Abstract: The knowledge and appraisal of hydrocarbon resources potential is a long process, and the amount of resources can be changed with development of theory, increase of knowledge, change of resources connotation, progress of technical methods, difference of assessment method and change of international market oil price. Resources and reserves are intrinsically linked. Reserves are proven resources and an integral part of resources. With the deepening of the exploration practice, the resources may be shifted into the reserves. Moreover, the rationality of the resources appraisal result can be verified according to the intrinsic relations between the resources and the reserves and the characteristics of oil-gas reserves discovery curves.

Key words: hydrocarbon resources, influence factor, reserves, exploration stage, verification