Chevron Research and Technology Company, a Division of Chevron U.s.a.

Willard J Sevigny

Jeremy Cantor

Donald L Kuehne

An enhanced oil recovery technique for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir during gas injection comprises the at least periodic injection of gas and a foam-forming composition into the reservoir. The foam-forming composition comprises water, an effective foam-forming amount of a C.sub.10-16 .alpha.-olefin sulfonate surfactant including C.sub.10 AOS and/or C.sub.12 AOS, and an effective amount of at least one solubilizing component to increase the brine tolerance of the composition. This solubilizing component is a mixture comprising ##STR1## where M is H, an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, or ammonium, where R.sub.1 is a linear C.sub.6 -C.sub.16 alkyl group. The method further comprises contacting the hydrocarbons in the reservoir with the foam so as to assist in the recovery of hydrocarbons from the reservoir.

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Hercules, CA, United States of America

Willard J Sevigny