Polymeric gel system and methods for making and using same in hydrocarbon recovery

A method of making an aqueous gel comprising the step of:

• adding to water 0.1% to 5%, by weight based on the water, of a cationic polymer and a lesser amount but at least 0.01% by weight of an anionic surfactant having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms and from about 0.001% and about 10% of a phosphorus-containing compound comprising mono carbyl phosphates, di carbyl phosphates, tri carbyl phosphates, phosphate salts or mixtures and combinations thereof, in the presence of 0.001% to 5% linear or branched alkyl alcohol of the general formula CMH2M+2−N(OH)N, where M is a number from 6-23, and N is 1 when M is 6-12, but when M is 13-23, N may be a number from 1 to 3, and optionally in the presence of at least one of (a) up to 5% by weight amphoteric surfactant and (b) up to 5% by weight amine oxide, the ratio of the cationic polymer to the anionic surfactant being effective to provide an absolute value of a Zeta Potential of at least 20 millivolts and where the phosphorus-containing compound increases the viscosity of the gel as much as 3 times relative to a viscosity of a gel without the phosphorus-containing compound, and where the aqueous gel are useful in drilling, formation fracturing, and hydrocarbon recovery.