Research progress on acrylamide fracturing fluid thickeners

Artificially synthesized polyacrylamides and natural plant gums such as guar gum are often used as fracturing fluid thickeners. Compared with natural plant gums such as guar gum, artificially synthesized polyacrylamides have distinct advantages in terms of performance, cost, and environmental cleanliness, as a result, they are widely used in hydraulic fracturing operations in oilfields. The acrylamide fracturing fluid thickeners were investigated, and then classified according to the number of reaction monomers involved in the synthesis of polyacrylamide fracturing fluid thickeners (ranging from 1 to 5). The synthesis methods and conditions for the acrylamide fracturing fluid thickeners were summarized, and the reasons for the synergy of some reaction monomers were explained. Furthermore, certain issues, such as the lack of reactivity ratio measurement and the absence of structural design of the polymers, in the synthesis process wore proposed, which may be critical factors affecting their performance. This research can serve as a reference for selecting monomers and synthesis methods when synthesizing acrylamide fracturing fluid thickeners.