mixing an acidic compound with a hygroscopic chemical to form the attenuated acid formulation, wherein the acidic compound comprises a hydrochloric acid solution and the hydroscopic chemical comprises diethylene glycol, wherein the DEG comprises between 5 and 40 vol. % of the attenuated acid formulation; and

injecting the attenuated acid formulation into a carbonate formation, wherein the pore volume for breakthrough (PV_BT) is less than 0.23 for an attenuated acid formulation comprising either a 28 wt. % or a 36 wt. % solution of HCl.