Abstract: The research of the hydrothermal alteration is an important part of the genetic mechanism of the high-quality carbonate reservoirs in recent years.Currently,hydrothermal dolomitization and hydrothermal leaching dissolution with the remarkable oil and gas reservoir significance are two most important geological processes in the hydrothermal alteration.Based on the analysis of a large number of publications,this paper has systematically summarized the processes,sizes,problems of two types of the typical hydrothermal alteration(hydrothermal dolomitization and hydrothermal leaching dissolution)of carbonate reservoirs.Further discussions on the hydrothermal alteration of carbonate reservoirs in this paper not only show the ambiguity and multiplicity on the research of the models of the hydrothermal alteration,but also offer practical guidance for the better application and improvement of the currently models of the hydrothermal alteration in the future.