Transfer zones， including transfer faults， are important results of structural deformation in rifting basins. It is discussed to the meanings， types or styles of transfer zones and the significance for hydrocarbon accumulation. Responding to the geometry and kinematics of major normal faults， the transfer zones could be different styles in rifting. In geometry， major normal faults include synthetic， divergent and convergent assemble patterns. In kinematics， the transfer actions between the normal faults could be divided into 5 basic styles: glacis （or approaching）， relay （or overlapping）， swing， pass （or transferring） and fade-away （or ending）. Causes lead to the transfer zones become important play for hydrocarbon accumulation in rifting basin. First， the transfer zones could lower the relief in hypsography along the boundary faults zone so that they are commonly sites of major clastic input rifting basin. Secondly， the transfer zones are relative high in the basin and border on the source sag so that the paths of hydrocarbon migration always point to the transfer zones during the evolution of rifting basins. Third， the complicated deformation in transfer zones was favorable to develop various styles of structural traps in the rifting basins.