scholarly journals A thermal resistance method for computing surface heat flow and subsurface temperatures with application to the Uinta Basin of northeastern Utah

1982 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Chapman ◽  
Tim Keho
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flow ◽  
Thermal Resistance ◽  
Surface Heat ◽  
Uinta Basin ◽  
Resistance Method ◽  
Surface Heat Flow ◽  
Subsurface Temperatures

Heat flow in the Uinta Basin determined from bottom hole temperature (BHT) data

Geophysics ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Chapman ◽  
T. H. Keho ◽  
Michael S. Bauer ◽  
M. Dane Picard
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Heat Flow ◽  
Thermal Resistance ◽  
Geothermal Gradient ◽  
Surface Heat ◽  
Subsurface Temperature ◽  
The South ◽  
Uinta Basin ◽  
Surface Heat Flow ◽  
Bottom Hole

The thermal resistance (or Bullard) method is used to judge the utility of petroleum well bottom‐hole temperature data in determining surface heat flow and subsurface temperature patterns in a sedimentary basin. Thermal resistance, defined as the quotient of a depth parameter Δz and thermal conductivity k, governs subsurface temperatures as follows: [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is the temperature at depth z=B, [Formula: see text] is the surface temperature, [Formula: see text] is surface heat flow, and the thermal resistance (Δz/k) is summed for all rock units between the surface and depth B. In practice, bottom‐hole and surface temperatures are combined with a measured or estimated thermal conductivity profile to determine the surface heat flow [Formula: see text] which, in turn, is used for all consequent subsurface temperature computations. The method has been applied to the Tertiary Uinta Basin, northeastern Utah, a basin of intermediate geologic complexity—simple structure but complex facies relationships—where considerable well data are available. Bottom‐hole temperatures were obtained for 97 selected wells where multiple well logs permitted correction of temperatures for drilling effects. Thermal conductivity values, determined for 852 samples from 5 representative wells varying in depth from 670 to 5180 m, together with available geologic data were used to produce conductivity maps for each formation. These maps show intraformational variations across the basin that are associated with lateral facies changes. Formation thicknesses needed for the thermal resistance summation were obtained by utilizing approximately 2000 wells in the WEXPRO Petroleum Information file. Computations were facilitated by describing all formation contacts as fourth‐order polynomial surfaces. Average geothermal gradient and heat flow for the Uinta Basin are [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively. Heat flow appears to decrease systematically from 65 to [Formula: see text] from the Duchesne River northward toward the south flank of the Uinta Mountains. This decrease may be the result of refraction of heat into the highly conductive quartzose Precambrian Uinta Mountain Group. More likely, however, it is related to groundwater recharge in late Paleozoic and Mesozoic sandstone and limestone beds that flank the south side of the Uintas. Heat flow values determined for the southeast portion of the basin show some scatter about a mean value of [Formula: see text] but no systematic variation.

scholarly journals Subsurface temperature from seismic reflection data: application to the post break up sequence offshore Namibia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arka Dyuti Sarkar ◽  
Mads Huuse
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Heat Flow ◽  
Seismic Reflection ◽  
Surface Heat ◽  
Passive Margin ◽  
Petroleum Exploration ◽  
Subsurface Temperature ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Surface Heat Flow ◽  
Subsurface Temperatures

Accurate estimations of present-day subsurface temperatures are of critical importance to the energy industry, in particular with regards to geothermal energy and petroleum exploration. This paper uses seismic reflection observations of bottom-simulating reflections and subsurface velocities coupled with an empirical velocity to thermal conductivity transform to estimate subsurface temperature in a process dubbed reflection seismic thermometry. The case study is a frontier passive margin extending from the shelf edge to deep water in the central Lüderitz Basin, offshore Namibia. The bottom simulating reflector is used to derive surface heat flow. The thermal conductivity model was applied to seismic processing velocities to determine the subsurface thermal conductivity. Knowledge of surface heat flow and thermal conductivity structure allowed us to estimate subsurface temperatures across the study area. The results suggest the Lüderitz Basin has a working hydrocarbon system with the inferred Aptian Kudu source interval within the gas generation window.

Thermal regime of the lithosphere in the Canadian ShieldThis article is one of a series of papers published in this Special Issue on the theme Lithoprobe — parameters, processes, and the evolution of a continent.

