Based on the analyses of hydrocarbon inclu-sions, K-Ar dating of authigenic illites and oil/gas-watercontact retrospection as well as other methods, the marineprimary reservoirs in the cratonic region of the Tarim Basinare found to have been formed in the late Caledonian toearly Hercynian, late Hercynian, and Himalayan, and oil andgas adjusted and redistributed in the Yanshanian (Jurassic toCretaceous) and Himalayan (Tertiary). The analyses alsoshow that the remaining primary oil accumulations aremostly formed in the late Hercynian, and the secondary oilreservoirs resulted from the adjustment and redistribution ofthe earlier accumulations during the Yanshanian and Hima-layan (especially late Himalayan), of which the Himalayan isalso the major stage of gas accumulation. The primary oilreservoirs formed in the late Hercynian mostly occur withinthe Paleozoic formation, whereas the secondary reservoirsformed in the Himalayan in the Mesozoic. The late adjust-ment and redistribution of reservoirs in the craton region ofthe Tarim Basin is ubiquitous because of the intensified tec-tonic movements since the Mesozoic, especially Cenozoic andintrusion of the high- to over-mature gas. Furthermore, thelower amplitude of reservoirs in the craton region also makesthem easier to be adjusted and redistributed. Therefore, theremaining paleo-uplift and palaeo-slope developed in rela-tively stable tectonic regions are the main potential areas forthe middle-large marine reservoirs in the Tarim Basin. Based on the analyzes of hydrocarbon inclusions, K-Ar dating of authigenic illites and oil / gas-water contact retrospection as well as other methods, the marine primary reservoirs in the cratonic region of the Tarim Basin have found to have been formed in the late Caledonian toearly Hercynian, late Hercynian, and Himalayan, and oil andgas adjusted and redistributed in the Yanshanian (Jurassic to Cretaceous) and Himalayan (Tertiary). The analyzes alsoshow that the remaining primary oil accumulations are mostly formed in the late Hercynian, and the secondary oil revservoirs resulted from the adjustment and redistribution of the earlier accumulations during the Yanshanian and Hima-layan (especially late Himalayan), of which the Himalayan isalso the major stage of gas accumulation. The primary oilreservoirs formed in the late Hercynian mostly occur withinthe Paleozoic formation, but the secondary reservoirsformed in the Himalayan in the Mesozoic. The late adjust-ment and redistribution of reser voirs in the craton region of the Tarim Basin is ubiquitous because of intensified tec-tonic movements since the Mesozoic, especially Cenozoic and intrusion of the high- to over-mature gas. Further, thelower amplitude of reservoirs in the craton region also makesthem easier to be adjusted and redistributed. Therefore, theremaining paleo-uplift and palaeo-slope developed in rela-tively stable tectonic regions are the main potential areas forthe middle-large marine reservoirs in the Tarim Basin.