Abstract: The paper starts with the uneven global petroleum distribution to conclude that Middle East,North Africa,Middle Asia-Russia are rated as the major distribution areas of petroleum resources. The uneven distribution of oil/gas fields can be expressed by the differences in burial depth,basin and trap types. On this basis,it is proposed that Russia and Africa be the major and first targes for overseas petroleum exploration and development;Middle East be the important area to open up the market for petroleum exploration and development;and the coastal Caspian area,southeast and south Asian regions be the reserve areas of petroleum exploration and development overseas.