This invention discloses application of graphene based nanoparticles as surfactant for enhanced - oil recovery (EOR). Graphene oxide (GO) is obtained by chemical oxidization of ball milled Graphite. Graphene oxide is decorated with abundant oxygen-containing groups on both surfaces. With addition of sodium chloride, charges from hydroxyl and carboxyl groups are screened. As a result, GO loses its hydrophilicity and is deposited onto surfaces of paraffin wax microspheres. The carboxyl and epoxy groups on the exposed surfaces of GO are functionalized with octadecylamine (ODA) in ethanol. The resulting material is amphiphilic Janus graphene. The unmodified surface is hydrophilic with hydroxyl, carboxyl and epoxy groups; the ODA-modified surface is hydrophobic with chains of 18 carbon atoms (ODA) extending outward. This asymmetrical graphene serves as surfactant, forming Pickering emulsion by attaching to the droplet surfaces. This Graphene based surfactant in stabilized emulsion shows advantages over conventional emulsions stabilized by surfactants or colloidal particles and is capable to be applied in EOR.