Abstract: Methods of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore are provided, the methods comprising the steps of: (a) for a treatment fluid to be used in treating a subterranean formation, establishing a desired viscosity at a desired temperature for a desired time; (b) forming a treatment fluid that has the desired viscosity at the desired temperature for the desired time, wherein the treatment fluid comprises: (i) a base fluid; (ii) a viscosifying agent comprising a polymer; and (iii) a surfactant; and (c) introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation. According to one aspect, an otherwise substantially identical treatment fluid with a lower concentration of the surfactant would not achieve the desired viscosity at the desired temperature for the desired time.