High-resolution Seismic Data Research Articles

Crust necking of the northeastern South China Sea: Insights from deep seismic data

During rifting, continental crust necks, leading to significant thickness reduction in a few tens of kilometres. However, deformations associated with the necking process remain elusive due to few outcrop examples and a lack of seismic data coverage that clearly images crustal architecture at depth. Here we use deep, high-resolution seismic data across a well-developed necking zone in the northeastern South China Sea passive margin to show the structural style associated with the crustal necking. Seismic stratigraphy in the necking domain can be divided into pre-, syn- and post-rift sequences based on the nature of sequence-bounding unconformities and their relation with faults. Seismic expression of continental crust exhibits two types of reflection characteristics – homogeneous upper crust and layered lower crust. The necking domain shows significant thinning that reduced its thickness from ~30 km to less than over 10 km in a distance of about ~50 km and is characterised by seaward removal of layered lower crust, while the homogeneous upper crust thickness remains largely unchanged in thickness. The necking domain is bounded by inner and outer breakaway complexes that define a portion of flexed crust. Crustal flexure is evidenced by progressive tilting of the necking domain that gradually increases the pre-rift sequence dip from 0° to 10°. Within the tilted necking domain, densely-spaced, landward-dipping minor faults and fractures are organised in a domino configuration, implying a top-to-the-continent movement and a simple shear deformation of the whole continental crust. We suggest that the flexed necking domain could be home to fractured reservoir providing that it is effectively sealed by post-rift sequences.

Facies-Guided Seismic Image Super-Resolution

Seismic field data usually suffer from low-resolution (LR) image quality. In recent years, high resolution (HR) seismic data acquisitions are either done in high-density seismic surveys, or by capturing high- and low-frequency bands in broadband seismic surveys. However, both methods increase the financial, computational, and memory overhead required for oil and gas exploration. Moreover, to improve the resolution of already acquired seismic field data in a certain area, another survey would be carried out in the same area with more advanced equipment. This is a time-consuming high-cost approach. In our previous work, we showcased the application of convolutional neural networks (CNN) for image super-resolution (SR) to increase the resolution of seismic images. While our application of SR for seismic images is optimized for better human perception, automatic seismic interpretation tasks may not benefit as much, such as facies classification considered in this work. We address this by proposing a novel loss function that incorporates facies information when training the SR model. The proposed loss function is applied to multiple SR models and results show that this facies-guided seismic image SR approach produces improved facies classification results while mitigating major sacrifices on the objective and subjective image quality of the reconstructed SR image.

Deep Learning Vertical Resolution Enhancement Considering Features of Seismic Data

The resolution of seismic data determines the ability to characterize individual geological structures in a seismic image. Sparse spike inversion (SSI) is an effective approach for improving the resolution of seismic data. However, the basic assumption of SSI is that the strong reflectivity of the formation is sparse, which may not be a reasonable fit for weak thin-layer reflections. In this study, we propose a deep learning-based method to reconstruct high-resolution seismic data by combining information from the longitudinal reflectivity distribution and lateral geological structure features in the field data. A U-shaped network that fuses residual block and attention mechanism is used to learn the relationship between low resolution and high resolution. In addition, we use a hybrid loss function that combines <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\ell _{1}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> loss and structural similarity (SSIM) loss to optimize the network parameters for better distinguishing the geometrical features characterized by structural amplitude changes. To train the network, we adopt a workflow to automatically generate numerous 2-D low-resolution data and their corresponding high-resolution data. In this workflow, the prior information, such as statistical reflectivity distribution of well logs and structural features of the data are considered. The synthetic data and field data tests show that our method can work well compared to the traditional method even though only a few well logs are available. Especially in the field data example, our method recovers thin layers better and yields laterally more consistent high-resolution results.

