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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Bulletin

Abstract


Volume: 66 (1982)

Issue: 5. (May)

First Page: 608

Last Page: 609

Title: Correlation of Thermal Conductivity with Physical Properties Obtained from Geophysical Well Logs: ABSTRACT

Author(s): Paul S. Molnar, Dennis Hodge

Article Type: Meeting abstract

Abstract:

Thermal maturation studies of hydrocarbons in sedimentary basins require knowledge of the regional heat flow. Thermal conductivity data are necessary in deriving heat-flow estimates, but at present the only method available for obtaining conductivity values is by individual sample measurement in the laboratory. Many of the physical properties that are measured during geophysical well logging of petroleum boreholes are related to the same properties that determine thermal conductivity. The object of this study has been to derive an empirical relation in order to determine thermal conductivities from well-log data alone.

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Three boreholes in New York State were investigated, all of which had porosity, sonic velocity, and electrical resistivity well-log data available. Thermal conductivities of drilling chips were measured on a needle probe apparatus. These data were correlated with the geophysical well-log data using multiple linear regression statistics.

An empirical relation for eastern New York State is K = -42.5 ^phgr + 0.31 × 10-1 ^Dgrt + 0.12 × 10-3 ^agr + 3.24 where K is thermal conductivity in watts/moC, ^phgr is porosity in percent, ^Dgrt is the interval transit time in µsec/ft, and ^agr is electrical resistivity in ohms m2/m. A goodness of fit of 0.885 and a multiple correlation coefficient of 0.941 indicate that the technique can be used for analysis of the variation in temperatures in the subsurface.

The data fell into two groups: (1) clastics with thermal conductivities ranging from 3.39 w/moC to 3.92 w/moC; and (2) nonclastics with thermal conductivities ranging from 3.04 w/moC to 4.89 w/moC.

The evaluation of temperatures in sedimentary basins can be greatly enhanced if empirical relationships are established for particular areas.

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