Nanoparticles(NPs) are seen as potential solutions to overcome the challenges, such as low sweep efficiency, associated with these traditional EOR techniques. The application of nanoparticles augmented chemical EOR, gas EOR, and thermal EOR techniques in recent years have been summarized in this paper. The main principles, characteristics and research results of the nanoparticles augmented EOR process were introduced. Also, EOR challenges using NPs and the needed future research are highlighted. It provided foundation for the development of NPs augmented EOR technologies.