Patent ID: 8193127

Claim:
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore, comprising the step of formulating a fracturing fluid comprising micelles networked by a polymer comprising at least one hydrophilic group and at least one hydrophobic component, wherein the micelles are formed by an anionic surfactant comprising a compound of formulae I.a to I.f or salts thereof, or mixtures thereof: in which: R 1 is selected from linear or branched C 16 -C 22 -alkyl, C 16 -C 22 -alkenyl, C 16 -C 22 -alkynyl, (C 15 -C 21 -alkyl)carbonyl, (C 15 -C 21 -alkenyl)carbonyl and (C 15 -C 21 -alkynyl)carbonyl, Y is a group consisting of from 1 to 20 alkyleneoxy units and Z is C 1 -C 4 -alkylene, pumping the fracturing fluid down the wellbore at a rate and pressure sufficient to initiate or extend a fracture in the formation and breaking the viscosity by adding a breaker, wherein the breaker is an alkaline material, an alkaline material precursor, or a non-ionic breaking surfactant.