Seismic Profiles Research Articles (Page 1)

This study combines a multidisciplinary approach to Pyrenean and Alpine glacial lakes to characterize the sensitivity of Late Glacial to Holocene subaquatic flood deposits in deltaic environments to slope failures triggered either by earthquakes, rockfalls, or snow avalanches. To clarify the possible interactions between environmental changes and these natural hazards in mountain and piedmont lakes, we analyze the lacustrine sedimentary records of key historical events and discuss the recurrence of similar regional events in the past. High-resolution seismic profiles and sediment cores from large perialpine lakes (Bourget, Geneva, and Constance) and from small mountain lakes in the French Alps and the Pyrenees were used to establish a conceptual model linking environmental changes, tributary flood sedimentary processes, subaquatic deltaic depocenters, and potentially tsunamigenic mass-wasting deposits. These findings illustrate the specific signatures of the largest French earthquakes in 1660 CE (northern Pyrenees) and in 1822 CE (western Alps) and suggest their recurrence during the Holocene. In addition, the regional record in the Aiguilles Rouges massif near Mont Blanc of the tsunamigenic 1584 CE Aigle earthquake in Lake Geneva may be used to better document a similar Celtic event ca. 2300 Cal BP at the border between Switzerland and France.

Residual oil (RO) in terrigenous reservoirs formed after waterflooding can exceed 60% of the original oil in place; approximately 70% is trapped at the macro-scale in barriers and lenses, whereas about 30% remains at the micro-scale as film and capillary-held oil. This review aims to synthesize current knowledge of RO formation mechanisms, localization methods and chemical recovery technologies. It analyzes laboratory, numerical and field studies published from 1970 to 2025. The physical and technological factors governing RO distribution are systematized, and the effects of heterogeneities of various types, imperfections in pressure-maintenance (waterflood) systems and contrasts in oil–water properties are demonstrated. Instrumental monitoring techniques—vertical seismic profiling (VSP), well logging (WL), hydrodynamic well testing (WT) and geochemical well testing (GWT)—are discussed alongside indirect analytical approaches such as retrospective production-data analysis and neural-network forecasting. Industrial experience from more than 30,000 selective permeability-reduction operations, which have yielded over 50 Mt of additional oil, is consolidated. The advantages of gel systems of different chemistries are evaluated, and the prospects of employing waste products from agro-industrial, metallurgical and petroleum sectors as reagents are considered. The findings indicate that integrating multi-level neural-network techniques with instrumental monitoring and adaptive selection of chemical formulations is crucial for maximizing RO recovery.

Abstract Constructing underground structures in coastal regions poses significant challenges, particularly due to seawater intrusion, which can cause corrosion and threaten the safety and stability of the caverns and surrounding facilities. A crucial aspect of preventing seawater intrusion lies in accurate mapping of the geological structure of the reservoir area and its proximity to the coastline. This study uses reflection seismic data, borehole ultrasonic imaging, and core samples to identify geological features that influence subsurface stability. The seismic profile revealed a V-shaped or concave-down structure associated with faults, suggesting a down-dropped block within the subsurface. Seismic facies analysis identified chaotic, high-amplitude reflections within basement rocks, indicating highly fractured and faulted zones, possibly including mylonitic rocks. A novel approach is proposed that combines borehole ultrasonic imaging with fractal theory, integrating core photos, seismic attributes, and geophysical analysis. A functional relationship was established between the joint surface density and the joint information dimension within the borehole. Additionally, a relationship was established between fault information dimension and borehole joint surface density. Results showed that the joint information dimensions within the identified fault zones consisttently exceeded 1.775. By applying a threshold of joint information dimension greater than 1.775, 15 small-scale structural prediction zones were identified. Subsequent analysis of core photos from the predicted regions confirmed the presence of relatively long fractured zones, demonstrating the high accuracy of the proposed method in identifying small-scale structures. This study presents a comprehensive method for mapping geological structures in coastal areas, providing an essential reference for the identification and management of small-scale features in underground engineering projects.

