Illustration of intertwined polymers and surfactant molecules in water

Slickwater Solutions: How to Enhance Friction Reducer Performance and Save Money in High Salt Conditions

Lena Voss in Tech & Innovation August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Unlock the potential of produced water in hydraulic fracturing with innovative friction reducer techniques."

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, relies heavily on friction reducers. These essential components allow pumps to push fluids into the earth at faster rates and with less energy. The most commonly used friction reducers are polyacrylamides, which are unfortunately sensitive to dissolved solids in water. With freshwater resources becoming more scarce and costly, operators are increasingly turning to produced water, which often contains high levels of dissolved salts. This creates a significant challenge for maintaining efficient fracking operations.

The good news is that researchers are actively developing solutions to combat this issue. One promising approach involves using a surfactant system to prevent performance degradation in saline water. A recent study details a series of experiments testing the effects of dissolved cations, like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, on friction reducer performance. These cations, commonly found in produced water, can interfere with the friction reducers and reduce their effectiveness.

This article will dive deep into how these experiments were conducted, what the results revealed, and how a simple addition of a surfactant can make a big difference in high-salt conditions. It's all about making fracking more sustainable and cost-effective.

The Science of Salt: How Cations Affect Friction Reducers

Illustration of intertwined polymers and surfactant molecules in water

To understand how surfactants can help, it’s important to know why salt interferes with friction reducers in the first place. The active ingredient in most friction reducers is partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM). HPAM is a long, linear polymer that reduces friction by diminishing turbulent flow. However, the presence of ions, especially multivalent cations like calcium and magnesium, can disrupt this process. These ions can bind to the polymer chains, causing them to tangle and coil up, preventing them from effectively reducing friction.

Think of it like this: imagine a bunch of long, straight strands of spaghetti (the HPAM polymers). When you add salt (cations), some of the strands start to stick together, forming clumps. These clumps are not as effective at sliding past each other and reducing friction. Monovalent cations, such as sodium and potassium, can also prevent the polymer from properly hydrating, further hindering its performance.

The study explored:

The impact of sodium and potassium (monovalent cations)
The impact of calcium and magnesium (divalent cations)
How a surfactant system can mitigate these negative effects

The research team used a friction flow loop to simulate fracking conditions and measure the effect of different brines on friction reduction. They found that a specific surfactant system was highly effective in preventing performance degradation in saline water. This system was tested with brines containing sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, as well as with synthetic produced water based on actual Permian Basin water samples. The results consistently showed that the addition of the surfactant significantly improved friction reducer performance and extended its salt tolerance.

The Future of Fracking: Sustainable, Cost-Effective, and Salt-Tolerant

By using the right surfactant system, operators can not only improve the performance of friction reducers in high-salt conditions but also unlock the potential of produced water as a valuable resource. This reduces reliance on freshwater, lowers costs, and promotes more sustainable fracking practices. As the industry continues to innovate, expect to see more advanced solutions that tackle the challenges of water management and optimize fracking operations for a more environmentally responsible future.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.15530/urtec-2018-2902709, Alternate LINK

Title: Enhancing Friction Reducer Performance In High Salt Conditions

Journal: Proceedings of the 6th Unconventional Resources Technology Conference

Publisher: American Association of Petroleum Geologists

Authors: Brian Seymour, Dawn Friesen, Aaron Sanders

Published: 2018-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

Why are friction reducers important in hydraulic fracturing, and what challenge do they face with the increasing use of produced water?

Friction reducers are essential for efficient hydraulic fracturing (fracking). They enable pumps to inject fluids into the earth at higher speeds using less energy. Polyacrylamides are commonly used, but their performance diminishes in the presence of dissolved solids, a challenge given the increasing use of produced water with high salt content.

How do salts, especially cations like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, interfere with the performance of friction reducers?

Salts, specifically cations like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, found in produced water interfere with friction reducers. Divalent cations, such as calcium and magnesium, cause the HPAM polymer chains to tangle and coil, reducing their ability to diminish turbulent flow. Monovalent cations like sodium and potassium hinder proper polymer hydration, further impacting performance.

How does using a surfactant system improve friction reducer performance in high-salt conditions, and what are the benefits of this approach?

A surfactant system can prevent performance degradation of friction reducers in saline water. These systems mitigate the negative effects of cations, improving the friction reducer's salt tolerance. This allows for the effective use of produced water, reducing the need for freshwater and lowering operational costs.

How was the impact of salts and the effectiveness of surfactant systems on friction reducers evaluated in the study?

The research team employed a friction flow loop to replicate fracking conditions, testing the effects of different brines on friction reduction. They assessed the impact of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and evaluated the effectiveness of a specific surfactant system in preventing performance degradation in saline water. The surfactant system was tested using brines containing the mentioned cations and synthetic produced water based on actual Permian Basin water samples.

What are the broader implications of using surfactant systems to enhance friction reducer performance in high-salt conditions for the future of fracking?

By using suitable surfactant systems to enhance friction reducer performance in high-salt conditions, operators can tap into the potential of produced water as a valuable resource. This reduces the reliance on freshwater, lowers costs, and fosters more sustainable fracking practices. This advancement is crucial for environmentally responsible water management and the optimization of fracking operations. Further innovation is expected to address water management challenges, including advanced treatments for specific contaminants and closed-loop systems to minimize water consumption and discharge.