--> Thermal Maturation Modeling of the Michigan Basin

AAPG ACE 2018

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Thermal Maturation Modeling of the Michigan Basin

Abstract

Given present day heat flow and burial depths in the Michigan Basin, hydrocarbons should be immature. However, oil and gas are abundant within the basin. My goal is to test the hypothesis that thermal maturation distributions in the Michigan Basin can be explained by proximity from the Midcontinent Rift system, thermal cooling, free crustal convection, high temperature fluid advection, and overburden that has been eroded. In this work, this range of geodynamic models and two different paleo-surface temperature curves will be applied to multiple wells across the Michigan Basin. The wells are located at various distances from the Midcontinent Rift system and include a range of total sediment thickness. For each well a geohistory plot will be coupled with heat flow models to calculate the thermal and maturation histories of each sediment unit within the well. Backstripping will be performed in order to generate basement heat flow estimates. Time temperature index values will be calculated based on the thermal models. Comparison of calculated time temperature index values and available thermal maturation data from surrounding wells will be used to test the hypothesis. This project will reveal significant information on how thermal maturation of hydrocarbons across the Michigan Basin reached their present day values. These results will increase accuracy and precision in the pursuit of petroleum systems within the Michigan Basin.