Summary In both onshore and offshore seismic exploration, seismic source localization plays a crucial role in ensuring operational safety and environmental protection. With the continuous advancement of the Marchenko method in the fields of seismic migration and internal multiple elimination, this paper investigates a seismic source localization method based on the Marchenko method, aiming to further extend application domain of this method. The key to this method lies in the data reconstruction based on convolution operations. The conventional Marchenko method is then applied to obtain a seismic profile, which includes the location of the seismic source. In the experiments, this study first uses an anticline model to simulate seismic source localization in onshore seismic exploration. The results show that the proposed method can accurately estimate both the distance to the seismic source and its depth. Furthermore, in large-scale marine model experiments, the method is also able to reliably determine the distance between the seismic source and the observation stations.

The deep-seated boundary structures of the Siberian craton and the Baikal-Patom fold-and-thrust belt have been considered in the cross-section of the 1-SB-Vostochny reference geophysical profile and its continuation along the Vitim River. The deep crustal CDP seismic reflection profiling, with regard to the distribution of potential fields, made it possible to construct a geodynamic model of the junction zone of the Siberian craton and the Baikal-Patom belt. The model highlights the Siberian craton basement structures, overlain in the marginal part by a complicated series of nappes including the Chuya allochthon, the Baikal-Patom pericratonic trough, and deformed complexes of the sedimentary cover of the craton. There has been the south-easterly increase in the cover thickness from 5 to 15 km, as well as the cover saturation with salts and gabbroid sills. The structures of the folded framing of the craton are represented by the Mama block, the complexes of which surround the wedge-shaped end of the basement of the Siberian craton, splitting from the mid-crustal level. The upper plates of the Mama block, with the 3–4 km thick Chuya allochthon at the base, are thrust over the craton, and the lower plates are thrust under the craton, sinking into the mantle. The southern boundary of the Siberian craton has been traced on the basis of geophysical data complex.

Seismic facies recognition constitutes a fundamental task in seismic data interpretation, playing an essential role in characterizing subsurface geological structures, sedimentary environments, and hydrocarbon reservoir distributions. Conventional approaches primarily depend on expert interpretation, which often introduces substantial subjectivity and operational inefficiency. Although deep learning-based methods have been introduced, most rely solely on unimodal data—namely, seismic images—and encounter challenges such as limited annotated samples and inadequate generalization capability. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes a multimodal seismic facies recognition framework named GAT-UKAN, which integrates a U-shaped Kolmogorov–Arnold Network (U-KAN) with a Graph Attention Network (GAT). This model is designed to accept dual-modality inputs. By fusing visual features with knowledge embeddings at intermediate network layers, the model achieves knowledge-guided feature refinement. This approach effectively mitigates issues related to limited samples and poor generalization inherent in single-modality frameworks. Experiments were conducted on the F3 block dataset from the North Sea. A knowledge graph comprising 47 entities and 12 relation types was constructed to incorporate expert knowledge. The results indicate that GAT-UKAN achieved a Pixel Accuracy of 89.7% and a Mean Intersection over Union of 70.6%, surpassing the performance of both U-Net and U-KAN. Furthermore, the model was transferred to the Parihaka field in New Zealand via transfer learning. After fine-tuning, the predictions exhibited strong alignment with seismic profiles, demonstrating the model’s robustness under complex geological conditions. Although the proposed model demonstrates excellent performance in accuracy and robustness, it has so far been validated only on 2D seismic profiles. Its capability to characterize continuous 3D geological features therefore remains limited.

