Abstract: The analysis of latest 3D seismic data shows that strike-slip fault system occurred in the Cambrian-Ordovician marine carbonate rocks in Tarim basin. The structural styles appeared in flower structure, en echelon structure, pull-apart graben, braided structure, shear fault zone, etc. Multi-stage declinate convergences of the structures formed four evolution stages and distributions of four blocks of strikeslip fault. A series of NE-trending sinistral strike-slip faults developed in the northern slope of Tazhong uplift under the intensive oblique collision by Altym Tagh in the period of late Caledonian to early Hercynian. Controlled by the south Tianshan ocean closure in the late Hercynian, there are NEE-trending compresso-shear faults in the axial part of Tabei uplift and near SN-trending dextral strike-slip faults developed in the southern margin of Tabei uplift. By the Altym Tagh strike-slip fault action in Indosinian-Yanshan movement, the sinistral compresso-shear faults developed in Tadong area (eastern Tarim basin). In late Himalayan, the compresso-shear and strike-slip faults are distributed in Bachu areat under west Kunlun-Pamir oblique squeezing action. It is concluded that the formation and evolution of strikeslip faults are characterized by multiple stages, the faults development by inheritance and segmentation. The strike-slip faults are of great effects on the carbonate reservoirs. The early paleo-reservoirs were destroyed by the strike-slip faults which became the main passageway for late hydrocarbon migration and accumulation. The segmentation of hydrocarbon distribution resulted from the strike-slip faults.

Key words: Tarim basin, strike-slip fault, structural evolution, carbonate rock, hydrocarbon