Radioactive heat generation and heat flow in the Indian shield

Using a laboratory gamma-ray spectrometer, 160 rock samples from different heat flow sites in India have been analysed for their U, Th and K contents. Heat generation has been estimated for the significant rock types. Of the six regions covered by this study, correction due to heat generation contrast and geologic structure was found necessary and has been applied in two regions. Heat flow/heat generation plots for two regions in the southernmost part of the shield follow the line characteristic of a normal continental heat flow province. The plots for the other four regions indicate a heat flow province with an intercept of 0.92 HFU and a slope of 14.8 km. From data available at present, these parameters are higher compared to those from the other shields. The higher parameters imply a higher temperature and heat flow at the Moho, indicating a region of “hotter” upper mantle in the Indian shield.     

Terrestrial heat flow in various parts of India

Results of heat flow studies made in different parts of India including Kolar Gold Field, Cuddapah basin, Singhbhum thrust zone, Aravalli mountain system of Precambrian age, Godavary valley of Mesozoic age and Cambay basin of Cenozoic age are discussed. Heat flow has been found to be low in the southern part of the Preambrian shield. Relatively higher values have been obtained along the northeastern (Singhbhum) and the northwestern parts of the shield (Aravallies). High heat flow has been found along the southeastern part of the Godavary valley and the Cambay basin. The correlation of heat flow with geology and tectonic history in the respective areas is discussed.     

辽东地区和海城地震区的地热观测

1980年至1984年间,在辽东地区和海城地震区,我们利用地质、冶金和化工部门的一批勘探钻孔,观测了这些井孔不同深度的温度,由此获得它们沿深度方向的温度梯度.同时,从这些观测孔取得岩样,在实验室中测定它们的热导率,从而得到每个钻孔的热流值.我们一共得到23口钻孔的热流数据,其中包括海城地震区的两个热流观测孔.这些热流值可粗略地给出海城地震区和辽东地区的热结构.结果表明,平行郯庐断裂的辽阳——熊岳北东条带具有相对高的热流值,平均热流为8.2910-2J/m2s(2.0cal/cm2s).这个条带恰好是下辽河盆地和辽东山地的交界,它与重力异常梯度带显示的北东向上地幔隆起带一致.海城地震区的平均热流值达9.2210-2J/m2s(2.2 cal/cm2s),又是高热流值条带上热流最高的区域.比较海城地震区已知的其它地球物理资料后,给出了该地区地球物理资料的综合解释剖面.我们推测,海城地震区下,地壳中的低速层是由于上地幔物质的大规模侵入产生的.高温和低速意味着该层具有塑性力学性质.海城地震震源区恰好位于这样一个塑性状态的介质层上部.这个结果对于研究海城地震和其它板内地震的形成过程无疑是有意义的.我们试图强调,对于地震研究而言,热流观测是地球物理观测中不可缺少的组成部分.地热资料      

Geothermal gradients and heat flow in the Beaufort-Mackenzie Basin,Arctic Canada

Thermal gradients have been calculated and heat flow estimates made for 34 petroleum exploration wells along four regional profiles crossing the Mesozoic-Cenozoic Beaufort-Mackenzie Basin of northern Canada. The geothermal gradients vary from 22 mKm^–1 to 44 mKm^–1. Four sets of possible thermal conductivity values were used to calculate a range of heat flow values for each well. Generally low heat flow is observed in wells within the deeper portions of the basin and higher heat flow values occur in wells along the Aklavik Arch Complex which forms the southeastern margin of the basin.The contribution to heat flow by heat generation below the Mesozoic-Cenozoic basin fill sediments has been considered. The heat flow contribution from sub-Mesozoic sedimentary strata and underlying basement is highest along the basin-bounding Aklavik Arch Complex. The decrease in heat flow from below the basin fill sediments toward the basin depocenter may be related to basinward crustal thinning and corresponding reductions in intra-crustal radiogenic heat production.     

