Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the gelation (i.e. thickening) of salt water which includes the steps of forming a solvent system of an organic liquid or oil and a polar cosolvent, the polar cosolvent being less than about 15 weight percent of the solvent system, a viscosity of the solvent system being less than about 100 cps; dissolving a nonionic surfactant and water insoluble, neutralized or unneutralized sulfonated polymer in the solvent system to form a solution, a concentration of the neutralized, or unneutralized sulfonated polymer in the solution being about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent, the concentration of the nonionic surfactant in the solvent system being about 0.0001 to about 1.