Patent ID: 7730952

Claim:
A method for fracturing a subterranean formation which comprises introducing into said formation a cross-linking composition having a pH of 3-12, at a flow rate and pressure sufficient to create, reopen and/or extend a fracture in said formation, wherein said composition comprises a zirconium triethanolamine complex, which is bistriethanolamine zirconate or tetra-triethanolamine zirconate, N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(hydroxyisopropyl)ethylenediamine, water, a buffer, and a cross-linkable organic polymer, wherein said composition is produced by mixing the zirconium triethanolamine complex with N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(hydroxyisopropyl)ethylenediamine, water, buffer and organic polymer, and further wherein the composition comprises from about 0.01 to about 5 moles of tetrakis(hydroxyisopropyl)ethylenediamine per mole of zirconium triethanolamine complex.