Patent ID: 7358215

Claim:
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising the steps of: I) providing a thickened aqueous based hydraulic fracturing fluid, comprising: a) an aqueous medium; and b) about 0.1 wt-% to about 4 wt-% of at least one cationic surfactant having the following general structure: wherein R 1 is alkyl amine alkylene, or alkyl amido alkylene, R 2 and R 3 are each alkyl, hydroxyl alkyl, polyalkoxy with the degree of polymerization ranging from 2 to 30, hydroxyl alkyl sulfonate, alkyl sulfonate or alkylarylsulfonate; R 4 is hydrocarbon, saturated or unsaturated; or wherein any two of R 2 , R 3 and R 4 , together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a heterocyclic ring; and X is selected from the group consisting of halides; oxo ions of phosphorus, sulfur or chloride; and organic anions; and c) at least one additive selected from organic salts, inorganic salts, organic acids, alcohols, and mixtures thereof; and II. pumping the aqueous fracturing fluid through a wellbore and into a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation.