Abstract: Kazakhstan is located in the north of CentralAsia, belonging to the southern margin of Laurasia, i.e., the southern margin of Craton and Kazakhstan plates in East Europe. Late Paleozoic continental margin basins, such as the Pre-Caspian Basin, are formed in the region. The closure of Paleo-Tethys results in the continental collision between Tulan Platform (the Amu Darya---Middle Caspian Sea) and Laurasia, followed by the formation of a series ofMesozoic rift basins. There are 11 large sedimentary basins in Kazakhstan, commercial oil and gas has now been discovered in five, that is, the Pre-Caspian Basin, the Mangishlak Basin, the North Usturt Basin, the South Turgai Basin, and the Chu-Sarysui Basin. Kazakhstan is one of the richest oil and gas countries in Central Asia and even in the whole world, of which the recoverable oil and gas reserves reach 55 × 108tand 3 × 1012m3. The country also has great exploration potential, especially in the Pre-Caspian Basin where the recoverable oil resources to be discovered is up to 60 × 108t.

Key words: Kazakhstan, geological characteristics, basin evolution, resources potential, exploration proposal