Acidizing

Acidizing an oil well is the process of pumping acid, generally hydrochloric acid, into an oil reservoir. The acid serves to dissolve built up material, calcite which in turn opens up and enlarges the naturally occurring holes in the rock’s surface. This process helps the increase of the flow of fluids in the reservoir.

While it is common to treat limestone with acid, sandstone may be acidized or acid treated as well should it contain calcite which does not affect the quarts grains composing the sandstone.