There are practical obstacle and thinking obstacle in hydrocarbon exploration.The first one is caused by incomplete geological records and the difficulty in geological process simulation;the second one is caused by subjective inertial thinking of the research workers.Both of them are bound to having effect on the revealment of hydrocarbon preservation regularity and the improvement of hydrocarbon exploation process.It is true that every breakthrough in oil and gas exploration is associated with theoretical and technological development.This indicates that petroleum geologists must overcome inertial thinking

use creative thinking in oil and gas exploration.