SPE 98847 saith:

Most of water production comes from high water cut wells located in the flank areas due to proximity to the injection system. A developed production practice was devised to produce high water production wells on cyclic mode. This practice minimized water production and lowered operating costs in mature areas of the field. The cyclic production mode calls for shutting-in wells for six months followed by production for the same period and repeating the same process onward. Implementation of cyclic production was started initially at the end of year 2000 with thirteen high water cut wells. In August 2004, additional twenty-seven high water cut wells were put on cyclic production.

In a cyclic production mode, the mechanism of fluid movements is different than a normal production mode. During the shut-in period, excessive water (heavier fluid) is segregated and pushed down in the reservoir which allows oil (ligher fluid) to be accumulated in the top. Hence, oil will arrive quickly to the well bore column and the well can produce it early at a reasonable rate during the production period.