1. n. [Enhanced Oil Recovery]
A poisonous liquid acid composed of hydrogen and fluorine. Hydrofluoric acid [HF] is used primarily because it is the only common, inexpensive mineral acid that can dissolve siliceous minerals. HF is typically mixed with hydrochloric acid [HCl] or organic acid to keep the pH low when it spends, thereby preventing detrimental precipitates. These mixtures, also called mud acids, are considered the main fluid in a sandstone acid treatment because they remove formation damage. Hydrofluoric acid should not be used in sandstone formations with high carbonate content because of the high risk of calcium fluoride precipitation [CaF2].
See related terms: fluoboric acid, matrix stimulation, precipitate
