Terrestrial heat flow and geothermal gradients in relation to hydrodynamics in the Alberta basin, Canada

Geothermal gradients in the Alberta part of the Western Canadian sedimentary basin have been studied on the basis of 55,244 bottom-hole temperature values from 28,260 petroleum exploration wells. Gradient estimates for different depth and stratigraphic intervals together with a study of the heat conductivity distribution indicate both regional heat flow variations and variations with depth. The regional hydrodynamics of the basin strongl influences both grad ifT gradient and heat flow increase with depth in water recharge areas to the west and decrease with depth in discharge areas to the north and east. The results indicate that heat flow in the central part of the basin should be approximately equal to the deep crustal heat flow.