1. n. [Heavy Oil, Enhanced Oil Recovery]

A method of thermal recovery in which hot water is injected into a reservoir through specially distributed injection wells. Hot waterflooding reduces the viscosity of the crude oil, allowing it to move more easily toward production wells. Hot waterflooding, also known as hot water injection, is typically less effective than a steam-injection process because water has lower heat content than steam. Nevertheless, it is preferable under certain conditions such as formation sensitivity to fresh water.

See related terms: cyclic steam injection,  enhanced oil recovery,  in-situ combustion,  injection well,  steamflood