a process is disclosed for converting polyacrylamide gel into dilute aqueous solutions suitable for use in secondary oil recovery . polyacrylamide gel is initially converted into a slurry of small gel particles in water from which forms a homogeneous solution concentrate which is then readily diluted to give the final drive fluid without any significant polymer degradation . the process may additionally be adapted to the drilling site or to other on site operations requiring polyacrylamide solutions such as water treating , mining or paper making .