1. vb. [Well Workover and Intervention]

To use a relatively weak, inhibited acid to remove scale, rust and similar deposits from the internal surfaces of equipment such as treating lines, pumping equipment or the tubing string through which an acid or chemical treatment is to be pumped. The pickling process removes materials that may react with the main treatment fluid to create undesirable secondary reactions or precipitates damaging to the near-wellbore reservoir formation.

Synonyms: pickling fluid