Mesophotic bioclastics and bioconstructions at the continental shelf of Santos Basin, Brazil

The Santos Basin mesophotic zone comprises one area of 104,915 km2, occupying 78% of the entire basin. Santos Basin is one of the most under stress and sensitive marine regions in the Brazilian territory due to several major ports, Oil & Gas industry, and coastal marine environmental management areas. Scientific literature recognizes that rhodolith beds and biogenic rigid-bottom patches occur on the shelf, but because lack of high-resolution seismic data, these seabed features are not yet wholly mapped at Santos Basin. However, an unprecedented gathering of historical depth sounding points and surface sediment data collection, in conjunction with an extensive field campaign of seabed sampling and sub-bottom shallow seismic records, points out new evidence of biogenic sediment distribution reefal structures in the Santos Basin. The patches of calcareous algae crusts, terraces mounds, pinnacles, and free-living rhodolith beds compose the carbonate facies on the outer shelf. Rugged bottom relief and pinnacles up to 10 m in height correlate with carbonate gravels and sandy areas. Bioconstructions are more common northward and gradually decrease southward. Geomorphological features such as rugged bottom relief might indicate the occurrence of mesophotic bioconstructions off Paraná, and Santa Catarina State coast. The mesophotic bioconstructions have evolved through four stages: 1- LGM fully sposed shelf, 2- sea-level transgression and bioconstrutions pioneers, 3- influence of the La Plata plume at the southern sector, and 4- establishment of mud patches in the northern sector due to local input.

Delineation of Coal Bed Geometry using High Resolution Seismic Reflection Data for Uninterrupted Directional Drilling Exploration

Abstract The utilization of innovative technology by the coal mine industry requires proper guidance of sub-surface information so that it can provide uninterrupted exploration with less time and minimum cost. Sufficient knowledge about the coal beds that is variation of thickness, depth, and associated structures will facilitate the mine engineer to run machinery systematically. Conventional geological reports based on borehole data may not sufficient to adopt state-of-the-art drilling technology. To address these issues, high-resolution seismic survey (HRSS) was conducted to delineate the thickness of coal seams and mapping of structural features which are associated with coal seams. An effort was made to demonstrate the high-resolution seismic reflection study for picking of minor faults locations and thickness of coal seams in the central part of the Sohagpur, Gondwana basin that occurs at the junction of the Mahanadi and Son-Narmada rift systems in central India. The study reveals thick Barakar Formation and coal seams at a depth range of 300 to 550 meters. The thickness of coal seams and the location of minor faults were interpreted with the help of attribute analysis from the seismic sections. The obtained results from the seismic survey were useful for the selection of potential target zones which are favourable for drilling.

The Vaza-Barris River: A late Quaternary decoupled accumulation-erosion model for rivers of the NE Brazil Atlantic passive margin

Limited insight is available regarding the links between the upstream-downstream fluvial response to climate changes and alluvial-coastal base-level factors in the passive Atlantic margin of tropical South America. This work attempts to characterize the last glacial-interglacial fluvial response of a typical semi-arid Brazilian Northeast River that drains Central-East Brazil's highlands. We integrate the full extension of the Vaza-Barris River alluvial plain record with the alluvial-coastal plain subsurface record. We used digital elevation models, satellite imagery, cores drill description, high-resolution seismic data, optical luminescence, and AMS 14C dating of alluvial terraces Five terrace levels, in the upstream provinces, and three terrace levels in the Coastal-alluvial province were identified. In the continental margin adjacent to the Vaza-Barris river-mouth, incised-valleys in the coastal shelf. Morphosedimentary proxies indicate that periods of aggradation and incision alternated during the late Quaternary due to different inland and eustatic dominant factors. We also estimate that the estuary stored a sediment fill of approximately ∼55 m since the late Pleistocene,. Thus, climate change and sea-level variations differentially controlled the fluvial response and the morphology of the adjacent continental margin along the fluvial system. The decoupled accumulation/erosion upstream-downstream patterns can be used as a model to be tested in fluvial systems of the passive margin of the Brazilian Northeast.