Heat flow in the Ozark Plateau, Arkansas and Missouri: relationship to groundwater flow

Heat flow values were calculated from direct measurements of temperature and thermal conductivity at thirteen sites in the Arkansas-Missouri Ozark Plateau region. These thirteen values are augmented by 101 estimates of heat flow, based on thermal conductivity measurements and temperature gradients extrapolated from bottom-hole temperatures. The regional heat flow profile ranges from 9 mW m⁻² to over 80 mW m⁻², but at least two distinct thermal regimes have been identified. Seven new heat flow determinations are combined with three previously published values for the St. Francois Mountains (SFM), a Precambrian exposure of granitic and rhyolitic basement rocks, average 47 mW m⁻². Radioactive heat production of 76 samples of the exposed rocks in the SFM averages 2.4 μW m⁻² and a typical continental basement contribution of 14 mW m⁻² is implied. Conversely, the sedimentary rock sequence of the plateau is characterized by an anomalously low heat flow, averaging approximately 27 mW m⁻². Groundwater transmissivity values that are based on data from 153 wells in deep regional aquifers demonstrate an inverse relationship to the observed heat flow patterns. The areas of high transmissivity that correspond to areas of low total heat flux suggest that the non-conservative vertical heat flow within the Ozark sedimentary sequence can be attributed to the effects of groundwater flow.     

塔里木盆地巴楚隆起区构造-热演化历史研究

巴楚隆起是塔里木盆地重要勘探地区之一,其构造-热演化史制约着该区烃的生成、运移及聚集.本文在恢复巴楚地区4条地震解释剖面沉积埋藏史的基础上,通过求解热传导方程,计算了它们的构造-热演化历史.计算过程中首先利用"回剥"法,确定莫霍面处的热流值,再利用地壳重力均衡原理,求得各时期的莫霍面埋深,最终确定盆地基底热流和地表热流.结果表明,该地区构造-热演化可以划分为7个阶段,其中三叠纪热演化阶段地温梯度及地表热流达到最高值,分别为32 ℃/km和73.6 mW/m²,而现今地温梯度及地表热流值最低,分别为20 ℃/km和46.4 mW/m².计算得出的现今地表热流密度值略大于实测值,分析认为主要由于中新世以来,巴楚隆起区侧向热扩散加快了地表热流的衰减所致.最后在模拟基础上,探讨了生热率、热导率对盆地热演化的影响.     

Alteration of the groundwater thermal regime caused by advection

ABSTRACT

Groundwater temperature at an arbitrary depth and at an arbitrary point is determined not only by heat transported by conduction but also by advection caused either by infiltration of rain, snowmelt or irrigated water, or by seepage from surface water bodies. Therefore, characteristic changes of groundwater temperature are observed in recharging and discharging areas within a groundwater flow system. The changes may be one-, two-, or three-dimensional, depending on individual situations. Since heat is a conservative quantity in the subsurface environment, groundwater temperature can be used as a tracer to reveal the regional structure of a groundwater flow system. A case study showing the importance of groundwater temperature in a regional groundwater survey is presented taking Nagaoka plain, Japan, as an example. The groundwater temperatures were measured in observation wells with diameters of 65 to 250 mm and depths of 20 m or more. Marked seasonal changes in temperature depth profiles showing advective effects in the horizontal direction from the Shinano River, and in the vertical direction from upper and lower aquifers, were observed. The temperature depth profiles were classified into six types. The distribution of these types does not contradict the regional structure of the groundwater flow system revealed by the potential distribution. As groundwater temperature is an easily measureable element in a hydrological survey, the method described in the present paper is appropriate for a field study in an uninstrumented groundwater basin.     

江汉盆地热流史、沉积构造演化与热事件

江汉盆地是我国前新生代海相油气勘探的重要领域之一,为研究海相烃源岩的热演化史提供地热学参数,以镜质体反射率(Ro)为古温标进行热史反演,获得了盆地的热流史.印支运动以前,盆地基底热流为50～55mW/m2;晚印支－早燕山期,热流整体升高;不同构造单元达到最高古热流的时间不同,潜北断裂以北,157Ma左右达到最高古热流（～72 mW/m2）,潜北断裂以南,43 Ma左右达到最高古热流（71～76 mW/m2）;晚喜山期,热流迅速降低,盆地快速冷却.盆地热流史和沉积构造演化、岩浆活动热事件的耦合关系表现为:印支运动以前,海相盆地稳定建造阶段为统一的低热流背景,岩浆活动微弱;晚印支－早燕山期,构造活动性增强产生深部热搅动,热流整体升高;中燕山期挤压改造变形阶段热流值的高低受控于岩浆活动热事件的分区表现,盆地基底热流表现为北降南升;晚燕山－早喜山期,陆相伸展盆地建造与叠加改造阶段,岩浆活动热事件的区域特征决定热背景分区;晚喜山期,盆地萎缩,为热流值降低的冷却过程.     

