A method and a system for producing petroleum from a formation utilizing a sacrificial agent and a surfactant are provided. The sacrificial agent reduces the amount of surfactant required to enhance oil recovery from a petroleum-bearing formation. The sacrificial agent is provided in a sacrificial agent formulation comprising a sacrificial agent dispersed in a fluid. The sacrificial agent is selected from the group consisting of a compound comprising a single carboxylic acid, a single carboxylic acid derivative, or a single carboxylate salt, or a compound lacking a carboxylic acid group, a carboxylate group, a sulfonic acid group, or a sulfonate group that is a phenol, a sulphonamide, or a thiol, or a compound having a molecular weight of 1000 or less that comprises one or more hydroxyl groups. The sacrificial agent formulation is introduced into a petroleum-bearing formation followed by a surfactant and petroleum is produced therefrom.