Bedforms of Bonifacio Strait (Western Mediterranean): hydrodynamics, coastal outline, supply and sediment distribution

Abstract This paper shows the results of high-resolution survey on the continental shelf of Bonifacio Strait (north Sardinia). Multisensor and multiscale data obtained by means of sub-bottom profiler CHIRP and multibeam and side-scan sonar made it possible to identify the morphological features of bedforms. The analysis of both side-scan sonar sonograms mosaic and high-resolution seismic data allowed us to perform a detailed mapping of various substrates highlighting the presence of complex bedform associations. These bedform associations are typical of continental shelf environments affected by high-speed bottom currents. Multisource data analysis integrated by sedimentological study allowed us to identify the directions of sediment movements on the seabed and the progradation of bedforms. Locally, it was found that the bedforms of mobile bottoms are still active and they persist for more than a decade. The path of the currents’ circulation revealed that in the Bonifacio Strait, the bottom currents flow westwards, opposed to the prevailing sea surface flows.

Latitudinal changes in submarine channel-levee system evolution, architecture and flow processes

Models of the sedimentary architecture of submarine channel-levee systems and their formative flow processes are predominantly based on studies from low latitude settings. Here, we integrate high-resolution seismic reflection, bathymetry and GLORIA side scan data to document the architecture and interpret the formative processes of a series of ultra-high latitude (72–76°N) submarine channel-levee systems that feed lobe complexes off the Greenland margin. We demonstrate that the sedimentary architecture of the channel-fills are dominated by vertical or near-vertical sediment accumulation, reflecting the lack of, or very limited nature of, lateral migration over time. All the Greenland channel-levee systems show significant cross-sectional asymmetry, and a peak sinuosity of 1.38, on a low gradient slope (∼0.3°). The bounding external levees are very thick (∼200 m) and wide relative to low latitude systems. Comparison of these channel-levee systems with other examples reveals that these characteristics appear to be common to systems in high and ultra-high latitudes, suggesting latitudinal controls in the sedimentary architecture of submarine channel-levee systems. The differences between high- and low-latitude systems is likely due to the interplay of physical forcing (i.e., Coriolis force) and climatic factors that control sediment calibre and flow type, both of which are latitudinally dependent. Several formative mechanisms for supressing the initial phase of lateral migration and subsequent asymmetrical development are proposed, including:i) rapid channel aggradation, (ii) Coriolis forcing causing preferred deposition on the right-hand side of the channel, and iii) variance in flow properties, with traction- and suspension-dominated flows deposited on opposing sides of the channel. We argue that a high latitudinal location of larger channel-levee systems may result in the dominance of vertical stacking of channels, the construction of large external levees, and the development of a low sinuosity planform.

Neural net detection of seismic features related to gas hydrates and free gas accumulations on the northern U.S. Atlantic margin

Bottom-simulating reflections (BSRs) that sometimes mark the base of the gas hydrate stability zone in marine sediments are often identified based on the reverse polarity reflections that cut across stratigraphic layering in seismic amplitude data. On the northern U.S. Atlantic margin (USAM) between Cape Hatteras and Hudson Canyon, legacy seismic data have revealed pronounced BSRs south of the deepwater extension of Hudson Canyon and more subtle ones from offshore Delaware south to Cape Hatteras, where the reflections sometimes follow stratigraphic layering. Using high-resolution seismic data acquired during the 2018 Mid-Atlantic Resource Imaging Experiment and a supervised neural net, we identify seismic features associated with gas hydrates and/or the top of gas between Hudson Canyon and Cape Hatteras. Using seismic attributes especially sensitive to the presence of gas, we train a neural network algorithm on seismic data from an area with strong BSRs and then apply the model to the rest of the data set. The results indicate that gas hydrate and/or shallow free gas are significantly more widespread on the northern part of the USAM than previously known. Seismic indicators of gas extend landward from the 2000 m isobath to the upper continental slope in sectors with (offshore Virginia) and, to a lesser extent, without (offshore New Jersey) pervasive upper slope methane seeps. Higher sand content and intermediate sediment thickness, factors related to the container size and gas charge in a petroleum systems framework, are associated with more robust gas indicators.

