Abstract: The Liaohe Basin is a rift basin with the main basin-forming period in the Cenozoic. Faulting and rifting were the dominant styles for the Cenozoic tectonic deformation. Episodic faulting resulted in the periodic extension and cont raction of sedimentary spaces and lakebasin scopes,and cont rolled source rocks,reservoirs andcap rocks as well as their assemblage characteristics. The development of faults played an important role in theenrichment of hydrocarbon,and cont rolled the migration and accumulation of hydrocarbon. In this paper,theinfluence of faults on hydrocarbon was summarized thoroughly and systematically. It was considered that majorfaults cont rolled the enrichment of hydrcarbon,and the development and evolution of faults had an important enfluence on hydrocarbon resources. Secondary fault stook an important part in the lateral plugging and redist ribution of hydrocarbon,and the opening property of fault s resulted in poor or rich hydrocarbon in different districts. Faults cont rolled the development of special reservoir f ractures,and played a critical role in the formationof traps. Therefore,correct understanding of faults will have very important significance to hydrocarbon exploration.