US Patent 7195065 Stabilizing crosslinked polymer guars and modified guar derivatives

An aqueous, viscoelastic treating fluid gelled with a crosslinked guar or guar derivative is stabilized and improved with an effective amount of a glycol, such as ethylene glycol. These fluids are more stable in that viscosity is maintained, particularly at elevated temperatures. The additives may also increase viscosity to the point where less of a crosslinked guar or guar derivative gelling agent is required to maintain a given viscosity. These stabilized, enhanced, aqueous, viscoelastic fluids may be used as treatment fluids for subterranean hydrocarbon formations, such as in hydraulic fracturing.