Thermal Structure of the Onshore Talara Basin, NW Peru

Andrés Ruzo
Southern Methodist University – Huffington Dept. of Earth Sciences Dallas, Texas, USA
[email protected]

The Talara Basin, a multi-stage outer arc basin that lies in the northern extreme of the Peruvian Volcanic Gap, represents an important area of hydrocarbon development. The primary purpose of this study is to create a high-resolution heat flow map of the onshore Talara Basin. Currently there exists published heat flow data for 3 sites within the Talara Basin. This study will add over 500 new sites using data collected from oil & gas wells. Geothermal gradients will be determined for each well using available temperature data—Equilibrium Temperature (EQT) Logs, Oilfield Temperature (OFT) Logs, and/or Bottom Hole Temperature (BHT) Data. An average thermal conductivity for each site will be determined based on the thermal conductivities of the formations present within the well, which will be obtained through analysis of cuttings, core, and rock samples. A heat flow value will then be determined for each individual well site using the geothermal gradients and thermal conductivities determined in analysis. Given successful results, temperature-at-depth maps will also be generated based on the heat flow data in this area. The results of this study will provide important thermal constraints for exploration and development within the Talara Basin, particularly as issues like kerogen maturation, location of hydrocarbon “kitchens,” and a detailed determination of the hydrocarbon window remain poorly constrained throughout the basin. Lastly, this represents a unique opportunity to further our understanding of the thermal regimes of outer arc basins, a sedimentary regime whose thermal regime is poorly understood.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90157©2012 AAPG Foundation 2012 Grants-in-Aid Projects