In this study, compositional characteristics of crude oil, including the variation of aliphatic, aromatic and pyrrolic nitrogen compounds, were systematically monitored and investigated in a high water-cut oil reservoir over a short time.The results showed that among the widely used parameters indicative of oil maturity and migration, tetramethyl/monomethyl DBT and tricyclic terpane/(tricyclic terpane+C30 hopanoid) varied remarkably, and a positive correlation was observed between these two parameters.The variation of each of these parameters during waterflooding development was correlated with the flow effect of crude promoted by the water drive in oil reservoirs.A solid consistency was observed among the results of numerical simulation and development; the direction and pathway of waterflooding crude was indicated by Tetramethyl/monomethyl DBT, and the distribution region prediction of remaining oil hereby obtained.Therefore, these two parameters could be used as molecular tracers for the oil during waterflooding.This study would be of practical significance for geochemical dynamic monitoring and reservoir development. In this study, compositional characteristics of crude oil, including the variation of aliphatic, aromatic and pyrrolic nitrogen compounds, were systematically monitored and investigated in a high water-cut oil reservoir over a short time. The results showed that among the widely used of oil maturity and migration, tetramethyl / monomethyl DBT and tricyclic terpane / (tricyclic terpane + C30 hopanoid) all remarkably, and a positive correlation was observed between these two parameters. variation of each of these parameters during waterflooding development was correlated with the flow effect of crude promoted by the water drive in oil reservoirs. A solid consistency was observed among the results of numerical simulation and development; the direction and pathway of waterflooding crude was indicated by Tetramethyl / monomethyl DBT, and the distribution region prediction of remaining oil hereby got.Therefore, these two parameters could be used as molecular tracers fo r the oil during waterflooding. This study would be of practical significance for geochemical dynamic monitoring and reservoir development.