Evaluation of the Heat Flow in the Southern Alps During Mesozoic Extension: Implications for Hydrocarbon Exploration in the Po Plain Foredeep

Aeromagnetic dataset over Ikot Ekpene and environs, Eastern Niger Delta Basin, was processed to compute the basement depth, Curie isotherm depth, geothermal gradient and heat flow within the area in order to investigate the depth to magnetic sources, geothermal prospect and the hydrocarbon potential of the place. The adopted computational method transformed the spatial data into frequency domain and provided a relationship between radially average power spectrum of the magnetic anomalies and the depths to respective sources. The results of the analysis showed that the depths to centroids and top boundaries range from 7.84 to 13.38 km and 0.233 to 0.459 km respectively. Curie depths within the basin undulate and vary between 15.42 and 26.49 km. The geothermal gradients range between 20.758 and 35.649 ⁰C/km while the corresponding heat flow is about 51.896 mWm⁻² within east of Ikono, north of Mbak and west of Abak Areas and 89.124 mWm⁻² within Amawum, Ndoro, Isiala, Ogbuebule and east of Uyo Areas. Based on the computed sedimentary thicknesses, high geothermal gradients and delineated major faults and fractures which could serve as migratory pathway for hydrocarbon or hydrothermal fluid, some parts of the study area have been demarcated for geothermal prospect and detail hydrocarbon exploration.

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Thermal Modelling of the Extensional Mesozoic Succession of the Southern Alps and Implications for Oil Exploration in the Po Plain Foredeep

70th EAGE Conference and Exhibition incorporating SPE EUROPEC 2008 ◽

10.3997/2214-4609.20147544 ◽

2008 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

P. Scotti ◽

R. Fantori

Keyword(s):

Southern Alps ◽

Thermal Modelling ◽

Oil Exploration ◽

Po Plain

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Curie temperature depths in the Alps and the Po Plain (northern Italy): Comparison with heat flow and seismic tomography data

Journal of Geodynamics ◽

10.1016/j.jog.2016.03.012 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 98 ◽

pp. 19-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Fabio Speranza ◽

Liliana Minelli ◽

Alessandro Pignatelli ◽

Matteo Gilardi

Keyword(s):

Heat Flow ◽

Curie Temperature ◽

Seismic Tomography ◽

Northern Italy ◽

Po Plain ◽

The Alps ◽

Tomography Data

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Thermal and maturation history for Carboniferous source rocks in the Junggar Basin, Northwest China: implications for hydrocarbon exploration

Petroleum Science ◽

10.1007/s12182-019-00392-2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 36-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Di Hu ◽

Song Rao ◽

Zhu-Ting Wang ◽

Sheng-Biao Hu

Keyword(s):

Heat Flow ◽

Thermal History ◽

Thermal State ◽

Junggar Basin ◽

Hydrocarbon Exploration ◽

Source Rocks ◽

Hydrocarbon Generation ◽

Early Maturation ◽

Hydrocarbon Maturation ◽

History Of

AbstractThe reconstruction of thermal history is an important component of basin evolution and hydrocarbon exploration. Based on vitrinite reflectance data, we integrate the paleo-temperature gradient and paleo-heat flow methods to reconstruct the thermal history of Junggar Basin. Compared with present thermal state, the Junggar Basin experienced much a higher heat flow of ca. 80–120 mW/m2 during the Carboniferous. This feature can be attributed to large-scale volcanic events and related thermal effects. The hydrocarbon maturation history of Carboniferous source rocks indicates that the temperature rapidly reached the threshold of hydrocarbon generation during the Late Carboniferous and has never achieved such a high level since then. This characteristic resulted in the early maturation of hydrocarbons in Carboniferous source rocks. Meanwhile, the results reveal that hydrocarbon maturities are different among various tectonic units in Junggar Basin. The kerogen either rapidly broke through the dry gas period so that cracking of gas occurred or remained in the oil maturation window forming oil reservoirs, which depended on the tectonic background and depositional environment. In this study, we present the thermal and hydrocarbon maturation history since the Carboniferous, which has important implications for further hydrocarbon exploration in Junggar Basin.

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Magnetostratigraphic dating of an intensification of glacial activity in the southern Italian Alps during Marine Isotope Stage 22

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1016/j.yqres.2006.07.006 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

pp. 161-173 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Giovanni Muttoni ◽

Cesare Ravazzi ◽

Marzia Breda ◽

Roberta Pini ◽

Carlo Laj ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Energy ◽

Southern Alps ◽

Marine Isotope Stage ◽

Time Interval ◽

Po River ◽

Po Plain ◽

Alpine Valley ◽

Lithostratigraphic Units ◽

Physical Erosion ◽

Warm Temperate

AbstractWe applied magnetostratigraphy and mammal biostratigraphy to date climate-sensitive pollen cycles and lithostratigraphic units of the Pliocene–Pleistocene Leffe sedimentary succession from the Southern Alps, Italy. The Leffe section was correlated to additional sections (Casnigo, Fornaci di Ranica, and Pianengo) to construct a stratigraphic network along a common fluviatile system (the Serio River) sourced in the Southern Alps and flowing southward into the Po River Basin. We obtained a coherent scenario of climate variability for the last ∼ 2 Myr. At Leffe, lacustrine deposition commenced during the Olduvai Normal Subchron (1.94–1.78 Ma) and lasted up to a chronologic level compatible with Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 22 (0.87 Ma). Pollen analysis revealed that climate varied cyclically from warm-temperate to cool during this time interval, but never as cold as during glacial intervals. At around MIS 22, climate cooled globally. Gravels, attributed to high-energy braided river systems fed locally by alluvial fans, prograded from the Serio River catchment area over the Leffe Basin and toward the Po Plain in response to a generalized event of vegetation withdrawal and enhanced physical erosion. At this time, Alpine valley glaciers reached their first maximum southward expansion with glacier fronts located at only ∼ 5 km upstream from Leffe.

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