Characteristics of hydrocarbon source rocks of 22 major deepwater petroliferous basins in the world are researched and analyzed. The characteristics involve with formation geologic ages, tectonic settings, sedimentary environments and kerogen types as well as geochemical indexes. These basins distribute in the Gulf of Mexico, the eastern continental margin of Brazil, the passive continental margin of West African, the Northwest Shelf of Australia, the continental shelf of Mid-Norway and South China Sea. The comprehensively analysis indicates that the principal source rocks in these basins are mainly Cretaceous and subordinately are Tertiary and Jurassic in geological ages. They dominantly formed in rift stages and next in passive continental margin stage in tectonic settings, and mainly were lacustrine and transitional facies and following marine facies in Sedimentary environment. The kerogen commonly are TypeⅠand TypeⅡ in Gulf of Mexico, the eastern continental margin of Brazil, the passive continental margin of West African but TypeⅡand TypeⅢ in the Northwest Shelf of Australia, the continental shelf of Mid-Norway and South China Sea.