Secondary recovery process utilizing water saturated with gas

Claim 1

A process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by an injecting well and a production well which comprises: a. injecting into the formation via an injection well a fluid comprising water saturated at the injection pressure with a gas selected from the groups consisting of natural gas, carbon dioxide, ammonia, flue gas, and mixtures thereof, and containing a minor amount of a solubilizing agent selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formula: R(OR').sub.a OH (A) wherein R is selected from the group consisting of: ##STR8## R' is alkylene of from 2 to 5 carbon atoms and a is an integer of from about 5 to about 50, R(OC.sub.3 H.sub.6).sub.b --(OC.sub.2 H.sub.4).sub.c (B) wherein R has the same meaning as previously described, b is an integer of from about 3 to about 20, c is an integer of from about 10 to about 50 and wherein the sum of b plus c is not more than about 60, and ##STR9## wherein R' has the same meaning as previously described and d is an integer of from about 5 to about 50, b. forcing the said fluid through the formation, and c. recovering hydrocarbons through the production well.