A method of treating a subterranean formation with a retarded
self-diverting fluid system. The method includes contacting the formation
with a mixture of acid, chelating agent, and betaine surfactant in which
the betaine surfactant is mixed with an aqueous solution of the chelating
agent in which the pH has been adjusted to a pH of below about 3.0, but
above the pH at which the free acid of the chelating agent precipitates,
and the resulting fluid system is utilized for both acid fracturing and
matrix stimulation, as well as workover procedures such as scale and
filter cake removal, especially in high temperature formations.