The research of petroleum exploration demonstrates that source rocks, developed in petroleum-bearing sedimentary basins worldwide, are accompanied by uranium to different degrees.As a special element with catalytic, oxidative and radioactive features, uranium may play important roles in the source rock formation and hydrocarbon generation. In this paper, we systematically discussed the formation conditions and main controlling factors of uranium in marine source rocks based on the comprehensive analysis of uranium contents in the worldwide source rocks and the interactions of uranium with minerals, organic materials and microbes. The results indicated that oxidative degrees of ancient atmosphere and palaeo-ocean were governing factors of uranium enrichment in source rocks. Oxidative weathering and hydrothermal solution might be the two main sources of marine sedimentary uranium. In addition, iron-bearing minerals, phosphate minerals, clay minerals, organic materials, and microbes were of great significance in promoting the transformation of the uranium valence states. They could also act as carriers to absorb or combine uranium, resulting in the enrichment of uranium in sediments. Therefore, the enrichment of uranium might be an inevitable result of source rocks formation.