Abstract: Based on the abstracts and presentation materials of AAPG annual convention(2011), along with the field trip of shale gas accumulations in North America, this paper has described the geological characteristics of shale gas accumulations in North America. Four aspects of current researches in North America are emphatically discussed: ① the distribution of the shale gas accumulations in North America and the exploration status; ② characteristics of sedimentary facies and sequence stratigraphy; ③ reservoir features; ④ lithologic and diagenetic features. According to current research status in China, this paper also gives a brief analysis of the shale gas resource potential in China.