Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering oil from a subterranean formation comprising injecting an aqueous composition into said formation and displacing said oil toward one or more production wells, said aqueous composition comprising:(A) from about 0.05% to about 1.2% by weight of at least one compound represented by the formulaRO--(R').sub.n R"X.sup.- Y.sup.+wherein: R is a hydrocarbonyl group of from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms; R' is ethoxy, propoxy or a mixture thereof; R" is a divalent hydrocarbyl group of 1 to about 20 carbon atoms; X is a sulfate, sulfonate or carboxylate group; Y is a cation; and n is a number in the range of 1 to about 20; and(B) from about 0.02% to about 0.3% by weight of at least one polymeric thickener.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering oil from a subterranean formation comprising injecting an aqueous composition into said formation and displacing said oil toward one or more production wells, said aqueous composition comprising:(A) from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of at least one anionic or amphoteric surfactant;(B) from about 0.02% to about 0.3% by weight of at least one polymeric thickener; and(C) from about 0.005% to about 0.1% by weight of at least one polymeric material having a flexible backbone and a higher polarizability than component (B).