The present invention provides a method of forming a viscosified treatment
fluid comprising: providing a treatment fluid that comprises water and a
gelling agent; contacting the treatment fluid with a boronic acid
crosslinking agent so as to form a crosslinked gelling agent, wherein the
boronic acid crosslinking agent comprises a compound having the formula:
##STR00001## The present invention also provides methods of crosslinking
gelling agent molecules, methods of treating a subterranean formation,
methods of reusing viscosified treatment fluids, methods of fracturing
subterranean formations, and methods of placing a gravel pack in
subterranean formations. The present invention also provides boronic acid
crosslinking agents and viscosified treatment fluids that comprise
crosslinked gelling agents, the crosslinked gelling agent being formed
from a reaction comprising a gelling agent and a boronic acid
crosslinking agent.