Groundwater temperature evolution in the subsurface urban heat island of Cologne,Germany

Long‐term heating of shallow urban aquifers is observed worldwide. Our measurements in the city of Cologne, Germany revealed that the groundwater temperatures found in the city centre are more than 5 K higher than the undisturbed background. To explore the role of groundwater flow for the development of subsurface urban heat islands, a numerical flow and heat transport model is set up, which describes the hydraulic conditions of Cologne and simulates the transient evolution of thermal anomalies in the urban ground. A main focus is on the influence of horizontal groundwater flow, groundwater recharge and trends in local ground warming. To examine heat transport in groundwater, a scenario consisting of a local hot spot with a length of 1 km of long‐term ground heating was set up in the centre of the city. Groundwater temperature‐depth profiles at upstream, central and downstream locations of this hot spot are inspected. The simulation results indicate that the main thermal transport mechanisms are long‐term vertical conductive heat input, horizontal advection and transverse dispersion. Groundwater recharge rates in the city are low (<100 mm a^?1) and thus do not significantly contribute to heat transport into the urban aquifer. With groundwater flow, local vertical temperature profiles become very complex and are hard to interpret, if local flow conditions and heat sources are not thoroughly known. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heat flow in the southwestern Okinawa Trough

Lying to the southeast of the East China Sea continental shelf, the Okinawa Trough is believed to have been formed by crustal spreading behind the Ryukyu island arc. It has the highest mean heat flow among the Pacific marginal basins. The mean of 18 reliable measurements is3.34±2.75HFU. The next highest mean heat flow for a marginal basin is2.53±1.60HFU for the Fiji Plateau. The high mean value for the Okinawa Trough may be partially attributable to a sampling bias because most measurements were made in or near the well-sedimented central “rift” or graben. The reported values range from 0.36 to 10.49 HFU, with low values probably resulting from hydrothermal circulation in an area of large relief. The high heat flow suggests that the age of the Okinawa Trough may be as young as 2 Ma. Such an estimate is in gross agreement with the inferred Plio-Pleistocene age for the drifting in the Okinawa Trough. The opening of the Okinawa Trough may continue onto Taiwan but the relation between the opening of the trough and the occurrence of a nearby, onshore geothermal resource area remains unsolved.     

Hydrology of a headwater basin wetland: Groundwater discharge and wetland maintenance

The link between groundwater and surface hydrology in a small headwater drainage basin in the zone of glacial deposition of southern Ontario south of the Precambrian Shield was examined for two years. The basin is situated in a discharge zone of a regional aquifer and contains a small treed spring-fed swamp. The swamp exists because of the groundwater and has little effect on the maintenance of streamflow. Groundwater input to the swamp is an order of magnitude larger than precipitation. Groundwater of local and regional origin passes through the swamp by two routes: surface streamlets, where groundwater that emerges at specific seepage points in the swamp is conveyed over the ground surface with little interaction with the swamp itself, and by diffuse seepage in the swamp and through the bed of the stream. While the diffuse seepage input is the smaller component of groundwater it maintains the swamp's saturation. Groundwater input to the swamp from the specific seepage points and diffuse flow varies little over a year; therefore the saturation of the swamp and baseflow from the basin display little seasonal variation compared to other wetland types. The existence of the valley bottom in the headwater basin alters the seasonal and storm hydrology and is important to biogeochemical transformation of emerging groundwater.     

The thermal regime of the San Juan basin since late cretaceous times and its relationship to San Juan mountains thermal sources

Heat-flow and coal-maturation data suggest that the thermal history of the San Juan Basin has been influenced by magmatic and volcanic activity in the San Juan Mountains-San Juan volcanic field located to the north of the Basin. Time-dependent isothermal step models indicate that the observed heat flow may be modelled by a (near) steadystate isothermal step extending from 30–98 km depth whose edge underlies the northern San Juan Basin. The observed maturation levels of the Fruitland formation coals in the northern and central Basin, however, require more heat than can be associated with conduction from a deep thermal source (steady-state step) and from the shallow crustal batholith which underlies the San Juan volcanic field. Magmatic activity within the Basin does not appear to be a reasonable source of additional heat. Increased burial depths of the coals may explain some of the elevated maturation levels observed in the central and northern Basin, but it seems likely that an additional source of heat is still required. Heat advection by groundwater movement may have influenced the coal maturation levels in the Basin as well. Both magmatic activity associated with the emplacement of the San Juan batholith and elevated geothermal gradients associated with the steady-state thermal source at depth may have contributed to heating of the groundwater. An appreciation of heat advection by groundwater flow may therefore be most important to understanding regional patterns of heat flow and hydrocarbon maturation.     

