be used as a measure of the time/temperature index.
The temperature history is an important parameter in
basin modelling because it influences the sediment
density and therefore the rate of subsidence and the
generation of hydrocarbons, and also the reservoir
quality. The sediment density is increased by porosity
reduction during diagenesis and mineral dehydration.
Heating however causes a slight expansion of the
minerals and density reduction.
The heat flow and the geothermal gradients may
change over geologic time and that complicates basin
modelling. In subsiding basins, however, it is the geothermal gradients during the last part of the subsidence
which are most important. In the North Sea Basin we
may have had relatively high geothermal gradients in
late Jurassic times, but both the source rocks and the
reservoir rocks were then only buried to rather shallow
depths and the temperatures were still relatively low,
except close to volcanic intrusions and hydrothermal
activity.
Further Reading
Allen, P.A. and Allen, J.R. 2013. Basin Analysis. Principles and
Play Assessment. Wiley. 619 pp.
Bethke, C. 1985. A numerical model of compaction-driven
groundwater flow and heat transfer and its application to
the paleohydrology of intracratonic sedimentary basins.
Journal of Geophysical Research 90, 6817–6828.
Bethke, C.M., Deming, D., Nunn, J.A. and Evans, D.G. 1990.
Thermal effects of compaction-driven ground water flow
from overthrust belts. Journal of Geophysical Research 95,
6669–6683.
Bjørlykke, K., Mo, A. and Palm, E. 1988. Modelling of thermal
convection in sedimentary basins and its relevance to
diagentic reactions. Marine and Petroleum Geology 5,
338–351.
Demongodin, L., Pinoteau, B., Vasseur, G. and Gable, R. 1991.
Thermal conductivity and well logs: A case study in
the Paris Basin. Geophysical Journal International 105,
675–691.
Evans, D.G. and Nunn, J.A. 1989. Free thermohaline convection in
sediments surrounding a salt column. Journal of Geophysical
Research 94, 12413–12422.
Harrison, W.J. and Summa, L.L. 1991. Paleohydrology of the
Gulf of Mexico Basin. American Journal of Science 291,
109–176.
Hermanrud, C., Eggen, S. and Larsen, R.M. 1991. Investigations
of the thermal regime of the Horda Platform by basin
modelling: Implication for the hydrocarbon potential of the
Stord basin, northern North Sea. In: Spencer, A.M. (ed.),
Generation, Accumulation and Production of Europe’s
Hydrocarbon. European Association of Petroleum
Geoscientists, Special Publication 1, Oxford University
Press, Oxford, 65–73.
Midttømme, K., Roaldset, E. and Aagaard, P. 1997. Thermal
conductivities of argillaceous sediments. In: Mcann, D.M.,
Eddleston, M., Fenning, P.J. and Reves, G.M. (eds.), Modern
Geophysics in Engineering Geology. Geological Society
Special Publication 12, pp. 355–363.
Person, M. and Garven, G. 1992. Hydrologic constraints of
petroleum generation within continental rift basins: Theory
and application to the Rhine Graben. AAPG Bulletin 76,
466–488.
9 Heat Transport in Sedimentary Basins
277
The temperature history is an important parameter in
basin modelling because it influences the sediment
density and therefore the rate of subsidence and the
generation of hydrocarbons, and also the reservoir
quality. The sediment density is increased by porosity
reduction during diagenesis and mineral dehydration.
Heating however causes a slight expansion of the
minerals and density reduction.
The heat flow and the geothermal gradients may
change over geologic time and that complicates basin
modelling. In subsiding basins, however, it is the geothermal gradients during the last part of the subsidence
which are most important. In the North Sea Basin we
may have had relatively high geothermal gradients in
late Jurassic times, but both the source rocks and the
reservoir rocks were then only buried to rather shallow
depths and the temperatures were still relatively low,
except close to volcanic intrusions and hydrothermal
activity.
Further Reading
Allen, P.A. and Allen, J.R. 2013. Basin Analysis. Principles and
Play Assessment. Wiley. 619 pp.
Bethke, C. 1985. A numerical model of compaction-driven
groundwater flow and heat transfer and its application to
the paleohydrology of intracratonic sedimentary basins.
Journal of Geophysical Research 90, 6817–6828.
Bethke, C.M., Deming, D., Nunn, J.A. and Evans, D.G. 1990.
Thermal effects of compaction-driven ground water flow
from overthrust belts. Journal of Geophysical Research 95,
6669–6683.
Bjørlykke, K., Mo, A. and Palm, E. 1988. Modelling of thermal
convection in sedimentary basins and its relevance to
diagentic reactions. Marine and Petroleum Geology 5,
338–351.
Demongodin, L., Pinoteau, B., Vasseur, G. and Gable, R. 1991.
Thermal conductivity and well logs: A case study in
the Paris Basin. Geophysical Journal International 105,
675–691.
Evans, D.G. and Nunn, J.A. 1989. Free thermohaline convection in
sediments surrounding a salt column. Journal of Geophysical
Research 94, 12413–12422.
Harrison, W.J. and Summa, L.L. 1991. Paleohydrology of the
Gulf of Mexico Basin. American Journal of Science 291,
109–176.
Hermanrud, C., Eggen, S. and Larsen, R.M. 1991. Investigations
of the thermal regime of the Horda Platform by basin
modelling: Implication for the hydrocarbon potential of the
Stord basin, northern North Sea. In: Spencer, A.M. (ed.),
Generation, Accumulation and Production of Europe’s
Hydrocarbon. European Association of Petroleum
Geoscientists, Special Publication 1, Oxford University
Press, Oxford, 65–73.
Midttømme, K., Roaldset, E. and Aagaard, P. 1997. Thermal
conductivities of argillaceous sediments. In: Mcann, D.M.,
Eddleston, M., Fenning, P.J. and Reves, G.M. (eds.), Modern
Geophysics in Engineering Geology. Geological Society
Special Publication 12, pp. 355–363.
Person, M. and Garven, G. 1992. Hydrologic constraints of
petroleum generation within continental rift basins: Theory
and application to the Rhine Graben. AAPG Bulletin 76,
466–488.
9 Heat Transport in Sedimentary Basins
277