Jiuquan basin

located on the western part of the northern edge of Qilian orogenic belt

is a petroliferous basin on the western end of the Corridor basin group. According to the changes of tectonic setting

formation and evolution of Qilian orogenic belt

stratigraphic distribution in the basin and characteristics of tectonic deformation

the Cretaceous-Cenozoic regional tectonic evolution in Jiuquan basin can be divided into 3 stages

i.e. the Early Cretaceous extensional rift-faulting stage

Late Cretaceous-Paleocene compressional uplifting stage

and Eocene-Oligocene downwarping and Neogene compressing stage. The Early Cretaceous extensional rift-faulting stage controlled the distribution of Lower Cretaceous source rocks and reservoir facies belts

and the salient areas would be favorable for the formation of buried-hill reservoirs. The Late Cretaceous-Paleocene com presso-uplifting led to the formation of reversed structural traps in the basin. The Eocene-Oligocene downwarping and Neogene compressing stage accelerated the maturation and evolution of the source rocks and led to the formation of many structural traps

it was also the major period for accumulation of hydrocarbons in the basin. The structural reservoirs in the piedmont thrust belt on the southern edge of the Cenozoic foreland basin and the structural-stratigraphic and lithologic reservoirs in the Early Cretaceous rifted basin would be the targets of further exploration in Jiuquan basin.