Abstract: In order to understand deeply the distribution of Mesozoic strata in the southern of East China Sea shelf basin, the processed seismic profiles newly have been interpreted. Combined with the gravity and magnet inversion and the Mesozoic strata correlations between the onshore and offshore, we think that the Mesozoic strata are characterized by extensive distribution and large thickness of over 6 000 m, and ‘thick in the east and thin in the west’ and ‘thick in the south and thin in the north’. The Jurassic strata mainly deposited in Minjiang sag and Jilong sag, which have extensive distribution, stable thickness and high total content of organic carbon for the Mesozoic strata. The Cretaceous strata almost cover the whole southern of East China Sea shelf basin, which show a increasing trend in thickness toward the Jilong sag and low total content of organic carbon . It is inferred that the Jilong sag could be a target with good hydrocarbon potential for Jurassic strata, while Taibei low uplift could also be a hydrocarbon prospecting area.

Key words: hydrocarbon prospecting, strata distribution, Mesozoic, East China Sea shelf basin, petroleum gas