The effect of two methods of oil displacement, air foam flooding and surfactant flooding by using XHY-4 foaming agent (anionic surfactant) was studied. Single tube core displacement experiment results showed that the enhanced oil recovery rate increased with increasing concentration of foaming agent and gradually stabilized in two kinds of oil displacement mode. The enhanced oil recovery rate of air foam flooding was higher than that of surfactant flooding under the same foaming agent concentration. When the concentration of foaming agent was 0.1%, the enhanced oil recovery rate of foam flooding was 8.5%, and that of surfactant flooding was 3.4%. Two parallel tubes core displacement experiment results showed that comprehensive recovery rate of surfactant flooding was 5.47%, the enhanced oil recovery rate of high and low permeability tube was 7.6% and 3.3%, and the water cut decreased from 99.55% to 94.95%. The comprehensive recovery rate of foam flooding was 16.5%, the enhanced oil recovery rate of high and low permeability tube was 13.82% and 19.53%, and the water cut decreased from 98.08% to 70.97%. The surfactant flooding improved oil recovery by increasing efficiency of wash oil, while air foam flooding improved recovery factor by improving swept volume. In the process of foam flooding, the cumulative fluid of low permeability tube increased by 0.14 PV.