Mineral-alkali interactions have received considerable attention in the recent literature dealing with enhanced oil recovery techniques and clay stabilization treatments. One of the critical factors to be considered is alkali consumption. Alkalinity decrease occurs through several mechanisms, which are ion exchange, precipitation, reaction with crude oil components, and dissolution of minerals. This paper describes the dissolution process. An original kinetic model is proposed to describe the alkaline dissolution of a clayey sandstone. This model is based first on results concerning quartz dissolution/condensation processes. It is also based on new experimental data, which demonstrate the inhibiting effect of aluminum and, as the reaction proceeds, the precipitation of an aluminosilicate whose the chemical composition has been determined. From these data, a kinetic scheme has been conceived in which adsorption of different chemical species is assumed to occur onto solid surfaces. These species play a more or less important role according to the extent of the reaction. In the mechanisms considered, the argillaceous fraction of the rock provides silicon and aluminum which inhibit the dissolution of the matrix while silicon coming from quartz interferes with clay attack. The kinetic model depicts the coupling of elementary dissolution processes and calculates dissolved silicon and aluminum. It has been tested for various operating conditions, providing initial reaction rates for quartz and clay. Results emphasize the definitive advantage of carbonate compared to other alkaline chemicals owing to the relative low pH of solutions, which is particularly favorable for promoting inhibition by aluminum and, as a general rule, for reducing mineral dissolution. more...