight chain of —(CH 2 )—, a straight chain with pendant(s), a straight chain with branching, aromatic ring(s) directly connected, aromatic ring(s) indirectly connected, fused aromatic rings, heterocyclic ring(s) directly connected, heterocyclic ring(s) indirectly connected, fused heterocyclic rings, aliphatic ring(s) directly connected, aliphatic ring(s) indirectly connected, fused aliphatic rings, or combinations thereof; and Z is carbon, silicon, oxygen, nitrogen, alkyl group, alkenyl group, alkynyl group, aromatic ring(s), aliphatic ring(s), heterocyclic ring(s), a metal atom, or combinations thereof; and d. injecting the crosslinked fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation to fracture the formation.