This paper summarizes the development of enhanced oil recovery(EOR)at home and abroad

focusing on improved waterflooding

heavy oil thermal recovery

chemical flooding

gas injection

microbial enhanced oil recovery and physical oil recovery.Nowadays

the first four technologies have been widely applied in oilfields

while the latter two technologies are still in researching and testing.Based on a thorough analysis of the foreign experiences and specific geologic conditions in China

this paper presents the focuses of future research and development tendency of EOR.For the improved waterflooding

the focuses are establishing a reasonable and effective injection-production system and realizing uniform control of displacement profile by strata subdivision and recombination

stereo optimization of well pattern and type.For the heavy oil thermal recovery

the key is to improve heavy oil reservoir development efficiency by using wells with complicated structure

steam and various additives.For the gas injection

the scale of its application is widening and CCS projects will increase gradually with greenhouse gas emissions cuts requirement.For the chemical flooding

the trend is toward application in reservoirs with high temperature and high salinity

reservoirs with high permeability channels and post polymer flooding reservoirs.