Estimation of bedload sedimentation rate in a paleo-drowned river-valley

Extensive, high-resolution seismic data were correlated with borehole, land use, and geological data to calculate the mass of genetically different sediment deposits in the Middle Harbour estuary in Sydney, Australia. Middle Harbour is a drowned-river valley located adjacent to the larger Sydney estuary. The estuary follows a well-defined sedimentation model featuring small fluvial bedload delta deposits in the upper reaches of the embayments, a deep, central extensive mud basin overlying transgressive basal accumulations and a large flood-tide delta at the entrance. Deposits of an estimated 5094 t of bedload, 21,143 t of suspended sediment and 5947 t of transgressive basal material located in the estuary provided average sediment accumulation rates of 0.68 t year−1, 1.29 t year−1, and 2.86 t year−1, respectively. These rates, determined from measured accumulations, were surprisingly low and substantially smaller than modelled rates. However, low sediment accumulation rates for suspended material may be due to fine sediment escaping over the top of the marine tidal delta, which effectively traps all bedload material from exiting the Harbour. Results of this study indicate that Holocene bedload sedimentation in Middle Harbour was slow and regular until a rapid increase after urbanisation commenced in the catchment. Most pre-Holocene material was eroded from Middle Harbour during the Last Glacial period with sediment currently present in the estuary having been deposited since sea-level recovery.

Geometry, kinematics and mechanism of growth unconformities in the Biertuokuoyi piggy-back basin: implications for episodic growth of the Pamir frontal thrust

Piggy-back basins are characterized by growth stratigraphic sequences bounded by growth unconformities and record the complete deformational history of the related structures. The Biertuokuoyi piggy-back basin, located in the hanging wall of the Pamir frontal thrust (PFT), provides a remarkable example documenting the geometry, kinematics and mechanism of growth unconformities. High-resolution seismic data reveal that multiple growth sequences were folded with constant-dip kink band migration and their dips are equal to the change in the fault-bend angle of the PFT, indicating their kinematic coupling. Divided by a basal Cenozoic detachment, the PFT system contains five lower thrust ramps that cut Paleozoic–Mesozoic strata and an upper thrust ramp that cuts Cenozoic strata. The growth strata and unconformities record c. 4425 m of dip-slip and six stages of episodic thrusting for the PFT. We propose a coeval thrusting style for the five lower thrust ramps. The present seismic section reveals at least 31.1 km of total shortening at the northeastern Pamir front. In particular, the latest shortening of c. 8.0 km is recorded by the Biertuokuoyi Basin and the Mushi anticline. Our results show that multiple growth sequences bounded by growth unconformities are powerful resources for documenting the evolution of deformation. Supplementary material: Supporting figures and data, including seismic profiles and kinematic simulation results, are available at https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/DNQBS . Thematic collection: This article is part of the Fold-and-thrust belts collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/fold-and-thrust-belts

Contourite and Turbidite Features in the Middle Caspian Sea and Their Connection to Geohazards Derived from High-Resolution Seismic Data

High fluvial input combined with specific topographic and oceanographic settings in the Caspian Sea create favorable conditions for contourite deposition. For the first time in its middle portion, contourite deposits have been observed in high-resolution seismic profiles. Various types of contourite drifts and mixed depositional systems have been revealed on the lower slope and in the adjacent basin, some of which are accompanied by sediment wave fields. The deposition of contourites or turbidites and their lateral distribution is controlled by sea-floor topography and oceanographic processes, as well as the modern activity of gravity flows downslope on the western Caucasian slope and in the channel system on the Mangyshlak Sill. The contourite drifts and sediment wave fields form several contourite depositional systems, which seem to merge in the Caspian contourite depositional complex. This occurs near the foot of slopes of the Derbent Basin and is related to the counterclockwise circum-Caspian current in the Middle Caspian Sea. The fact that the Caspian Sea is the largest lake in the world makes this region a significant area for research into the “lake contourites” issue. The Caspian Sea is an important oil-producing area, and sedimentary processes related to the contourite and turbidite can be a source of potential geohazards in the construction and exploitation of underwater engineering structures

Origin of the Palos Verdes Restraining Bend and Its Implications for the 3D Geometry of the Fault and Earthquake Hazards in Los Angeles, California

