Abstract: To forecast the distribution of coalbed methane effectively and to point out the favorable area for coalbed methane exploration,the petroleum system is introduced to coalbed methane geology.Coal bed methane system is a natural system that encompasses coal seams and coalbed methane in them including all the geologic elements and processes.The essential elements include coal seams and surrounding rocks,and the processes are generation-reservoir-conservation of coalbed methane.The coalbed methane system is a new way of thinking and method.It offers a procedure and frame of coalbed methane exploration and research.