In the process of low-rank coalbed methane (CBM) enrichment and accumulation, hydrogeological condition is one of the main control factors, which is crucial to affect coalbed methane conservation, migrating and development. This paper analyzes coalbed hydrogeo-logical characteristics of Tuha and Santanghu basins, makes comparisons with the similar basins abroad, and suggests that because the cli-mate in northwestern China was arid since Quaternary, the hydrogeologieal conditions of coal seams in Tuha and Santanghu basins were generally poor, "dry coal seams" similar to Alberta basin in Canada were then formed, which greatly influenced the formation of CBM.