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gravity drainage

1. n. [Enhanced Oil Recovery]

The least common primary recovery mechanism in which the force of gravity pushes hydrocarbons out of the reservoir, into the wellbore and up to surface. Gravity force is always present in the reservoir, but its effect is greater in thick gas-condensate reservoirs and in shallow, highly permeable, steeply dipping reservoirs.

See: gas condensategasdrivehydrocarbonprimary recoverywaterdrive