In order to promote the residual oil recovery, an unsteady water flooding simulation is carried out by physical reservoir modeling with glass bead packing. A numerical simulation is performed with VIP simulator in a reservoir which covers an area of 1 km2. On the basis of the simulation, a comprehensive analysis is conducted in both theory and practice. The mechanism for improving the oil recoveries in hetergeneous reservoirs by cyclic waterflooding (including crossflooding) and optimization in engineering parameters from unsteady water flooding are described. Field tests by the unsteady waterflooding are made respectively in Es1 of Shengli oilfield and 1-2 unit in Es2 of Shengtao oilfield. Good results are achieved in water controlling and oil stabilizing, after the unsteady waterflooding project is carried out.