Formulation and method of use for exploitation and transport of heavy and extra heavy oil wells

A combined injection, production and transportation method, comprising the steps of:

• establishing a production well and an injection well into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation and a surface flow line system for carrying a production stream from the production well;
• introducing a mixture of a surfactant, a co-surfactant and a carrier fluid into each of the production well and the injection well so that the mixture flows into porous media surrounding the production well and the injection well;
• holding the mixture in the porous media surrounding the production well in the presence of water for a period of time sufficient to form a water film on surfaces of the porous media surrounding the production well;
• injecting an injection fluid into the injection well while producing from the production well, whereby hydrocarbons flow from the porous media around the injection well toward the production well;
• introducing an injection mixture of a surfactant and a carrier fluid downhole into a desired point in a production tubing of the production well so that the injection mixture mixes with the production stream to form an emulsion;
• producing the emulsion through the tubing to the surface flow line to a desired distance away from the production well, whereby drag forces in the system are reduced from downhole through the surface flow line to a desired location at the surface.