Lateral coning (water tongue) – advance movement of water injected into the reservoir or of the edge water along the rock stratification in a local section of a developed deposit (gas or oil-bearing). Lateral coning leads to early water-cut, irregularity of reservoir limits movement, by-passed hydrocarbons and decrease of gas/oil recovery factor.

Prevention and liquidation of lateral coning is performed by regulating the mode of producing wells or by their temporary shutdown.