Abstract: The study of remaining oil distribution is always an important and challenging work, accurate evaluation of remaining oil. And the degree of the middle and later periods of the oilfield development adjustment tapping and the implementation of the tertiary oil recovery scheme is very important. On the basis of related literature is to study the distribution of the remaining oil method according to the professional is divided into four categories: geology, seismic method; Reservoir engineering, well test and numerical simulation method; Indoor experimental technology and process technology. This paper expounds the current situation of the development of all kinds of research methods at home and abroad, and points out the main direction of residual oil distribution study.