Abstract: A process for restoring the injectivity or productivity of a well penetrating a subterranean formation by injecting a micelle treating fluid into the subterranean formation via the well with the micelle treating fluid containing a 2% potassium chloride water solution and a mutual solvent containing alcohol, aromatic hydrocarbon and an alkyl or alkylaryl polyoxyalkylene phosphate ester surfactant, thereafter displacing the micelle treating fluid into the formation by injecting a gas into the well and contacting accumulated asphaltene precipitate and a low-gravity, high-viscosity, asphaltene-based crude in the subterranean formation with the micelle treating fluid to disperse the accumulation of asphaltene and to reduce the viscosity of the low-gravity, high-viscosity, asphaltene-based crude.