Abstract: The Cenozoic sedimentary basins cluster in the onshore and offshore Lower Yangtze region are representative of the
petroliferous province in eastern China, in which the characteristics and activity rules of faults are key foundation for the study
of petroleum exploration. In this study, we address the deformation characteristics and activity rules of fault by using structural
fault analyses based on high-coverage seismic prospecting data. Results show that the faults can be classified into three types
based on the style of fault assemblage, i. e., extended, strike-slipped and extruded-reversed. According to the characteristics of
fault activity, the basinal faults can be divided mainly into two structural systems, i. e., extensional and combined extensional with
strike-slip. Tectonically, the basinal faults were prominently controlled by the dextral deformation of the Tan-Lu fault, and their
structural activities are related to the reqional location and the distance to the Tan-Lu fault. The basinal faults are characterized
by apparent division between the east and the west and unique in the central. The varied stress field of the Lower Yangtze region
during the Cenozoic controls the opening and closing of the fault as oil and gas migration pathway. This is an important criteria for
the evaluation of oil and gas resources.

Key words: Lower Yangtze region, Subei-South Yellow Sea Basin, fault structure, fault activity