ABSTRACT The Palos Verdes fault zone (PVFZ) extends across the southwestern Los Angeles basin and Inner Continental Borderland, California, and is considered capable of generating large (Mw&amp;gt;7), damaging earthquakes with short recurrence intervals. The 110 km long fault zone is composed of vertical and moderately dipping segments that accommodate oblique, right-lateral reverse displacement. Onshore, there is a counterclockwise reorientation in the PVFZ’s strike, which produces a major restraining bend that generates the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Here, we use well and seismic reflection data to develop kinematic models that show folding of the PVFZ by the Wilmington blind thrust led to formation of the restraining bend. North of the peninsula in Santa Monica Bay, debate persists over the extent, geometry, and activity of the PVFZ. Here, we analyze a dense grid of high-resolution seismic reflection data and present a new mapping of the Santa Monica Bay segment of the PVFZ, including multiple active splays (e.g., Redondo Canyon fault zone) that occur within a broad damage zone at the northern termination of the fault system. Based on these insights and prior studies, we develop a new, comprehensive 3D model of the PVFZ including its Santa Monica Bay, San Pedro Bay, and Lasuen Knoll segments. The sizes of these segments indicate that PVFZ is capable of larger events than previously reported—Mw 7.1–7.4 for single-segment ruptures and Mw 7.4–7.8 for multisegment ruptures. Based on a reported slip rate of 1.1–5.9 mm/yr, average recurrence intervals for these single- and multisegment rupture scenarios are 580–610 and 760–1170 yr, respectively.

Bidirectional subduction of the Bangong-Nujiang ocean revealed by deep-crustal seismic reflection profile

It is well known that the Tibetan plateau exposes a series of terranes that were drifted northward and accreted progressively onto the south margin of Eurasia resulting from ocean closure. However, the processes associated with the ocean closure remains poorly unconstrained. One such issue is whether the demise of the Bangong-Nujiang ocean between the Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes were caused by northward subduction only or both northward and southward subduction. To address this issue, we analyze high-resolution seismic reflection data along a 275-km north-south traverse across the Bangong-Nujiang suture zone. Our work shows that the Moho of the Lhasa terrane lies at 22.5 s (two-way travel time) and the Moho of the Qiangtang terrane lies at 20 s. In the Lhasa terrane, the reflection profile reveals an X-shaped structure that segmented south-dipping reflectors are truncated by continuous north-dipping reflectors. Based on the existing geological and geophysical observations and the cross-cutting relationships among seismic reflectors, we propose that the fossil relics of south-dipping reflectors with relatively weak amplitude in Lhasa terrane were created by the Mesozoic southward subduction of the Bangong-Nujiang ocean, and the north-dipping reflectors were triggered by the younger Cenozoic deformation during the India-Asia collision. In the Qiangtang terrane, our seismic reflection profile displays an antiformal structure with a set of north-dipping reflections in the lower crust, which we interpret as triggered by the northward subduction of the Bangong-Nujiang ocean. The structures as revealed by our seismic observations as a whole indicate that the closure of the Bangong-Nujiang ocean was created by bidirectional oceanic subduction.

Late Miocene-Quaternary sedimentary environment evolution of the Kerch seep area, Black Sea

A set of 2D high resolution seismic lines was acquired near the Kerch Peninsula during R/V Meteor Cruise M72/3 in March/April 2007 to the Eastern Black Sea. The high resolution seismic data were used for analysis of seismic facies and seismic sequences to gain insight into the sedimentary evolution of the study area. Seven seismic facies types were identified and six seismic units could be mapped. Based on seismic line interpretation, isopach and seismic facies distribution maps, a chronostratigraphic framework could be established for the study area. The study reveals that the sediment deposits were influenced by syndepositional tectonic movements, sea level and climate. During the late Miocene and the early Pliocene, possible slope fan deposits developed. At the boundary between the Miocene and Pliocene, the Messinian erosional truncation surface was observed. After the Messinian sea level fall, accompanied by a major transgressional phase during the Pliocene, the Paleo-Don and Kuban Rivers delivered a large terrigenous input to the Black Sea from the uplifted Crimean Mountains. This formed thick submarine fan deposits near the mouth of Kerch Strait during the late Pliocene. Facies variations within the seismic units are related to the sea-level and climate curves, and are reflected by grain size variations in the sediments and the shift of the river mouth. During the Quaternary, hemipelagic sediments interbedded with coarse-grained fluvial sediments developed in the study area, along with slumps, river channels and fan deposits.

