A method of improving injectivity of fluid, particularly produced water,
in enhanced hydrocarbon recovery is disclosed. The method includes
introducing a fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation to create
a fracture, and introducing proppant into the fracturing fluid to form a
single layer of proppant in the fracture. The fracturing fluid can be
formed from produced water. Alternatively, the produced water is
introduced after a fracturing fluid, other than the produced water, has
been introduced to create a fracture. By reducing the amount of proppant
and by using much larger proppant, a larger flow path through the
fracture is created, thereby increasing the injectivity of produced
water.