Abstract The Dangerous Grounds, located in the southern margin of the South China Sea, has experienced three distinct tectonic evolution stages during the Cenozoic: continental rifting, breakup from the South China Block and southward drift, and collision with Borneo, accompanied by a north-to-south shift in its paleogeographic environment. This study utilized a robust dataset comprising 67 seismic reflection profiles, integrated with drilling and dredging data, to reconstruct the sedimentary filling history of the Dangerous Grounds. By correlating sediment budget outcomes with the spatial distribution characteristics of the sediment thickness, we have gained valuable insights into the region’s sedimentary evolution. Our findings reveal a progressive increase in sediment budgets across the three tectonic stages, despite relatively stable sediment budgets during the southward drift stage associated with seafloor spreading. Spatial sediment distribution shows a continued decrease in the east and expansion in the south and west. By integrating the temporal and spatial distribution of depocenters with drilling results and sediment provenance through geochemical analyses, we provide a comprehensive regional perspective on the factors controlling sediment budget trends, including regional tectonic events, monsoon, sea level change, and the river systems associated with paleogeographic environment variations. The sedimentary inputs to the Dangerous Grounds have shifted over time, with Paleocene-Eocene sediments primarily originating from the north. From the Oligocene to the Early Miocene, northern sediment supply progressively declined, while inputs from the southwest, transported through river systems originating in the Indochina and Malay Peninsulas, gradually increased. Since the Mid-Miocene, the collision with Borneo has led to enhanced sediment supply from the south, with sediments predominantly accumulating along slope edges, channel outlets, and within the Nansha Trough.

Seismic data can provide an intuitive and accurate reflection of stratigraphic information. However, in areas with low-density seismic line coverage, relying solely on seismic profiles to accurately describe the spatial distribution characteristics of faults in the study area is not convincing. This study employs two boundary identification methods of gravity and magnetic potential fields: analytical signal amplitude and mean normalized total horizontal derivative, to identify the boundaries of geological bodies in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico basin, based on the lateral heterogeneity of geological structures. Combined with the interpretation results of seismic profiles, the accuracy of the potential field boundary identification was verified, enhancing the rationality of joint gravity, magnetic, and seismic interpretation results for studying the spatial distribution characteristics of faults. The study confirms that both the analytical signal amplitude and the mean normalized total horizontal derivative methods can be effectively applied to fault characterization in areas with insufficient seismic coverage. Multiscale faults identified using various approaches controlled the stratigraphic deposition during the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous periods. This research implements a method for enhancing the satellite gravity and magnetic anomalies and provides new insights into studying the sedimentary faults and regional tectonic evolution in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico basin.

Abstract. Studying the subsurface geology in offshore areas is a complex task, as it is impossible or very challenging directly accessing any eventual outcrops at the study site. The integration of key seismic reflection and borehole data is therefore fundamental, even if only available as legacy data on paper hard copy and/or characterized by an apparent low quality. However, such data are often the only ones available, and can still provide a high amount of detailed information for building a reliable geological model to be compared with and discussed about the seismicity distribution in active areas. In this work, legacy seismic reflection profiles calibrated with boreholes are used to propose a new geological model of the frontal part of the Northern Apennines area struck by the 2022 Fano-Pesaro Mw 5.5 earthquake sequence (Adriatic Sea, Italy). The legacy seismic data were digitized and converted to SEG-Y format, and a basic post-stack filtering was applied to enhance data quality. The observed tectonic structures originate from multiple décollements located at different depths and show a strong relationship between the faulting depth and the wavelength of the anticlines. Two structures, namely the Pesaro and the Cornelia anticlines, are interpreted as being related to deep-seated thrusts, showing an en-echelon arrangement and thin-skinned deformation. A smaller wavelength structure, namely the Tamara antiform, is interpreted to be associated with shallow-seated imbricated fore-verging thrusts in the forelimb of the Pesaro anticline. We highlight the importance of constructing a well-constrained geological model by integrating legacy geological and geophysical data, aimed at studying offshore seismotectonic settings.

