1. n. [Enhanced Oil Recovery]

A chemical enhanced oil recovery flood that uses two sources of surfactant and a polymer. Alkaline chemicals such as sodium carbonate react with acidic oil components in situ to create petroleum soap, which is one of the surfactants. A synthetic surfactant is injected simultaneously with the alkali. A water-soluble polymer is also injected, both in mixture with the alkali and surfactant and as a slug following the mixture, to increase the viscosity of the injectant, thereby improving mobility control of the flood fronts.

Synonyms: alkaline-surfactant-polymer flooding

See: alkaline flooding,  chemical flooding,  polymer flooding,  surfactant,  surfactant flooding