2010 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Perry ◽  
Carmen Rosieanu ◽  
Jean-Claude Mareschal ◽  
Claude Jaupart
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flow ◽  
Heat Generation ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
Surface Heat ◽  
Canadian Shield ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Seismic Velocities ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Surface Heat Flow ◽  
Mantle Heat Flow

Geothermal studies were conducted within the framework of Lithoprobe to systematically document variations of heat flow and surface heat production in the major geological provinces of the Canadian Shield. One of the main conclusions is that in the Shield the variations in surface heat flow are dominated by the crustal heat generation. Horizontal variations in mantle heat flow are too small to be resolved by heat flow measurements. Different methods constrain the mantle heat flow to be in the range of 12–18 mW·m–2. Most of the heat flow anomalies (high and low) are due to variations in crustal composition and structure. The vertical distribution of radioelements is characterized by a differentiation index (DI) that measures the ratio of the surface to the average crustal heat generation in a province. Determination of mantle temperatures requires the knowledge of both the surface heat flow and DI. Mantle temperatures increase with an increase in surface heat flow but decrease with an increase in DI. Stabilization of the crust is achieved by crustal differentiation that results in decreasing temperatures in the lower crust. Present mantle temperatures inferred from xenolith studies and variations in mantle seismic P-wave velocity (Pn) from seismic refraction surveys are consistent with geotherms calculated from heat flow. These results emphasize that deep lithospheric temperatures do not always increase with an increase in the surface heat flow. The dense data coverage that has been achieved in the Canadian Shield allows some discrimination between temperature and composition effects on seismic velocities in the lithospheric mantle.

scholarly journals Estimation of Curie-point depths, geothermal gradients and near-surface heat flow from spectral analysis of aeromagnetic data in the Loum – Minta area (Centre-East Cameroon)

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 1291-1299
Author(s):  
Jean Aimé Mono ◽  
Théophile Ndougsa-Mbarga ◽  
Yara Tarek ◽  
Jean Daniel Ngoh ◽  
Olivier Ulrich Igor Owono Amougou
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Analysis ◽  
Heat Flow ◽  
Curie Point ◽  
Surface Heat ◽  
Aeromagnetic Data ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Geothermal Gradients ◽  
Surface Heat Flow

scholarly journals Surface heat flow and lithosphere thermal structure of the Rhenohercynian Zone in the greater Luxembourg region

Geothermics ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 93-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Schintgen ◽  
Andrea Förster ◽  
Hans-Jürgen Förster ◽  
Ben Norden
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flow ◽  
Thermal Structure ◽  
Surface Heat ◽  
Surface Heat Flow ◽  
Rhenohercynian Zone

Deep temperatures and surface heat flow distribution

2001 ◽  
pp. 65-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Della Vedova ◽  
Stefano Bellani ◽  
Giulio Pellis ◽  
Paolo Squarci
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flow ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Surface Heat ◽  
Surface Heat Flow

Extreme variability of Tibetan thermal lithosphere 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing Xia ◽  
Irina Artemieva ◽  
Hans Thybo
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flow ◽  
High Surface ◽  
Surface Heat ◽  
Moho Depth ◽  
Yangtze Craton ◽  
Surface Heat Flow ◽  
The North ◽  
Indian Lithosphere ◽  
Extreme Variability ◽  
Seismic Models

<p>We present a thermal model for the lithosphere in Tibet and adjacent regions based on the new thermal isostasy method and our compilation of the Moho depth based on published seismic models. The predicted surface heat flow is in agreement with the few available, reliable borehole measurements. Cratonic-type cold and thick lithosphere (200-240 km) with a surface heat flow of 40-50 mW/m<sup>2</sup> typifies the Tarim craton, the north-western Yangtze craton, and most of the Lhasa Block that is possibly refrigerated by underthrusting Indian lithosphere. The thick lithosphere of the Lhasa block extends further north in its western and eastern segments than in its central section. We identify a North Tibet anomaly with a thin (<80 km) lithosphere and high surface heat flow (>80-100 mW/m<sup>2</sup>), possibly associated with the removal of lithospheric mantle and asthenospheric upwelling. Other parts of Tibet have an intermediate lithosphere thickness of 120-160 km and a surface heat flow of 45-60 mW/m<sup>2</sup>, with a patchy style in eastern Tibet. In the Qaidam deep sedimentary basin the lithosphere is about 100-120 km thick. The heterogeneous thermal lithosphere beneath Tibet suggests an interplay of several mechanisms as the driver of the observed uplift.</p>

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