Effects of urbanization and groundwater flow on the subsurface temperature in Osaka, Japan

Subsurface temperatures were analyzed to evaluate the effects of urbanization and groundwater flow in Osaka, the second largest metropolitan in Japan. The temperature-depth profiles were classified into three (recharge, intermediate and discharge) types based on the thermal gradient, shape of the profiles, and temperature itself. The locations of the three types of profiles represent the places of regional and local groundwater flow systems in Osaka plain. The analyses of subsurface temperature using heat conduction-convection theory under the condition of surface warming showed that the depth of minimum temperature in the profile increased with the groundwater recharge rate and time lapse from the beginning of surface warming due to urbanization. Comparisons between observed and estimated temperature profiles showed that the surface warming due to urbanization is larger and occurred earlier in the middle of the city than those in surrounding area, which agreed with the air temperature records.     

A heat flow survey on anomaly M0 south of the Bermuda Rise

We have obtained a suite of 42 closely spaced, acoustically navigated, heat flow measurements on well-sedimented crust of anomaly M0 age (109 Ma) in the northwest Atlantic Ocean (25°N, 68°W; 950 km south of Bermuda). The mean and standard deviation of the values obtained are 1.13 HFU (μcal/cm² s) (47.3 mW/m²) and 0.05 HFU (2.1 mW/m²), respectively. Some of the variability is accounted for by refractive effects of the basement topography. Drill core data and our modelling suggest that the thermal conductivity contrast between sediments and basement rocks in this region is less than a factor of 1.6. The mean heat flow is close to the 1.1 HFU (46 mW/m²) predicted by both the plate and boundary layer cooling models of the oceanic lithosphere. This is the first detailed comparison with theoretical cooling models on old Atlantic Ocean crust. Since the difference in surface heat flow (0.15 HFU) predicted by the two cooling models for the oldest observed oceanic lithosphere (180 Ma) is also not much larger than the range of uncertainty in our observations, discrimination between the two models on the basis of surface heat flow data alone may prove difficult.     

REGIONAL GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION IN EGYPT*

Although Egypt is not characterized by abundant Cenozoic igneous activity, its location in the northeastern corner of the African plate suggests that it may possess geothermal resources, especially along its eastern margin. Regional geothermal exploration has been carried out in Egypt using the thermal gradient/heat flow technique and groundwater temperature/chemistry technique. In the thermal gradient/heat flow study, existing oil-well bottom-hole temperature data as well as subsurface temperature measurements in existing boreholes were utilized before special thermal gradient holes were drilled. Groundwater temperature and chemistry data were used to extend the geographic range of the direct subsurface thermal measurements. On a very modest budget, a regional thermal high has been discovered along the eastern margin of Egypt, and a local thermal anomaly has been discovered in this zone. Published geological information suggests that the sandstones of the Nubian Formation may be a suitable reservoir for geothermal fluids. The new data indicate that temperatures of 150°C or higher may be found in this reservoir in the Gulf of Suez and Red Sea coastal zone where it lies at a depth of 4 km and deeper.     

Using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and tritium (3H) to estimate groundwater age and flow velocity in Hohhot Basin,China

The concentrations of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC‐11, CFC‐12 and CFC‐113) and tritium (³H) content in groundwater were used to date groundwater age, delineate groundwater flow systems and estimate flow velocity in the Hohhot basin. The estimated young groundwater age is fallen in the bracket of 21 ~ 50 a and indicates the presence of two different age profiles and flow systems in the shallow groundwater system. Older age waters occur under the topographically low areas, where the aquifer is double‐layer aquifer system consisting of shallow unconfined‐semi‐confined aquifer and deep confined aquifer. This reflects long flow paths associated with regional flow. Groundwater (range from 21 to 34 years) in the north piedmont and east hilly areas, where the aquifer is a single‐layer aquifer consisting of alluvial fans, are typically younger than those in the low areas. The combination of CFCs dating with hydrogeological information indicates that both local and regional flow systems are present at the basin. The regional groundwater flow mainly flows from the north and east to the southwest, the local groundwater flow system occurs nearby the Hohhot city. The mean regional groundwater flow velocity of the shallow groundwater is estimated about 0.73 km/a. These findings can aid in refining hydrogeological conceptual model of the study area. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

