Rheological Study on Regenerable Low Molecular Weight Carboxymethyl-Hydroxypropyl Guar Gum Gel

Low molecular weight guar gum fracturing fluid is a new type of environmental-friendly gel system. The rheological properties of the borate cross-linked low molecular weight carboxymethyl-hydroxypropyl guar gum gel system were studied in this paper. The influencing factors on properties of gel system as well as the viscosity curve, viscoelasticity, thixotropy of gel system before and after regeneration were investigated; the flow curve was characterized by non-linear co-rotational Jeffreys model. The results show that the gel system still possesses nice viscoelasticity and shear thinning properties after regeneration, the rheological properties are the same as before regeneration. Therefore, the gel system is proved to be well regenerated. Non-linear co-rotational Jeffreys model can be applied to describe the flow curve of gel system correctly and the calculated values are in good agreement with the experimental data.