Outline

Temperature In the Earth

Why does temperature increase with depth? Geothermal Gradient Sources of Heat Physics of heat transfer Heat Flow Equation Role of Thermal Conductivity Sedimentary Basins and Salt Domes Heat transport by fluids T measurements in wells

Internal Heat
Temperature increases with depth Evidence?

Depth (km)

Hotsprings Volcanoes Deep mines [at 3200m, 150 F (65 C)] Oil wells Metamorphic rocks

Change of Temp with Depth 25 C / kilometer (continental average) ~23 F / 1000 ft Varies with tectonic setting

Geothermal Gradient

Te m pe rature (C)

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Sources of Heat

Thermal Gradient

Radioactive elements in rocks produce heat Uranium (235U) Lead (205Pb)+ heat Thorium (232Th) Lead (208Pb)+ heat Potassium (40K) Argon (40Ar) and Calcium (43,44C) + heat

Geothermal Gradient

Physics of Heat

Heat? Agitation of the atoms Kinetic energy (at the atomic scale) Heat Flow? Heat transfer per unit area Transfer of the agitation of the atoms Heat moves from hot to cold

Experiment: Drink Hot coffee from metal cup and china cup

Heat Flow Equation

Thermal Conductivity

q = -k . dT/dz
Heat flow (mW/m2) Thermal Gradient

Heat Flow Through a Layer

Surface Heat Flow

T1 (cold) Material Property (k= conductivity) q = -k . dT/dz Heat Flow q T2 (hot)

Heat transferred per unit area 40 70 mW/m2 depending on tectonic setting ~50 mW/m2 continental average 50% from crust, 50% from mantle

The Oil Window

Range of temperatures where maturation occurs: 60o 120o C
Te m pe rature (C)

Role of Thermal Conductivity

K (conductivity) W/moC Rock Type (Steel Salt Dolomite Granite Limestone Sandstone Shale Coal Water K 46) 5.5 5.5 3.5 2.8 - 3.5 2.6 - 4.0 1.5 3.0 0.3 0.6

0 0 1 2 3
Depth (km)

60o

100

120o

200

300

55 oC
16
oC

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

/km

~ 3 W/moC

20 o C/ km

Role of Conductivity

High K Rapid Heat Transfer Low Thermal Gradient Low K Slow Heat Transfer High Thermal Gradient

m /k

Effect of K variations
Temperature Sandstone K=2.5

Depth

T1 (cold) High K T2 (hot) Low K

Salt

K=5.5

Sandstone

K=2.5

Sedimentary Basin

Hydrodynamic Effects

Water transports heat with it, or takes it away

T K=2.5 Shale

K=3.5 Granite

Constant Heat Flow

Gamma Ray log

low high
5550

Thermal log
low high

Temperature Measurements in Wells

Measure bottom hole T during each logging run

5600

Gas Sand

Thermal response to gas inflow

T1 T2 T3

5650

Temperature Disequilibrium

Horner Plot

During drilling, they pump drilling mud down the well to control pressure Drilling fluid cools the wellbore

Equilibrium Temp

T T Time (days)

t= time since end of mud circulation dt= time of circulation at that depth

0.1

dt/(t+dt)

Take home ideas

Average geothermal gradient is about 25oC/km or 23oF/1000 ft Oil window is at about 1,500 m (5,000 ft) to 4,800 m (16,000 ft) depth Radioactive elements are heat source Oil window is at 2-5 km (6000-16000 ft) depth approx. Low conductivity rocks lead to high thermal gradient and vice versa Moving fluids disturb the thermal structure Bottom-hole temperatures are not in equilibrium due to mud circulation, need to be corrected