Reservoir Architecture in Tide-Dominated Estuary: A Case Study of McMurray Formation Oil Sand Reservoir in the Athabasca Block, Canada

This paper presents a detailed description of the sedimentary characteristics and architecture model of the tidal-dominated estuary reservoir in the Lower Cretaceous McMurray formation. Based on a thorough study of the core data, 13 lithofacies were recognized. The lithofacies associations were divided into nine types of architecture elements, that is channel, salt marsh, fluvial point bar, tidal point bar, mud flat, mixed flat, sand flat, tidal bar and offshore. Through the combination of high resolution seismic data and well data, the architecture model was established. The boundary surfaces of each architecture elements are depicted and the logging characteristics is concluded. The cross-section is constructed to reveal the superimposition model of different architectural elements with the seismic profiles. The plane and vertical distribution of architectural elements are revealed and the sedimentary model is constructed. In the longitudinal section of estuary, the architecture elements is fluvial deposits (channel, fluvial point bar, and salt marsh), tidal flat (mud flat, mixed flat, and sand flat), tidal bar, tidal flat and offshore from land to sea. In the cross section, tidal bar, sand flat, mixed flat, mud flat, tidal point bar and salt marsh are distributed successively from the center to the sides. Tidal bars and sand flats are the best reservoirs in terms of physical properties. We focus on the analysis of their architecture and summarize their stacking patterns. We propose tidal bars as compounds are lateral accretion. Tidal bar has high-angle continued lateral accretion, with a dip angle of 6–12°. Sand flat also has lateral-migrated characteristics, but their dip angle is 2–6° which is smaller than tidal bars. As a result, the dimension and stack of a single tidal bar and sand flat are quantified. The tidal bar was lateral stacking or vertical stacking with lateral-migrated or forward-migrated sand flat and existed vertical and lateral erosion-filling phenomenon. Tidal bars have width of 100–550 m and length of 800–2,400 m, and sand flats are 300–2,500 m long. Tidal bars and sand flats made up the best reservoirs. The study provides some insights for future research of estuarine sedimentary patterns and reservoir architecture.

Natural Gas Migration Pathways and Their Influence on Gas Hydrate Enrichment in the Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea

2D and 3D seismic data and basin simulation were used to investigate the gas hydrate distribution and natural gas migration pathways in the Qiongdongnan Basin (QDNB). Hydrate-related amplitude anomalies and extensive bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) were mapped within the uppermost part. Based on their seismic reflection characteristics, the three main types of natural gas migration pathways and their distributions in the QDNB were identified through high-resolution seismic data. Basin modeling was carried out to document the migration efficiency of different migration pathways and their effects on hydrate enrichment. The basin modeling results show the following: (1) Diapirs, fault structures, and fractures constitute the three main types of natural gas migration pathways that transport the thermogenic gas from the deep to shallow layers in the QDNB. (2) The three migration pathways impact hydrate enrichment in different ways. Diapirs and faults contribute significantly to hydrate enrichment due to their higher migration efficiency. In comparison, the migration efficiency of the fracture systems is lower, with minimal benefit to hydrate enrichment. (3) The natural gas hydrate in the QDNB is mainly distributed along the diapirs and deep faults and generally scattered around the fracture system. These conclusions indicate that the migration pathways in the QDNB are regionally distributed and are closely related to hydrate accumulation.

