Composition and method for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery

Abstract

A process for preparing a hydrocarbon recovery composition which comprises an anionic surfactant, an alkaline agent and a polymer and a process for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for preparing a hydrocarbon recovery composition which comprises an anionic surfactant, an alkaline agent and a polymer,
 wherein the anionic surfactant is an internal olefin sulfonate (IOS), the alkaline agent is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal carbonate salts, alkali metal bicarbonate salts and alkali metal hydroxide salts, the molecular weight of the polymer is at least 1 million Dalton, and the polymer is made from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer of formula R1R2C═CR3R4, wherein at least one of the R1, R2, R3 and R4 substituents is a substituent which contains a moiety selected from the group consisting of —C(═O)NH2, —C(═O)OH, —C(═O)OR wherein R is a branched or linear C6-C18 alkyl group, —OH, pyrrolidone and —SO3H, and the remaining substituent(s), if any, is (are) selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl; and   wherein the process comprises providing an aqueous mixture comprising the anionic surfactant; mixing the aqueous mixture comprising the anionic surfactant with a powder comprising the alkaline agent; removing water from the resulting aqueous mixture comprising the anionic surfactant and the alkaline agent; recovering a powder comprising the anionic surfactant and alkaline agent; mixing the powder comprising the anionic surfactant and alkaline agent with a powder comprising the polymer; and recovering a powder comprising the anionic surfactant, alkaline agent and polymer.   
     
     
         2 . A process for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation comprising the steps of
 a) transporting the hydrocarbon recovery composition as prepared in accordance with the process of  claim 1  to the location of the hydrocarbon containing formation;   b) dissolving the hydrocarbon recovery composition in water thereby forming an aqueous fluid containing the hydrocarbon recovery composition;   c) providing the aqueous fluid containing the hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation; and   d) allowing the hydrocarbon recovery composition to interact with the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.