Abstract: The Liupanshan basin is a very promising area for oil-gas prospecting. The oil generation condition of Triassic and Jurassic are similar to those of Erdos basin. Darkcolor mudstone with great thickness developed well in Cretaceous and it has reached to undermature-matured stage in central and southern area of the basin. The structural trap,and stratigraphic trap which formed in Y anshan movement period are the favorable accumulation environment for oil-gas originated from the source beds below Cretaceous. The Cretaceous-originated hydrocarbon is mainly accumulated in structure developed during the Himalayan movement period. The emphasis of prospecting should be put on how to grasp the features of those two hydrocarbon-bearing systems of Triassic-Jurassic and Cretaceous, to seek and approach the prospecting targets in areas around two principal oil-generation depressions of Haiyuan and Guyuan.

Key words: Liupanshan basin, geologic characteristic, exploration, petroleum system