Graft Copolymers of Dextran and Polyacrylamide and Methods of Making and Using Same

Disclosed herein are new graft copolymers of dextran and polyacrylamide. The graft copolymers can include dextran, where the dextran is a backbone polymer including about 15 wt % to about 50 wt % of the graft copolymer; and polyacrylamide, where the polyacrylamide is a side chain polymer including about 50 wt % to about 85 wt % of the graft copolymer, based on the total weight of the graft copolymer, where the graft copolymer has a weight-average molecular weight from about 1,000,000 g/mol to about 1,500,000 g/mol. The graft copolymers of dextran and polyacrylamide can be used as friction reducers for well treatment fluids.