Abstract: The accumulation characteristics and distribution rules of marine hydrocarbon source materials as foundations for hydrocarbon accumulation are extremely important and basic geologic conditions for exploration, which are elaborated in terms of hydrocarbon- generating material, hydrocarbon-storing material and hydrocarbon-sealing material for forming the marine hydrocarbons. The distribution of marine hydrocarbon-generating material is closely related to the changes of paleo-structure, paleo-sedimentary environment, paleo- climate and paleo-ocean. The developed horizons or levels always appear in transform stages of significant changes of tectonic framework and sedimentary basin in nature, with close relations to the global anoxic events. The distribution of marine hydrocarbon-storing material is mainly controlled by sedimentation, diagenesis and tectonic movement. The distribution of premium reservoir is commonly and closely related to low-level system tract and late high-level system tract in terms of second-class sea level change. The distribution of marine hydrocarbon-sealing material is coincident to that of marine regional source rocks, but the former is more plentiful than the latter in type.

Key words: marine hydrocarbon, material accumulation, hydrocarbon-generating material, hydrocarbon-storing material, hydrocarbon-sealing material