Abstract: Hydrocarbon generation kinetics and isotopic kinetics have been normally used in the evaluation of source rocks and correlation of oil, gas and their supposed source rocks, The hydrocarbon generation history of source rocks at any time may be reconstructed by using hydrocarbon generation kinetic parameters, combined the basin thermal history. So hydrocarbon generation kinetics has its unique advantage for the study of secondary hydrocarbon generation in complicated basins. Recovery of the total content of original organic matter may be realized by the method of hydrocarbon generation kinetics, and on that basis, the necessity of recovery of the original organic matter abundance of highly mature and overmature samples is discussed. Correlation of petroleum source rocks based on hydrocarbon generation kinetics and consideration of the influences of various geological parameters such as the thermal history and stages and process of formation of petroleum accumulations are a dynamic research method.