Application of fumed silica-enhanced polymeric fracturing fluids in highly mineralized water

•The addition of nanoparticles to highly mineralized fracturing fluids increases system’s thixotropy.•Fumed silica reduce the activation energy of polymeric fracturing fluid systems at high mineralization water.•Molecular dynamics simulations can explain the interaction between nanoparticles and polymeric chains. Fumed silica is combined with highly mineralized water to configure polymeric fracturing fluids for fracture and oil-repellent applications. The properties of fracturing fluids have been systematically studied with regard to thixotropy, shear viscosity, viscoelasticity, and viscosity–temperature relationships. Molecular dynamics simulations are commonly used to discover how fumed silica works in highly mineralized fracturing fluid. Results show that fumed silica can effectively enhance the thixotropy of highly mineralized fracturing fluid. Fumed silica enhances the temperature resistance of highly mineralized fracturing fluid (variation of the Arrhenius constant). Based on SEM analysis, fumed silica can help polymers bond together. In highly mineralized fracturing fluid, fumed silica generates a supramolecular weak gel, which strengthens the weak gel. In addition, molecular dynamics simulations indicate that fumed silica strengthens polymer–nanoparticle–water interactions.