| Title | Heat-Flow Continuation -- A Method to Delineate Geothermal Reservoirs |
|---|---|
| Authors | Brott, Charles A.; Blackwell, David D.; Morgan, Paul |
| Year | 1979 |
| Conference | Geothermal Resources Council Transactions |
| Keywords | Exploration; Heat Source; Conductive Gradient; Reservoir Definition; USA; Marysville; Montana; California; East Mesa; Conductivity; Heat Conduction; Extrapolation Model; Surface Heat Flow; Temperature Survey; Thermal Anomaly; NSF |
| Abstract | Preliminary work on sourceward continuation of heat flow data has been initiated with the objective of delineating geothermal reservoirs. A straightforward method of continuation of conductive heat flow in a homogeneous isotropic medium is developed. The method utilizes the surface heat flow data to estimate a subsurface temperature distribution from which isotherms are constructed. The basis for geothermal reservoir delineation is that the reservoir may be treat as a heat source; thus, subsurface isotherms converge around reservoirs. The spatial limits and behavior of the reservoir can in some cases be defined by the constructed isotherms. |