There are some differences in reservoiring conditions between oil and natural gas

dynamic equilibrium theory of gas migration

accumulation and reservoiring would then be regarded as the basic method to study the reservoiring characteristics of natural gas. Two key factors

volume and time of gas accumulation

can be used to sum up the complicated reservoiring courses of gasfields in China

including: super-late (Neogene-Quaternary) hydrocarbon generating and resevoiring type; late (Eogene-Neogene) hydrocarbon generating reservoiring type; early (mainly in Mesozoic) hydrocarbon generation and accumulation

and lately (Neogene-Quaternary) reservoired and finalized; and early (mainly in Mesozoic) hydrocarbon generating and reservoiring type.Although there are great differences of reservoiring characteristics in different type basins

the tectonic evolutional history in Himalayan period has played an important role in controlling the reservoiring and distribution of natural gas in China

which can be concluded as promotion and destruction

and the former is dominant. There are currently three main regions of natural gas exploration in China

including foreland basins in west-central China

three large cratonic composite basins (Sichuan basin

Ordos basin and Tarim basin)

and offshore rift and continental margin basins. The study shows that the most prolific regions in China are those basins and depressions which have dominantly been reservoired and finalized in late and super-late periods.