Abstract:

:Detailed interpretations of seismic profiles are carried out for analyzing features in the Luositage area，western Tarim Basin.The results reveal that the deep Haimi-Luositage fault is a strike-slipping-oblique thrust fault.Towards the east，the faultbeltbecomeswider and its inner configuration getsmore complex alongwith the intensification of thrusting.TheNW-striking segment of the fault is dom inated by dextral strike-slipping and acts as a relay structure.This fault activated in the Cretaceous-Early Paleogene when it thrusted northwards and ceased downwards in the Lower-Middle Cambrian salts.The contemporaneous Shalong fault thrusted southwest-wards and were deeply involved in the basement.The shallow Haim i-Luositage fault thrusted northwards during the Pleistocene and ceased downwards in salts at the bottom of the Paleogene.The Luositage area，situated in a relay zone where the southern boundary faultof the Bachu faulted uplift changes from nearEW striking into near NW-striking，is not a good place for the development of faultˉrelated structureswhere hydrocarbons can accumulate.Therefore，it is probably not a favorable lead.

Key words: Haimi-Luositage fault belt, Shalong fault belt, fault activation, hydrocarbon exploration, Tarim Basin