waterflood

[ waw-ter-fluhd, wot-er- ]

noun

1. (in the petroleum industry) a method of secondary recovery whereby water is pumped into reservoir rock to force out oil that has ceased to flow under its own pressure.

Word History and Origins

Origin of waterflood¹

First recorded in 1925–30; water + flood

Example Sentences

The Wyoming deal will include waterflood developments in the Big Horn and Wind River basins and the 570-mile Red Butte pipeline.

From Wall Street Journal

In the interim, the company is focusing on steamflood and waterflood drive mechanisms, which improve recovery from oil wells, according to Margita Thompson, a spokeswoman for CRC.

From Reuters

But in the midst of it all he was kept in a calm, hallowed, peaceful communion with God, which proved indeed how the Lord sitteth above the waterflood, when the Lord can give peace unto His people.

From Project Gutenberg

The Canadian company said it will acquire 100 percent interest in a keyhole section of its existing waterflood in Dixonville, which is in north-western Alberta.

From Reuters

Climax, which already has an active waterflood oil division, insisted that it bought Whitehill only for the oil.

From Time Magazine Archive

Related Words

• deluge
• torrent