共和盆地恰卜恰地热区现今地热特征

恰卜恰地热区位于青海共和盆地的东北部,是我国重要的具有干热岩地热资源勘探开发潜力的地区之一.自2013年起,不同的研究者针对该区开展了大量地球物理探测工作,然而现今地热场的研究相对较少.本文基于4口干热岩钻孔的稳态测温资料和81块岩芯样品的热导率测试数据,计算了研究区4个大地热流值.研究结果表明：研究区基底花岗岩层现今地温梯度为39.0~45.2℃·km^-1,平均值为41.3℃·km^-1,大地热流值介于93.3~111.0 mW·m^-2之间,平均值为102.2 mW·m^-2,与我国主要的克拉通型盆地（如柴达木盆地、四川盆地和鄂尔多斯盆地）和新生代裂谷型盆地（如渤海湾盆地）相比,该区属于青藏高原高热流背景下的局部异常高地温梯度和高大地热流区.分析认为,研究区高地热异常可能暗示共和盆地浅部（20 km以浅）存在局部异常热源体（岩浆囊）.     

渤海湾盆地新生代以来构造-热演化模拟研究

渤海湾盆地是华北最大的新生代裂谷盆地,具有最完整的新生代地层记录,是研究盆地演化的理想区域.本文基于二维多期拉张模型,对渤海湾盆地内9条地震解释剖面进行新生代构造-热演化模拟,以揭示盆地拉张强度及热演化的时空差异性,为探讨盆地演化的地球动力学机制提供依据.研究结果表明:渤海湾盆地各坳陷新生代期间的总拉张系数为1.28～2.39,渤中坳陷和辽东湾坳陷的总拉张系数最大,而辽河坳陷和临清坳陷的拉张系数最小.盆地基底热流在古近纪中、晚期达到峰值71～100mW·m-2,之后逐渐降低至现今.盆地西部热流峰期出现的时间早于东部.由盆地拉张系数和基底热流的研究结果得出,渤海湾盆地新生代的拉张有着自西向东,自南向北的迁移,与沉积、沉降中心的迁移方向一致.太平洋板片新生代期间的幕式向东后撤可能是造成渤海湾盆地幕式拉张及拉张中心向东迁移的主要动力学机制.     

川东南焦石坝页岩气区现今地温场特征

四川盆地是我国重要的含油气区,关于盆地现今地温场的工作,前人已经做过一些研究.而对于近年来页岩气勘探取得突破性进展的川东南焦石坝地区,现今地温场的研究工作甚少.本文基于川东南高陡褶皱带焦石坝页岩气区新增的3口钻井的稳态测温数据和118块岩石样品热导率数据,计算了研究区的地温梯度和大地热流值.结合前人的研究成果,编制了研究区大地热流等值线图.结果表明,焦石坝页岩气区地温梯度介于24~34℃/km,大地热流值介于60~70mW·m~(-2)之间,与川中古隆起相似,属于地温高异常区.地温高异常缘于隆起区相对高的岩石热导率引起的浅部热流的重新分配.其次,与位于研究区东侧边界的齐岳山大断裂在燕山和喜山期的构造引起的热液活动有关.焦石坝页岩气区地温高异常对页岩气的解吸附速率具有促进作用,对提高采收率具有一定意义.     

江汉盆地南部热史与下志留统海相烃源岩成熟度演化研究

应用含油气盆地热史模拟系统, 对江汉盆地南部的钻井资料进行了模拟计算, 恢复了研究区的热史和埋藏史. 在此基础上, 正演了下志留统烃源岩成熟度的演化史. 研究结果表明,江汉盆地在印支期(240 Ma)以前处于稳定的低热流(50～55 mW/m²)状态, 印支期后热流开始整体升高. 潜北断裂以北地区的热流在中燕山期(155 Ma)达到峰值(～72 mW/m²), 断裂以南的热流在晚燕山期(40 Ma)达到峰值(～76 mW/m²). 晚喜山期后, 整个研究区的热流快速下降, 盆地开始冷却. 早三叠世末, 下志留统烃源岩在枝江、当阳、沔阳凹陷一带率先进入生油门限, 早侏罗世至早白垩世末烃源岩进入快速增熟期, 成熟度具有北高南低的特征. 晚白垩世末, 烃源岩热演化特征表现为东强西弱. 到了新近纪末, 烃源岩热演化终止. 研究区热史恢复和下志留统烃源岩成熟度演化的研究为合理评估烃源岩生烃量、排烃量和油气资源量提供了科学依据.