Reinjection

Reinjection is the process of injecting a substance again or reintroducing previously produced or treated material back into a system. The term is used across fields to describe different but related practices that extend the life of resources, reduce waste, or enable enhanced performance.

In the energy and environment sectors, reinjection is common in petroleum engineering. Reinjection wells pump produced water, steam, or carbon dioxide back into a subsurface reservoir to maintain pressure, improve recovery, or dispose of fluids. In CO2-enhanced oil recovery and carbon capture and storage projects, reinjection is used to permanently store CO2 under rock formations. In wastewater management and hydrogeology, treated wastewater or surface runoff may be reinjected into underground aquifers as part of managed aquifer recharge, helping to sustain groundwater supplies and reduce surface discharge.

In medicine and laboratory settings, reinjection can refer to the administration of a drug more than once after an initial dose, such as booster injections or repeated administrations as part of a therapeutic regimen. In clinical imaging or experimental procedures, reinjection of contrast agents or tracers may be performed to obtain additional data or repeat measurements.

Safety, regulatory, and environmental considerations are central to reinjection operations. Engineering assessments address reservoir or aquifer integrity, injection pressures, and the risk of leakage or unintended migration. Environmental monitoring, water quality testing, and adherence to relevant regulations help prevent contamination and environmental impact. See also reinjection well, groundwater recharge, and CO2 sequestration.