Glucoside surfactants

A process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well which comprises

• (1) injecting into the formation via an injection well a drive fluid comprising water having dissolved therein from about 0.05 to about 6.0 weight percent of a surfactant composition comprising ##STR7## wherein each R is individually selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen and a methyl group;
• wherein the sum of w+x+y+z is from about 4 to about 40;
• and wherein m is from about 2 to about 15;
• and wherein R' is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms and an alkyl aryl group having about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms.

An aqueous drive fluid composition useful for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation comprising

• water having from about 0.05 to about 6.0 weight percent of a surfactant blend comprising:
• ##STR8## wherein each R is individually selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen and a methyl group;
• wherein the sum of w+x+y+z is from about 4 to about 40;
• and wherein m is from about 2 to about 15;
• and wherein R' is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms and an alkyl aryl group having about 10 to about 20 carbon atoms.