There are two domains of petroleum exploration in Tibet-the Mesozoic marine domainand Cenozoic continental domain.The marine domain can be further divided into Qiangtang
Lasa and Jiangzi blocks. Among them
Qiangtang block has relatively favourable prospectsbecause the deep tectonic movement and the deformation of sedimentary cover in it are lessserious than the other two blocks. Continental domain mainly includes two kinds of basinswith different properties:compresso-depressed basins and strike-slip faulted basins. LunpolaBasin
a typical strike-slip faulted basin
is the focal target for oil and gas exploration in Tibet recently since commercial oil flow has been drilled in this basin.Various kinds of residual plateau basins developed in the region since Himalaya movement. They are a special kind of basins in orogenic zone. Wether a complex of geomorphicstructural-sedimental basin could form is an important factor to determine hydrocarbon potential of the plateau basins; the depth of oil oxidation surface in the basin is also a key factor in evaluation of preservation condition.