Fault　recognition　is　an　important　section　in　seismic　interpretation　and　there　are　many　methods　for　this　technology,　but　no　one　can　recognize　fault　exactly　enough.　For　this　problem,　we　proposed　a　new　fault　recognition　method　based　on　ant　colony　optimization　which　can　locate　fault　precisely　and　extract　fault　from　the　seismic　section.　Firstly,　seismic　horizons　are　extracted　by　the　connected　component　labeling　algorithm;　secondly,　the　fault　location　are　decided　according　to　the　horizontal　endpoints　of　each　horizon;　thirdly,　the　whole　seismic　section　is　divided　into　several　rectangular　blocks　and　the　top　and　bottom　endpoints　of　each　rectangular　block　are　considered　as　the　nest　and　food　respectively　for　the　ant　colony　optimization　algorithm.　Besides　that,　the　positive　section　is　taken　as　an　actual　three　dimensional　terrain　by　using　the　seismic　amplitude　as　a　height.　After　that,　the　optimal　route　from　nest　to　food　calculated　by　the　ant　colony　in　each　block　is　judged　as　a　fault.　Finally,　extensive　comparative　tests　were　performed　on　the　real　seismic　data.　Availability　and　advancement　of　the　proposed　method　were　validated　by　the　experimental　results.　(C)　2018　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.