Abstract: In terms of oil- and gas-bearing plate tectonics, petroliferous basin, exploration target, giant oil/gas fields and accumulation belts and petroleum exploration programming, new criteria for petroleum exploration was discussed according to a view of plate tectonic cycle and crust-mantle inorganic hydrocarbon origin and the 3-D model of superposition and enrichment of multiple inorganic and organic sources. New criteria fully reflect the fact that two kinds of hydrocarbon origins exist concurrently, compared with the old criteria simply based on organic origin theory, thereby gaining more from its application in exploration practices.

Key words: Organic origin, Inorganic origin, Plate tectonics, Petroliferous basin, Giant oil and gas field Oil-bearing layer, Exploration program