Patent ID: 8273693

Claim:
An aqueous gel comprising: water and, by weight based on the water, 0.1% to 5% of an anionically or cationically charged polymer, a lesser amount but at least 0.01% of an oppositely charged surfactant having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, from 0.001 to 5% of a hydrophobic alcohol, from about 0.001% and about 10% of a phosphorus-containing compound comprising mono carbyl phosphates, di carbyl phosphates, tri carbyl phosphates, phosphate salts or mixtures and combinations thereof, up to 5% of an amphoteric surfactant, and up to 5% of an amine oxide, where the gel has an absolute value of a Zeta Potential of at least 20 millivolts and where the phosphorus-containing compound increases a viscosity of the gel as much as 3 times relative to a viscosity of a gel without the phosphorus-containing compound, and where the aqueous gel is useful in drilling, formation fracturing, and hydrocarbon recovery.