1. n. [Enhanced Oil Recovery]

An enhanced oil recovery process utilizing compressed air that is injected into a reservoir. Oxygen in the gas reacts exothermically with some of the oil, producing highly mobile flue gas. The flue gas advances ahead of the reaction front and achieves an efficient displacement of the in situ oil. Scientists believe that the high displacement efficiency of high-pressure air injection is due to a combination of processes that include immiscible gas displacement, improved miscibility caused by the presence of CO2 in the flue gas, reduction in interfacial tension, oil swelling and reservoir repressurization. The process is typically used for deep, tight, relatively light-oil reservoirs where water injectivity is low.

See: fireflooding