Ocean Viking sett fra helikopter. Foto: Egil Lima

Waterflooding – also known as water injection – is one possible way to achieve improved oil recovery (IOR) from a reservoir. Its wide use reflects the frequent availability of cheap water in large quantities. Seawater is used offshore, usually after treatment.

Lars B Takla, later CEO at Phillips Petroleum Company Norway, was a chief engineer with Phillips when the Kielland accident occurred. He reports that one of his jobs was to participate in a sub-committee for emergency preparedness in a sort of forerunner to today’s Norwegian Oil and Gas Association, and because of that he was closely involved in the Kielland accident by mobilising equipment and help, and so forth.