The Permian Qixia and Moukou formations in Sichuan Basin have been the key targets for natural gas exploration since 1950s.With the continuous deepening of the exploration and development,it has been different of the exploration ideas and directions.In order to clarify the next direction of natural gas exploration,based on a combination of drilling,outcrop,logging,seismic and geochemical data,this paper systematically analyses the geological questions and explorational domains of Qixia and Moukou formations.The results indicate that:(1)The Qixia Formation-Maokou Formation in the Sichuan Basin is mainly a platform depositional system,which can be divided into three stratigraphic sequences(SQ1,SQ2,and SQ3 from bottom to top).In addition to the western Sichuan platform margin,the Qixia Formation-Maukou Formation in the central and eastern Sichuan Basin developed a number of high-energy shoals in the highstand system,encompassing an area of over 40,000 km2.This has laid a solid foundation for the development of shoal reservoirs.(2)The primary reservoirs of the Qixia Formation-Maukou Formation are pore-cavity dolomite,karst fractured-vuggy limestone,and microporous-microfractured marlite of which,pore-cavity dolomite is the main reservoir of recently explored.The dolomite of the Qixia Formation is primarily developed in the Guanyuan-Beichuan-Ya'an-E'mei area in the west of the Sichuan Basin,while the main deposits of the Maokou Formation are distributed in Xuanhan-Wanzhou,Guanyuan-Jiange,and Jiange-Guangan-Fengdu area.Karst fractured-vuggy limestone reservoirs are mainly developed in the central Sichuan to southern Sichuan region.Microporous-microfractured marlite reservoirs are mainly distributed in local areas of northern and eastern Sichuan,and the research level is relatively low.(3)Four realistic fields and two potential fields can be distinguished in the Qixia-Maokou formations natural gas exploration in the Sichuan Basin.The dolomitized shoal zone of the Maokou Member 2 in the northern-central-eastern Sichuan Basin is the most significant realistic exploration field for the Middle Permian natural gas storage and production.We need to accelerate the comprehensive evaluation of reservoirs and submit or upgrade natural gas reserves.The isolated dolomited shoal in the lower sub-member of the Maokou Member 2 in the eastern Sichuan Basin is anticipated to be one of the most significant potential exploration field in the future.We need to deepen the research and finely characterize the distribution range of reservoirs,striving to achieve a breakthrough in this field as soon as possible and promote it becoming a replacement field for natural gas exploration.