ABSTRACT A new 1:25.000 geological map is presented for a 26 × 22 km quadrangle containing the Maestu salt diapir and its sedimentary country rocks. A new mapping approach was followed to depict the distribution of interpreted late Cretaceous-Paleogene depositional sequences that surround the diapir, instead of strict lithostratigraphic units or rock formations. They were drawn after outcrop traces visually interpreted on a high-resolution hillshade. It is posed that the representation of depositional sequences in a geological map can improve structural and stratigraphic interpretations in the same way as their recognition in seismic reflection profiles has revolutionized the comprehension of subsurface structure in sedimentary terrains. The new map constitutes a basic starting point for both theoretical and applied geology studies. Examples of geohazard detection (four shallow spreading landslides) and halokinematic stratigraphic/structural relationships are included.

Abstract To advance the understanding of Mesoproterozoic sedimentary facies and delineate their distribution patterns in the Ordos Basin, this study systematically analyzes the sedimentary characteristics and stratigraphic architecture of the Mesoproterozoic sequences using integrated datasets, including core samples, well logs, seismic profiles, and field outcrops. The results indicate that the Mesoproterozoic Changcheng System, shaped by rift-related processes, displays a southwest-to-northeast thinning trend, culminating in stratigraphic pinch-out. Three Facies associations are identified: rift-related sandstone-shale and volcanic eruption facies (dominated by sandstones with abundant basaltic eruptives in the Changcheng rift trough), shoreface sandstone facies (primarily lower shoreface subfacies with quartz sandstones and mudstones), and fluvial facies (sandstone-siltstone sequences). During the Jixian System, post-Changcheng “compensatory sedimentation” led to a significantly reduced depositional area dominated by tidal flat environments. A southwest-to-northeast facies transition progresses from shelf facies (siltstones interbedded with shales and bioclastic limestones) through mid-ramp facies to tidal flat and mixed tidal flat facies, collectively forming a carbonate tidal flat system dominated by siliceous-banded dolomites. The Mesoproterozoic succession in the Ordos Basin thus records an evolutionary trajectory from rift basin infilling (“leveling”) to the development of a shallow marine clastic-carbonate platform during the Jixian System, reflecting progressive tectonic stabilization and paleoenvironmental transitions.

This study predicts sedimentary architectures and facies distribution within the Pliocene prograding prism of the Roussillon Basin (Gulf of Lion, France), developed along an onshore–offshore continuum. Boreholes and outcrops provide facies-scale observations onshore, while seismic data capture basin-scale structures offshore. Forward seismic modeling bridges spatial and scale gaps between these datasets, yielding characteristic synthetic seismic signatures for the sedimentary facies associations observed onshore, used as analogs for offshore deposits. These signatures are then identified in offshore seismic data, allowing seismic profiles to be populated with sedimentary facies without a well tie. Predicted offshore architectures are consistent with shoreline trajectories and facies successions observed onshore. The Roussillon prism records passive margin reconstruction in the Mediterranean Basin following the Messinian Salinity Crisis, through the following three successive depositional profiles marking the onset of infilling: (1) Gilbert deltas, (2) wave- and storm-reworked fan deltas, and (3) a wave-dominated delta. Offshore, transitions in clinoform type modify sedimentary architectures, influenced by inherited Messinian paleotopography. This autogenic control generates spatial variability in accommodation, driving changes in depositional style. Overall, this multi-scale and integrative approach provides a robust framework for predicting offshore sedimentary architectures and can be applied to other deltaic settings with limited land–sea data continuity.

Pockmark development and slope instability are key geological processes shaping the continental slope. In this study, high-resolution multibeam data, subbottom profiles, and a reprocessed two-dimensional seismic profile were used to identify and analyze the complex geomorphic features of landslides and pockmarks in the southern South China Sea. We analyzed the morphology of a landslide and 340 surrounding pockmarks, which are distributed on both sides of the landslide and exhibit a stepped pattern. Different from the pockmark deformation only along the slope, pockmarks in the study area exhibited deformation cross the slope. Based on the feature and distribution of pockmarks relative to the landslide, it is inferred that the development of the pockmarks triggers the landslide. Within the same depth interval, gravity and shear forces acting on the pockmarks intensify progressively from the center toward the flanks. In addition, tensile fracturing of the pockmarks significantly influences cross-slope deformation. On this basis, we established a three-stage model of pockmark evolution.

