Present invention describes a composition for extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir containing hydrocarbons, comprising:

(a) an ionic liquid, wherein the ionic liquid is selected from the group of lactam, ammonium, hydroxyl ammonium, imidazolium, piridinium, quinolidinium, isoquinolidium, and combinations thereof, wherein the ionic liquid has a concentration in the range of 10 to 100000 ppm,

(b) water, and

(c) salt, wherein the salt is an alkali metal salt, and has a concentration in the range of 50 to 500000 ppm,

• wherein the ionic liquid is selected from the group comprising of

 and combinations thereof,

• wherein n is 0 to 10;
• A is a negatively counter anion.
• R is C1-16 alkyl, wherein alkyl is optionally substituted with 1-4 substituents selected from the group of hydroxyl, nitro, halogen, -OR1, -COOR1, C1-6 alkyl, C5-10 aryl, C3-10 heteroaryl, wherein R1 is selected from the group of hydrogen, C1-16 alkyl, and C6-10 aryl, wherein alkyl and aryl are optionally substituted with hydroxyl, nitro, halogen, alkyl, and aryl.
• Further, said application describes a method of recovering and/or extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir containing hydrocarbons using the said composition.