Abstract: The method of recovering petroleum from a subterranean reservoir preferably comprising the steps of: (1) introducing through an injection well a predetermined amount of a polyalkylene oxide adduct of a fusible, aromatic hydrocarbon soluble synthetic resin which contains between about 4 to about 16 phenolic groups and is a condensate of a substituted phenol and an aldehyde, said condensate resin being further condensed with ethylene oxide and at least one other alkylene oxide containing 3 or 4 carbon atoms and in such amounts that the weight ratio of condensed alkylene oxide moiety to phenolic resin moiety ranges from about 1-to-1 to about 100-to-1 and the weight percentage of ethylene oxide residues to the total of all alkylene oxide residues ranges from about 20% to about 75%; said adduct (a) being soluble in water to the extent of about 1% or more at 25.degree. C. and (b) said 1% solution having a cloud point of less than about 70.degree. C.