We present a data-driven blueprint for engineering 4D seismic monitoring by integrating ultra-dense 3D surface seismic and vertical seismic profile (VSP) data at the Devine hydrogen test site with full-waveform modeling of 4D responses from reservoir simulations. Seismic data across a wide fold range (1–1600) are mined to quantify signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) and repeatability (normalized root mean square [NRMS]), producing fold versus quality curves and maps with quantified uncertainty. This transforms 4D survey design from guesswork into a structured engineering process. The shallow, weakly reflective Olmos target requires higher fold for reliable plume detection. Spatial S/N maps also reveal site-specific near-surface “thumbprints,” areas with degraded S/N and elevated NRMS due to shallow heterogeneity, that must be empirically mapped to enable robust 4D strategies. We establish a quantitative design framework by linking NRMS, S/N, and acquisition parameters through the standard acquisition equation, forming a modern “box test” for 4D feasibility. Applying this blueprint to the upcoming hydrogen injection shows that small volumes (approximately 2 tons) of hydrogen, a highly responsive seismic tracer, can be tracked via distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) VSP, crosswell DAS, and surface seismic. Full-waveform modeling confirms strong 4D signatures across all methods, with crosswell DAS offering unmatched spatial resolution for imaging plume geometry and saturation. This integrated workflow, grounded in field data and modeling, delivers a transparent, reproducible foundation for 4D survey design. As Devine becomes a shared hydrogen injection testbed for academia and industry, it provides a unique platform for benchmarking monitoring technologies under controlled conditions, accelerating innovation and public trust in subsurface energy solutions.

A new Upper Cambrian through Upper Cretaceous tectono-stratigraphic units framework has been developed for the southwestern portion of the Wadi Sirhan Basin in Jordan based on the interpretation and integration of key well results and a regional grid of 2D seismic data. Seismic lines through this area, tied to vertical seismic profiles from four wells, defines stratigraphic boundaries. All stratigraphic boundaries are based on fair-to-good continuous markers, with strong stratigraphic boundary reflectors. Seven tectono-stratigraphic units have been identified within the subregional geoseismic sections: tectono-stratigraphic unit A corresponds to the Lower–Middle Cambrian strata; tectono-stratigraphic unit B corresponds to the Upper Cambrian strata; tectono-stratigraphic unit C corresponds to the Lower–Middle Ordovician strata; tectono-stratigraphic unit D corresponds to the Upper Ordovician strata; tectono-stratigraphic unit E corresponds to the Silurian strata; tectono-stratigraphic unit F corresponds to the Lower Cretaceous strata; and tectono-stratigraphic unit G corresponds to the Upper Cretaceous strata. A geological model has been devised to illustrate the geometry of the tectonic structure and major fault sets where differing trends have been recognised. The Zakimat Al-Hasah Fault is a major E–W-trending fault downthrown to the north that must have been active as a normal fault formed during the Cretaceous, and was rejuvenated in recent time. Other major faults include a NW–SE-trending fault with a northeast downthrow; a NW–SE-trending fault with a southwest downthrow; a WNW–ESE-trending fault with both a south and a north downthrow; and an E–W- to ENE–WSW-trending fault with both a south and north downthrow. The tectono-stratigraphic model provides new constraints on potential structural style controls and illustrates the stratigraphic position of the accumulation features and more clearly demonstrates an explorationist’s interpretation of the origin and migration route of hydrocarbons.

Abstract Whether subducted seafloor topography can generate or inhibit large earthquakes is a long‐standing debate, primarily due to the lack of three‐dimensional constraints on megathrust morphology and frictional properties over large earthquake ruptures. The eastern Makran subduction zone is characterized by the subduction of the Little Murray Ridge and a strong segmentation in seismicity and large earthquake ruptures. By integrating 6,200 km of 2D seismic profiles and 50‐m‐resolution multibeam bathymetry with the critical wedge theory, we show that the ridge subduction has locally developed a rough plate interface, characterized by high apparent basal friction (0.09–0.14), and significant yield stress variations, while the non‐ridge segment exhibits a smooth plate interface, low (0.06), and less yield stress variation. These distinct structural and mechanical properties effectively controlled the rupture behavior of the 1945 Mw 8.1 and 2017 Mw 6.3 earthquakes, which were both facilitated by the smooth plate interface, but halted upon encountering the rough segment. Moreover, the 1945 Mw 8.1 earthquake nucleated at a basement high front, where the is elevated. This nucleation location, combined with the earthquakes rupture behavior, suggests that subducted topography can act as both an asperity and a barrier. To the best of our knowledge, the 1945 Mw 8.1 event is likely the largest instrumental event generated by a subducted topographic feature, contrasting with previously globally observed magnitude ∼7 events linked to rough asperities. Therefore, the earthquake potential associated with subducting topographic features has likely been underestimated in global active margins, and requires re‐evaluation.

The Anatolian Diagonal is a prominent left-lateral shear zone that plays a key role in the neotectonic framework of Türkiye, spanning 170 km between the Central Anatolian and East Anatolian fault zones and extending approximately 850 km from Erzincan to the Cyprus Arc. Its southwestern onshore termination is represented by the Ecemiş-Deliler Fault, while its offshore continuation, the Biruni Fault, trends toward the Cyprus Arc. This study aims to characterise the southwestern end of the Ecemiş-Deliler Fault through geomorphic markers, and to identify the Biruni Fault using key offshore seismic reflection profiles and geological cross-sections provided by Turkish Petroleum. Focal mechanism solutions for offshore seismic events are also examined to assess fault kinematics. Based on onshore observations, a left-lateral offset of 18 km along the Göksu River indicates a long-term slip rate of approximately 2.25 mm/year at the southwestern end of the Ecemiş-Deliler Fault. Offshore, detailed definition and mapping of the Biruni Fault revealed that it comprises a zone of closely spaced, parallel strike-slip segments in its northeastern sector, transitioning into a single linear fault trace that extends south westward toward the Aegean Arc. Despite its clear morphological expression, the southwest end of Ecemiş-Deliler fault and the Biruni Fault of the Anatolian Diagonal have low seismic activity, likely because most regional deformation is accommodated further west along the Antalya-Kekova Fault Zone and the Ptolemy–Pliny–Strabo Fault Zone. The restraining stepovers of the Antalya Thrust and Fethiye Thrust between these structures provide new insight into a slip partitioning in the eastern Mediterranean.

The Oligo-Miocene Asmari Formation is the most important reservoir unit in onshore SW Iran. It is more than 500 m thick in the central Zagros fold-and-thrust belt, decreasing in thickness southwards towards the offshore to less than 200 m in oil fields to the SE and NW of the Persian Gulf, and it does not extend over the Qatar Arch in the central area. Despite its reduced thickness offshore, the formation serves as the primary reservoir unit in a number of important structurally trapped fields, producing natural gas to the SE and oil in the NW. The formation also has stratigraphic potential because of its lithological heterogeneity. The Asmari succession in the Gavarzin gas field to the SE and the Abouzar oil field in the NW part of the Persian Gulf was cored, and the sedimentology and palaeontology of each section was recorded in detail. The Gavarzin core section consisted of 160 m of limestones comprising 10 sedimentary facies, with Ruplian–Chattian index foraminifera. The lower half of the formation is dominated by coralgal limestones of Rupelian age, whereas the upper half comprises Chattian-aged foraminiferal limestones with interbedded shales and marls. Deposition is interpreted to have occurred on a carbonate ramp with coral and red algal patch reefs representing a proximal mid-ramp area. Two third-order sedimentary sequences were identified: the RuS (Rupelian) and the ChS-1 (early Chattian) sequences. The Abouzar core section to the NW is 135 m thick and comprises three members: lower Asmari carbonates, Ghar Member sandstones and upper Asmari carbonates. The 90 m-thick Ghar Member is the main oil reservoir and is roughly twice the thickness of the two carbonate sections combined. The lower Asmari carbonates contain Chattian index foraminifera and, in the absence of Burdigalian microfossils, the Ghar Member and upper Asmari carbonates were assigned to the Aquitanian. The succession comprises eight microfacies and petrofacies, interpreted to have been deposited on a shallow-water carbonate ramp with a significant influx of clastics. Three third-order sequences have been defined of late Chattian (Ch-S sequence) and Aquitanian (AqS-1 and AqS-2 sequences) age. The regional stratigraphy and depositional history of the Asmari was assessed by correlating the Gavarzin and Abouzar sequences with equivalent sequences in 10 additional fields, along two offshore transects to the SE (transect A) and NW (transect B). Seismic reflector profiles highlight a clinoforming sequence on the SE transect, prograding towards the Lengeh Trough during the Rupelian and early Chattian. This is onlapped by Fars salt. The salt unit is barren of microfossils but is probably Chattian and Aquitanian in age. The NW transect suggests that the Asmari Formation and Ghar Member sandstones were largely confined to the Binak Trough.

Abstract Understanding the cause and location of the end‐points of thrust earthquake ruptures is critical yet unresolved question in seismic hazard assessment for convergent margins, where numerous destructive earthquakes have occurred. Here, we offer a novel perspective on rupture termination by examining the arrest of the 1906 M 8.0 Manas earthquake in northwestern China. Integrated field surveys, seismic profiles, and microseismicity data reveal that rupture terminated at the actively growing Xiaodushan anticline. This anticline lies parallel to and in the hanging wall of the seismogenic fault. We propose active folding acts as an efficient rupture‐arrest barrier, partitioning seismic energy into strata uplift and microseismicity. Furthermore, comparative analysis of global thrust earthquakes identifies two termination mechanisms: fault geometric complexities and external structural barriers. These findings contribute to deeper understanding of rupture lengths and earthquake magnitudes for seismic hazard assessment in convergent margins globally.

ABSTRACTThis study investigates the geothermal potential of the Artu prospect area within the Afar Depression by integrating high‐resolution full‐tensor gravity gradiometry (FTG) and two‐dimensional seismic reflection data. The FTG results highlight distinct gravity anomalies across the Adigala Basin, reflecting subsurface density contrasts associated with volcanic intrusions, complex fault systems and sedimentary layering. Seismic profiles reveal NNW–SSE‐trending normal faults that define the structural architecture of the basin and constrain the distribution of magmatic bodies and sedimentary sequences at depths ranging from 1.5 to 4.2 km, with two‐way travel times between 1.2 and 3.6 s. These fault systems, characterised by vertical displacements of up to 150 m, intersect with shallow magmatic intrusions, forming zones of enhanced permeability, key conduits for geothermal fluid migration. Thick porous Mesozoic sedimentary formations, interlayered with magmatic sills, emerge as promising geothermal reservoirs. Basin‐centred faults (BCFs), aligned with the Goba Magma Chamber (GMC), appear to play a critical role in heat transport and fluid circulation. The findings underscore the value of integrated gravity and seismic data to delineate fault‐volcanic intersections and identify viable geothermal targets. This integrated approach provides a solid foundation for future geothermal exploration in rift‐related settings such as the Adigala Basin.