Comparison of industrial and high-resolution thermal data in a sedimentary basin

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.