1. n. [Well Workover and Intervention]

A compound, typically a metallic salt, mixed with a base-gel fluid, such as a guar-gel system, to create a viscous gel used in some stimulation or pipeline cleaning treatments. The crosslinker reacts with the multiple-strand polymer to couple the molecules, creating a fluid of high, but closely controlled, viscosity. Treatments using crosslinkers should take account of the conditions needed to break the gel structure to ensure satisfactory cleanup and disposal.