Method of using multicarboxylate compositions in enhanced oil recovery

A method of enhancing oil recovery in a subterranean reservoir, comprising:

• a) providing at least one injection/production well pair comprising an injection well and a production well in the subterranean reservoir;
• b) injecting an aqueous stream via the injection well into the subterranean reservoir;
• and
• c) recovering oil via the production well from the subterranean reservoir;
• wherein the aqueous stream has a composition comprising:
• from 0.01 to 20% by weight of an additive compound comprising the chemical formula:
• R1-R2-R3, wherein:
• R1 comprises a branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or non-cyclic, hydrophobic carbon chain having an oxygen atom linking R1 and R2;
• R2 comprises an alkoxylated chain comprising at least one oxide group selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, and combinations thereof;
• and
• R3 consists of a branched or unbranched hydrocarbon chain and 2-5 —COOH or 2-5 —COOM groups, wherein M is a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent cation, and wherein R3 comprises 2-12 carbon atoms.

A method comprising:

• a) injecting an aqueous stream via an injection well into a subterranean reservoir,
• wherein the aqueous stream has a composition comprising:
• from 0.01 to 20% by weight of an additive compound comprising the chemical formula:
• R1-R2-R3, wherein:
• R1 comprises a branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or non-cyclic, hydrophobic carbon chain having an oxygen atom linking R1 and R2;
• R2 comprises an alkoxylated chain comprising at least one oxide group selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, and combinations thereof;
• and
• R3 consists of a branched or unbranched hydrocarbon chain and 2-5 —COOH or 2-5 —COOM groups, wherein M is a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent cation, and wherein R3 comprises 2-12 carbon atoms.