According to previous research and petroleum exploration data

Tarim Basin has experienced four evolution stages: the Cambrian-Devonian faulted basin

the Carboniferous-Permian basin

the Triassic-Jurassic intra-continental basin and the Cretaceous-Cenozoic large basin. The evolution of the Cambrian-Devonian basin was controlled by the peripheral plates splitting and convergence and was characterized by clastic

evaporite and carbonate build-ups. The basement had a structural pattern of west uplifting and east depressing from the Cambrian to Ordovician. The Late middle Ordovician tectonic events lead to the formation of the Shaya uplift

Tazhong uplift and Hetian paleo-uplift. The Late Silurian tectonic events led to the uplift and erosion of the basin as a whole. The Carboniferous - Permian basin was characterized by epicontinental sedimentary and intra-continental depression evolution of carbonates

gypsum-salt and clastic rocks. The basement had a structural pattern of southwest depressing and northeast uplifting in this stage. At the end of Permian

tectonic events led to the uplift and erosion of the basin. In the Triassic

the southern and northern piedmont depression and an intra-platform depression were formed. The Jurassic basin only existed on the front tectonic belt. From the Cretaceous to Paleogene

the Tarim gradually formed a large-scale intra-continental basin. The sea water invaded Basin again. At the end of Late Cretaceous

tectonic events led to the demise of the basin and the overall uplifting. The Late Cretaceous deposits were limited in the southwest and east Tarim. Kuche and southwest Tarim foreland basin formed because of tectonic event of the Late Neogene. Evolution of the superposed basins led to the formation of several sets of organic-rich source rocks

such as the Lower-Middle Cambrian

Middle-Upper Ordovician

Triassic

Jurassic. The gypsum

salt

mud and coal-bearing rocks developed in the Cambrian

Ordovician

Carboniferous

Triassic

Jurassic

Paleogene and Neogene are good seals. These seals and source rocks consist of high-quality combination within the basin. Carbonate karst reservoirs and sandstone reservoirs and the structural traps consist of favorable reservoir-trap combinations. The lower

middle and upper assemblages are favorable sequences for exploration in the basin. Exploration results show palaeohigh

paleoslopes and ancient source rocks control oil and gas distribution of the basin