Abstract: The basic principles and methods for dating of hydrocarbon accumulation at home and abroad as well as their advantages and disadvantages are reviewed in this paper. It is suggested that the qualitative, semi?quantitative dating of hydrocarbon accumulation in the past has been developed into quantitative radiometric dating of it nowadays. By using negative thermal ionization mass spectrometry (NTIMS) and the multi?collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC?ICP?MS), the Re?Os isotopic dating on materials such as crude oil, bitumen and kerogen that are related to hydrocarbon accumulation can be conducted, directly making dating and giving accurate time of hydrocarbon accumulation. It is of widely prospect for application