The most obvious problem caused by water production is that it restricts oil production.

For treating water coning, fingering, channeling problems or shutting undesired water production, most companies, that are involved with Improved oil recovery processes, use water soluble polymers and or surfactant injection.

Water control treatments, such as BIG's WATROL System, intend to shut off or controlling the produced water in the near wellbore area. This is accomplished by selectively placing Watrol system, that either alter the relative permeability to water or plug the high permeability streaks or natural fractures.