Abstract:Through over 50 years of outside source rock development and exploration that primarily focus on trap finding, abundant results have been obtained. By the year 1986, the annual oil production of the oil field broke though 1000×104t,and became the third largest oil field of China. While entering 21st century, oil production of this oilfield decreased year by year, and the difficulty of stabilizing oil production became larger and larger. The purpose of writing this paper is expanding exploration visibility to find new substitute exploration territory for the sustained stable development of the oilfield. Methods:A new bold exploration thinking of finding great tremendous potential resources potential resources in the source rock was raised. Results:The so called source rock hydrocarbon resources is the concept raised in comparison with hydrocarbon resources out side source rock. Source rock hydrocarbon resources is the hydrocarbon resources that is not yet expulsed or difficultly expulsed and still residual in the oil generative assemblage(hydrocarbon mother rock). Conclusions:Outside source rock exploration(conventional oil conventional oil prospect)is the exploratory work primarily on finding oil and gas bearing trap. In the long term production operation, a set of directive petroleum geology theory and relatively matured serial exploration and development technique were found and generalized. With such exploration method, hydrocarbon resources of this oilfield were effectively explored , developed and used. Source rock petroleum exploration is a forward looking concept for oil field development and state energy resources strategy security. However, it is a hard understanding frontier and concept for average man. In particular , the continuous gliding international crude oil price quagmire adds the difficulties to the exploration work. If we can break through many restrains and resistance to this new concept, and actively carry out studies on source rock hydrocarbon resources concentration and distribution and on relevant exploration and development technique , the source rock exploration work will lead to a new hydrocarbon resources and reserve additions peak.