Patent ID: 7770641

Claim:
A method for enhancing oil recovery, comprising: (a) providing a subsurface reservoir containing hydrocarbons therewithin; (b) providing a wellbore in fluid communication with the subsurface reservoir; (c) forming a surfactant-polymer solution for injection into the reservoir by mixing a composition with at least one surfactant, at least one polymer, and at least one co-solvent or co-surfactant such that the surfactant-polymer solution is clear and aqueous stable; (d) injecting the surfactant-polymer solution through the wellbore into the reservoir; (e) forming a chaser solution having an additional predetermined quantity of the co-solvent or co-surfactant for injection into the reservoir; and (f) injecting the chaser solution through the injection wellbore into the reservoir to increase the production of hydrocarbons from the reservoir while maintaining the clear and aqueous stability of the surfactant-polymer solution.