Stuck Drill Pipe Additive And Method

A stuck pipe additive composition for releasing stuck drill pipe in subterranean drilling, comprising:

• (a) an aqueous based continuous phase;
• (b) a non-toxic, low pH acidic composition with antimicrobial properties;
• (c) an alkali metal halide salt that functions as a dehydrating agent;
• and
• (d) a sequenching agent that functions to prevent the rebinding of the subterranean drillings.

A method for releasing a stuck drill pipe, comprising;

• contacting the interval of a borehole in which a drill string has become stuck due to the formation of a wall cake with a spotting fluid containing an effective amount of a low pH acidic composition with antimicrobial properties;
• allowing a time interval of from approximately 5 minutes to approximately 1 hour for the spotting fluid to break down the wall cake;
• and
• releasing the stuck drill string.