Abstract: Tarim basin is of superior structural setting, multi-cyclic depositional system, multi-structural system, multi-era petroleum system and multi-epoch petroleum accumulations which are found in late Caledonian-early Hercynian, late Hercynian, Indosinian-Y anshan and Himalayan movements. A major breakthrough for oil-gas exploration was made in Shacan-2 W ell since 1984, more than 30 fields or reservoirs have been discovered, of which 4 belong to giant fields. It is concluded that the major targets for further hydrocarbon prospecting are the paleo-uplift, paleo-slope, fault belt, regional unconformity in platform-basin area and the bruchfalten zone, slope zone in foreland basin as well as overthrust fault belt and various shear structural systems.

Key words: Tarim basin, structural feature, petroleum system, prospecting target