Abstract: The present disclosure provides water-based well treatment fluids methods of using such fluids in treating subterranean formations to prevent swelling and/or migration of fines. The water-based well treatment fluid contains an aqueous continuous phase and a clay stabilizing agent comprising less than 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the clay stabilizing agent, of an unhindered primary amine and a second amine selected from an alkanolamine, a polyalkylene polyamine, a compound having a formula R4—(CH2)d—NH2 where R4 is a piperazino group or a morpholino group and d is an integer from 0 to 10, a compound having the formula where his an integer from about 2 to about 7 and a mixture thereof.