--> Abstract: A Global Overview of the Temperature Gradients in Continental Basins and Their Relationship with Tectonic Settings; #90063 (2007)

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A Global Overview of the Temperature Gradients in Continental Basins and Their Relationship with Tectonic Settings

 

Steen, Øyvind1, Paul Nadeau1 (1) Statoil ASA, Stavanger, Norway

 

A dataset of c. 50 000 reservoir formation temperatures in c. 200 sedimentary basins on the continents world-wide have been analysed in order to characterise the thermal structure of sedimentary basins and their relationship with the tectonic settings. Attention was paid to the deeper temperature records (c. 39 000 below 800 m), which are less affected by near-surface thermal processes, particularly those related to recent climatic changes, ground water flow, as well as variable sedimentation rates.

 

Compared with heat flow datasets the current data has a larger degree of spatial similarity. The modelled temperature gradients show limited short-distance variation and reflect large-scale trends (high and lows) which generally fit with the present-day tectonic settings of the basins. Major changes of the temperature gradient is found between basins which are bounded by mega-scale tectonic features, for example active subduction zones and rift zones, and between basins of different kinematic origins (divergent, convergent, and wrench systems). Distinct trends of the temperature gradients are observed from the present-day basin types, of which young divergent basins and wrench basins display a warm trend and fore-arc- and foreland basins a cool trend. Positive correlations are observed between modelled seismological crustal thickness in certain basin types and variations in sub-surface thermal gradients.

 

The reservoir formation temperatures present here represent valuable information which can refine the thermal models of the crust underlying the sedimentary basins, as well as provide a basis for predicting the distribution of hydrocarbon resources in under-explored/frontier basins.

 

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90063©2007 AAPG Annual Convention, Long Beach, California