The Southern North Sea Basin (SNS) contains the regional Zechstein megahalite, a highly deformed Upper Permian salt layer, which partly obscures the Palaeozoic basement structures. This study provides a comprehensive and systematic analysis of pre-salt basement fault trends in the SNS mapped at the top Rotliegend level. We utilize a consistent fault mapping methodology with seismic attribute-based fault mapping techniques and GIS-based image tracing. The results are compared with published maps from the Southern North Sea area. Data analysis is performed on a supra-regional time-migrated 3D seismic dataset located offshore Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Statistical directional analysis of fault trends in the study area confirms the published dominant NW-SE basement trend and allows quantifying its contribution at approximately 51% of all fault segments. Basement fault trend distributions in individual sub-basins in the SW SNS are highly similar and show a strong NW-SE trend dominance despite different tectonic histories of those sub-basins. This may imply their joint origin prior to Caledonian accretion of the Laurussian continent. In the NE sub-basins, NE-SW, W-E and N–S trends are locally important and may represent the structural inheritance of smaller pre-Caledonian terranes.

北海南部盆地 (SNS) 包含区域 Zechstein 巨盐岩，这是一个高度变形的上二叠纪盐层，部分掩盖了古生代基底结构。这项研究对绘制在 Rotliegend 顶部的 SNS 中的盐下基底断层趋势进行了全面和系统的分析。我们使用一致的断层绘图方法和基于地震属性的断层绘图技术和基于 GIS 的图像追踪。结果与北海南部地区公布的地图进行了比较。对位于荷兰和英国近海的超区域时间偏移 3D 地震数据集进行数据分析。研究区断层趋势的统计方向分析证实了已公布的主导 NW-SE 基底趋势，并允许量化其在所有断层段的大约 51% 中的贡献。SW SNS 中各个子盆地的基底断层趋势分布高度相似，尽管这些子盆地的构造历史不同，但显示出强烈的 NW-SE 趋势优势。这可能意味着它们在劳鲁士大陆的喀里多尼亚增生之前共同起源。在 NE 子盆地中，NE-SW、WE 和 N-S 趋势在局部很重要，可能代表较小的前加里东地体的结构继承。这可能意味着它们在劳鲁士大陆的喀里多尼亚增生之前共同起源。在 NE 子盆地中，NE-SW、WE 和 N-S 趋势在局部很重要，可能代表较小的前加里东地体的结构继承。这可能意味着它们在劳鲁士大陆的喀里多尼亚增生之前共同起源。在 NE 子盆地中，NE-SW、WE 和 N-S 趋势在局部很重要，可能代表较小的前加里东地体的结构继承。