Abstract: The Ross Sea is a deep bay located in the Pacific sector of the Antarctic. The Ross Sea Basin, which is divided into the Victoria Land Basin, Northern Basin, Central Trough, and Eastern Basin, constitutes one of the areas in the region with the most significant hydrocarbon potential. This study examined the regional stratigraphic and seismic characteristics, analyzed the conditions of the structures, deposition, temperature, pressure, and hydrocarbon geochemistry, and concluded that the hydrocarbon geological conditions are good. Based on two-dimensional seismic and borehole data, the maturity and hydrocarbon generating quantity were simulated. It is suggested that the oil and gas generation areas in the Eastern Basin and Victoria Land Basin are extensive, and that the thermal evolution gradation of the latter is slightly higher than the former. In comparison, the oil and gas generation areas and thermal evolution gradation of the Northern Basin and Central Trough are rather poorer. According to the simulation results of hydrocarbon generating quantity, and considering a reasonable accumulation coefficient, it is supposed that the potential hydrocarbon resources in the Ross Sea Basin are about 9.15 billion tons.

Key words: stratigraphic characteristics, Ross Sea Basin, basin simulation, geological resources