1. n. [Well Workover and Intervention]

A chemical additive used in stimulation treatments to prevent the migration or swelling of clay particles in reaction to water-base fluid. Without adequate protection, some water-base fluids can affect the electrical charge of naturally occurring clay platelets in the formation. Modifying the charge causes the platelets to swell or migrate in the flowing fluid and, once these are dispersed, it is likely that some clay plugging of the formation matrix will occur. Clay stabilizers act to retain the clay platelets in position by controlling the charge and electrolytic characteristics of the treatment fluid.