1. n. [Well Completions, Drilling Fluids, Well Workover and Intervention]
An organic acid used in oil- and gas-well stimulation treatments. Less corrosive than the commonly used hydrochloric acid, acetic acid treatments can be more easily inhibited or retarded for treatments of long duration. This is necessary particularly in applications requiring the protection of exotic alloys or in high-temperature wells. In most cases, acetic acid is used in conjunction with hydrochloric acid and other acid additives. It can also be used as a chelating agent.
