Abstract: In recent decades, fundamental research on the evolution of Proterozoic life has made great progress.With the discovery and commercial development of many Mesoproterozoic primary oil and gas reservoirs worldwide, Mesoproterozoic strata have gradually become thefocus of oil and gas exploration.The Mesoproterozoic strata are widely distributed, thick and well-developed in Yanliao Faulted-Depression Zone, especially in Jibei and Liaoxi Depression and the deep structure is located in the "cold circle and cold basin" unit with thickening lithosphere, which is very favorable for the preservation of ancient oil and gas resources and is fully equipped with the conditions for forming and enriching large-scale oil and gas resources. This paper summarizes the research progress of Mesoproterozoic oil and gas resources in the northern Area of Yanliao rift belt from three aspects:hydrocarbon generation potential, oil-source correlation and accumulation stages. The sedimentary characteristics and hydrocarbon generation potential of 6 sets of main hydrocarbon source rocks in Jibei and Liaoxi Depression are evaluated based on the previous data and self-published data.It is considered that Hongshuizhuang Formation shale is the most important source rock of mesoproterozoic in the northern Area of Yanliao Faulted-Depression Zone, with wide distribution, large sedimentary thickness and good hydrocarbon generation potential due to late alteration and structural damage.It is suggested that the Mesoproterozoic oil and gas exploration in the northern Area of Yanliao Faulted-Depression Zone should focus on finding the structural stable traps supplying oil from the Hongshuizhuang Formation in the western Liaoning Depression.