Mapping potential hydrocarbon zones using thermal remote sensing within the Voltaian Basin onshore Ghana

In this study, we present a remote-sensing workflow for delineating hydrocarbon-prone zones in Ghana’s underexplored Voltaian Basin. We used Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) imagery to derive three key thermal indicators: Land Surface Temperature (LST), Apparent Thermal Inertia (ATI), and Carbonate Index (CI). These were combined with faults to assess both surface signals and structural likelihoods for hydrocarbon migration and trapping. A land-use/land-cover (LULC) with a kappa of 0.8674 was generated to account for vegetation and anthropogenic thermal noise before analysis. The generated prospectivity map reveals high-potential zones around south of Ziong, north of Gushiegu, and north of Sang. Gravimetric and magnetic data were independently used to compare and validate the prospectivity outcomes. The result showed a strong spatial agreement within these target zones. By integrating multi-indicator thermal analysis, LULC filtering, structural data, and geophysical validation, this workflow offers a cost-effective tool for early-stage petroleum exploration in basins with limited data.