--> Abstract: Thermal Regime of the Congo Coastal Basin, by F. Brigaud; #90933 (1998).

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Abstract: Thermal Regime of the Congo Coastal Basin

Brigaud, Frederic - Elf E&P

Among the various questions petroleum exploration is always facing, one of the main problems to solve is to evaluate the thermal stress endorsed by the petroleum system during the burial history of the sediments. In order to understand and address which geological factors control the thermal regime in a sedimentary basin, all thermal parameters must be evaluated. In such a context, the present day thermal state within the basin is a key constraint with regard to any reconstruction back in time.

Analysis of the Congo coastal basin is performed using an in-house enhanced and integrated method for evaluating active heat transfer mechanisms. Data used are exploration wells temperature, lithostratigraphy, and geophysical well logs along with structural and facies maps. The interpretation is based upon estimates of equilibrium formation temperature, thermal conductivity, thermal gradient, heat flow and heat flow anomaly at well sites, on cross-sections and on maps. Evidences of controls on the distribution of heat within the sedimentary basin of phenomena developing at different scales are identified: sediments geometry, lateral lithofacies variations, basement topography and lithospheric structure. The predictive capabilities of the method are also illustrated.

An index, the TFI (Thermal Focusing Index), is used to « trace » the relationships between 3D heat focusing phenomena, thermal conductivity contrasts at units interface and geometry of the interface: a positive TFI is indicative of an updip positive transfer of heat next to the transfer zone, a negative one is linked to a downdip positive transfer.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90933©1998 ABGP/AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil