A displacing fluid selected from oil-external emulsions, water-external emulsions, water-external emulsions and oil-external micellar dispersions comprising one or more semi-polar organic compounds (I) or electrolytes (II) or combinations thereof (III) is injected into the formation, and then a drive fluid having a part portion comprising one or more (I), (II) or (III) is immediately injected, and both are moved towards a production means and crude oil recovered therefrom. - Process improves efficiency of oil recovery.