Abstract: Modification of crude oil is a basic method to improve the safety and economy of pipeline transportation. Definitely, high-voltage electric field treatment is a new approach to modify the crude oil based on its electrorheological effect. Herein, the progress of research on electric field treatment for modification of crude oil was summarized systematically, and the law of the electrorheological effect of crude oil was also concluded. The research results indicate that: applying an electric field (with an intensity of 0.2-5 kV/mm) to crude oil for several seconds can obtain the significant immediate modification effect. Specifically, the viscosity and yield stress can be reduced at a rate of 80% or higher, but the energy consumption is only 1% of that required for the same viscosity reduction rate by heating. After the removal of electric field, the viscosity and yield stress will recover gradually. The effect of viscosity reduction will disappear after about one day of placement. But the yield stress recovers slowly (at 90% of the reduction rate of yield stress two days later). The modification effect of electric field treatment is closely related to the composition of crude oil, and the presence of wax crystal, resin and asphaltene in the crude oil is essential for electric field treatment. In addition, the existing issues of the current research on electric field treatment technology were analyzed, and the development direction of the technology in the future was also proposed.