Abstract
Temperature, temperature gradient and heat flow, derived from four wells in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin have been compared with similar quantities derived from maps constructed from industrial data. Individual industrial temperature data may differ from the high-resolution temperature log by up to 30 K, but linear regression of the collected data agrees within 10 K at all points observed. Some evidence suggests that measured conductivities, using drill-cuttings, are biased toward average values. Derived heat flows show agreement of heat flow within 10% within the Mesozoic section. In the Paleozoic section differences are greater, and more varied, with insufficient data for general conclusions. Both styles of measurement provide opportunities for interpretation, each contributing to thermal analysis of sedimentary basins.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bachu, S. (1988),Analysis of Heat Transfer Processes and Geothermal Pattern in the Alberta Basin, Canada, J. Geophys. Res.93, 7767–7781.
Garland, G. D., andLennox, D. H. (1962),Heat Flow in Western Canada, Geophys. J. Astr. Soc.,6, 245–262.
Hitchon, B. (1984),Geothermal Gradients, Hydrodynamics, and Hydrocarbon Occurrences, Alberta, Canada, Bull. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol.68, 713–743.
Jessop, A. M., andVigrass, L. W. (1989),Geothermal Measurements in a Deep Well at Regina, Saskatchewan, J. Volc. Geothermal Res.37, 151–166.
Jones, F. W., Majorowicz, J. A., andLam, H. L. (1985),The Variation of Heat Flow Density with the Depth in the Prairies Basin of Western Canada, Tectonophysics121, 35–44.
Majorowicz J. A., andJessop, A. M. (1981),Regional Heat Flow Patterns in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, Tectonophysics,74, 209–238.
Majorowicz, J. A., Jones, F. W., Lam, H. L., andJessop, A. M. (1984),The Variability of Heat Flow Both Regional and with Depth in Southern Alberta, Canada: Effect of Groundwater Flow? Tectonophysics106, 1–29.
Majorowicz, J. A., Jones, F. W., Lam, H. L., andJessop, A. M. (1985),Terrestrial Heat Flow and Geothermal Gradients in Relation to Hydrodynamics in the Alberta Basin, Canada, J. Geodyn.4, 265–283.
Majorowicz, J. A., Jones, F. W., andJessop, A. M. (1986),Geothermics of the Williston Basin in Relation to Hydrodynamics and Hyrocarbon Occurrences, Geophysics51, 767–779.
Majorowicz, J. A., Jones, F. W., andJessop, A. M., (1988),Preliminary Geothermics of the Sedimentary Basins of the Yukon and Northwest Terriories 60°N–70°N-Estimates from Petroleum Bottom-hole Temperature Data, Bull. Can. Petrol. Geol.36, 39–51.
Sass, J. H., Lachenbruch, A. H., andMunroe, R. J. (1971),Thermal Conductivity of Rocks from Measurements on Fragments and its Application to Heat-flow Determinations, J. Geophys. Res.76, 3391–3401.
Taylor, A. E., Burgess, M. M., Judge, A. S., andAllen, V. S. (1982),Canadian Geothermal Data Collection — Northern Wells 1981, Earth Physics Branch, Geothermal Series13, 153 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jessop, A.M. Comparison of industrial and high-resolution thermal data in a sedimentary basin. PAGEOPH 133, 251–267 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00877162
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00877162