Friction Reducers

Negatively charged polyacrylamide/acrylamide-acrylate copolymers that provide high friction reduction in fresh or low-salinity water. They are the most common slickwater FR but lose performance as divalent ion content rises.

Positively charged polymers that tolerate higher salinity and are more compatible with clay-rich formations and certain produced waters. Chosen when mix water or formation chemistry degrades anionic products.

Friction reducers built on 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (ATBS) copolymer chemistry that retain hydration and friction reduction in high-TDS brines and reused produced water. Designed for high-salinity completions and water recycling programs.

Inverting water-in-oil emulsion polymers delivered as a pumpable liquid that hydrates rapidly when injected on the fly. Favored for fast inversion and continuous metering at high pump rates.

Solid powdered polymer supplied for slurry or dry feed systems, offering lower transport cost and no carrier oil. Requires dedicated hydration and dispersion equipment to avoid fisheyes and ensure full polymer yield.

Higher-loading or higher-molecular-weight FRs that build measurable viscosity in addition to reducing friction, enabling proppant transport without a separate gelling agent. Used to replace or reduce guar-based crosslinked systems in many slickwater designs.

Natural guar gum and its derivatives (HPG, CMG, CMHPG) used as gelling/viscosifying polymers and, in some designs, for friction control and proppant suspension. Derivatization improves hydration, salt tolerance, and residue performance relative to underivatized guar.

Companion additives and suspension-stabilized formulations that improve polymer yield, hydration rate, or proppant carrying when blended with a base FR. Used to fine-tune friction and viscosity for specific water chemistry and treatment design.