Abstract: A method of time delayed reduction in the molecular weight of polymers in a viscosified fluid and a method of time delayed breaking of viscosified fluids through treatment of the viscosified fluid with a viscosity breaking composition. The viscosity breaking composition is formed from a peroxygen compound, a peroxygen inhibiting agent and a peroxygen catalyzing agent, where the relative concentration of the components determines the duration of the a time interval require for breaking the viscosified fluid.

Abstract: A method of reducing the viscosity of a viscosified fluid in an underground drilling operation comprising, where the introduction of a chelated transition metal catalyzes the viscosity reduction of the viscosified fluid. The chelated transition metal may be ferric methylglycinediacetate. Additionally, an uninhibited oxidizing agent, such as a peroxygen compound, may also be present in combination with the chelated transition metal to catalyze the viscosity reduction of the viscosified fluid.

Abstract: A method of time delayed reduction in the molecular weight of polymers in a viscosified fluid and a method of time delayed breaking of viscosified fluids through treatment of the viscosified fluid with a viscosity breaking composition. The viscosity breaking composition is formed from a peroxygen compound, a peroxygen inhibiting agent and a peroxygen catalyzing agent, where the relative concentration of the components determines the duration of the a time interval require for breaking the viscosified fluid.

Abstract: A method of time delayed reduction in the molecular weight of polymers in a viscosified fluid and a method of time delayed breaking of viscosified fluids through treatment of the viscosified fluid with a viscosity breaking composition. The viscosity breaking composition is formed from a peroxygen compound, a peroxygen inhibiting agent and a peroxygen catalyzing agent, where the relative concentration of the components determines the duration of the a time interval require for breaking the viscosified fluid.

Abstract: A method of reducing the viscosity of a viscosified fluid in an underground drilling operation comprising, where the introduction of a chelated transition metal catalyzes the viscosity reduction of the viscosified fluid. The chelated transition metal may be ferric methylglycinediacetate. Additionally, an uninhibited oxidizing agent, such as a peroxygen compound, may also be present in combination with the chelated transition metal to catalyze the viscosity reduction of the viscosified fluid.

Abstract: A method of time delayed reduction in the molecular weight of polymers in a viscosified fluid and a method of time delayed breaking of viscosified fluids through treatment of the viscosified fluid with a viscosity breaking composition. The viscosity breaking composition is formed from a peroxygen compound, a peroxygen inhibiting agent and a peroxygen catalyzing agent, where the relative concentration of the components determines the duration of the a time interval require for breaking the viscosified fluid.

Abstract: Methods for depolymerizing polysaccharides are disclosed. In certain exemplary methods, polysaccharides having a first average molecular weight can be reacted with hydroxyl free radicals to produce polysaccharides having a second average molecular weight lower than the first average molecular weight. The hydroxyl free radicals can be formed by interaction of an oxidant with a catalyst comprising a polydentate ligand complexed with a metal ion. In certain exemplary embodiments, the oxidant can be hydrogen peroxide, and the catalyst can be iron methylglycine diacetate or iron-2,3,4,5,6 pentahydroxyhexanoate.

Abstract: Methods for depolymerizing polysaccharides are disclosed. In certain exemplary methods, polysaccharides having a first average molecular weight can be reacted with hydroxyl free radicals to produce polysaccharides having a second average molecular weight lower than the first average molecular weight. The hydroxyl free radicals can be formed by interaction of an oxidant with a catalyst comprising a polydentate ligand complexed with a metal ion. In certain exemplary embodiments, the oxidant can be hydrogen peroxide, and the catalyst can be iron methylglycine diacetate or iron-2,3,4,5,6 pentahydroxyhexanoate.