A regionally consistent 3D seismic-stratigraphic framework and age model for the Quaternary sediments of the northern North Sea

The thick succession of Quaternary sediments that is preserved in the northern North Sea provides a valuable record of the climate and environmental changes of the last ∼2.6 million years. However, the general lack of chronological control on these sediments, combined with gaps in high-resolution seismic data coverage, has hindered our understanding of the detailed sediment infill history of this margin. Here we use a large (35,000 km2) high-resolution 3D seismic cube, supplemented by other 2D and 3D seismic datasets, to map more than 20 horizons within the Quaternary Naust Formation. We extend these horizons across large parts of the northern North Sea to establish a robust seismic framework that is used to assess the correspondence between existing chronostratigraphic ages. Whereas there is good agreement between most existing ages, the correlation of horizons between the Troll Field and the North Sea trough-mouth fan suggests that the sediments preserved at the base of the Norwegian Channel may have been deposited significantly later than assumed previously. Geomorphological forms preserved close to the base of the Norwegian Channel provide evidence for sediment disturbance by ice-stream activity, and document a two-stage glacial build-up during a mid-Pleistocene glaciation. We suggest a new age model for the Quaternary sediments of the northern North Sea, in which the deposition of sediments within the Norwegian Channel occurred as recently as 0.35 Ma in response to prior sediment loading and subsidence within the North Sea trough-mouth fan. In addition to providing new insights into the extent and timing of glacial events, the development of a regionally consistent 3D seismic-stratigraphic framework has implications for the age of the Peon gas discovery and for reconstructing spatial and temporal patterns of Quaternary sediment subsidence and fluid overpressure in the North Sea Basin.

Geophysical characteristics of a focused fluid flow system in the western South China Sea

High-resolution multichannel seismic data and multibeam terrain data are used to analyse and identify a focused fluid flow (FFF) system in the central and northern parts of the Zhongjiannan Basin in the western South China Sea. The authors classify and summarise the geophysical characteristics of an FFF system in the study area. It is divided into a fault-related FFF system and a column-related FFF system. In addition, the FFF system in the study area is mainly located within the tectonic activity area, thin slope break belt and land slope area. The rich FFF system in the study area is an important channel for fluid migration, which is conducive to gas hydrate accumulation. The FFF system in the study area is poorly studied, and the distribution research results of the FFF system in this area can be used more widely in hydrocarbon and gas hydrate exploration and must be taken into account when assessing seabed stability.

The Petilia-Sosti Shear Zone (Calabrian Arc, southern Italy): An onshore-offshore regional active structure

The integrated interpretation of different types of data, consisting of a detailed Digital Terrain Model, field structural and morphotectonic observations, high resolution seismic data, seismological and Synthetic Aperture Radar interferometry information (vertical and horizontal movements), associated with a review of the available literature, has allowed to analyze the shallow expression of the regional-scale Petilia-Sosti Shear Zone (PSSZ). It is one of the major NW-trending tectonic lineaments affecting the Calabrian Arc and is characterized by a present-day tectonic and gravity-driven deformation. This study investigated the portion of the PSSZ between the offshore Crotone Peninsula, located along the Ionian sea of Calabria, and the central part of the Sila Massif.A complex tectonic history is documented since middle Miocene onward for the PSSZ. It consists of an alternation of sinistral and dextral transpressional and transtensional tectonic phases correlated with the geodynamic events occurred during the SE migration of the Calabrian Arc.The shallow expression of the investigated part of the PSSZ consists of a roughly 14 km wide, ca. 80 km long NW-trending tectonic zone including synthetic NW- to NNW-trending faults and N-NE antithetic minor structures. The main identified NW-trending faults, which show a development between 30 and 50 km, are the Sila and Lakes faults in the Sila Massif, and the Marcedusa-Steccato, Fosso Umbro and Tacina faults located in the SW part of the Crotone Basin and in its offshore area. Currently, the fault segments of the Sila Massif exhibit a prevailing normal kinematics with a left-lateral component, whereas a more complex geological framework occurs in the south-western part of the onshore-offshore Crotone Basin. The latter is dominated by gravity-driven movements, associated with the SE migration of the Crotone Megalandslide and with the regional uplift of Calabria, whereas normal kinematics with a small left-lateral component of movement, locally replaced by reverse/transpressional tectonics, was observed along the southern coast in the late Pleistocene deposits of the Le Castella marine terrace.The seismological data highlight that some strong earthquakes occurred in 1638, 1744 and 1832, with magnitude Mw between 5.7 and 6.8, might be associated with the Lakes, Fosso Umbro and Tacina faults respectively. In this frame, the PSSZ is proposed as a new potential NW-oriented active composite seismogenic source for the central-northern Calabria.