Evaluation of geothermal gradient and heat flow distribution in Delta State, Nigeria
About this article
Abstract
Geothermal and heat flow distribution study was carried out at eighteen locations in Delta State, Nigeria using data obtained from temperature logging and thermal conductivity measurements. The result from the study showed that the geothermal gradients of the area ranged between 25.47 and 31.16 °C/km while the mean geothermal gradient was obtained as 28.64 °C/km. This finding is an indication that the geothermal gradient of the area lies within the range interval commonly encountered in tectonically inactive regions. Results also showed that the heat flow values for the area ranged between 38.93 and 89.59 mWm-2 with a mean value of 62.70 mWm-2. This result is an indication of an enormous energy potential which can be utilized for many purposes including electricity generation. The result further revealed that the heat flow and geothermal gradient of the study area decreases southward toward the ocean. This is an indication that fluid migration path is to the south of the study area.
References
[1] W. Lowrie. “Fundamentals of Geophysics,” United Kingdom, Cambridge University Press, 1997.
[2] I. M. Kutasov and L. V. Eppelbaum. “Estimation of geothermal gradients from single temperature log-field cases.” Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 131-135, 2009.
[3] C. N. Nwankwo and A. S. Ekine. “Geothermal gradients in the Chad Basin, Nigeria, from bottom hole temperature logs.” International Journal of the Physical Sciences, vol. 4, no. 12, pp. 777-783, 2009.
[4] I. M. Kutasov and L. V. Eppelbaum. “A new method for determining the formation temperature for bottom-hole temperature logs.” J. Petro Gas Engr., 1(1): 001-008, 2010.
[5] S. O. Nwachukwu. “Approximate geothermal gradients in Niger Delta Sedimentary Basin.” AAPG Bulletin, vol. 60, no. 7, pp. 1073-1077, 1976.
View more references (9)
[6] I. O. Akpabio and J. E. Ejedawe. “Temperature Variations in the Niger Delta Subsurface from Continuous Temperature logs.” Global J. Pure Appl. Sci., vol. 7, pp. 137-142, 2001.
[7] A. F. Bayram, S. S. Gultekin and A. R. Sogut. “Specifications of thermal waters and their classification on the base of neural method: Examples for Simav geothermal area, Western Turkey.” International Journal of the Physical Sciences, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 43-51, 2011.
[8] M. G. Davies, D. S. Chapman, T. M. V. Wagoner and P. A. Armstrong. “Thermal Conductivity Anisotropy of Metasedimentary and Igneous Rock.” J. Geophys. Res., vol. 112, B05216, 2007.
[9] J. J. Gomes and V. M. Hamza. “Geothermal gradient and heat flow in the State of Rio De Janeiro.” Brazilian Journal of Geophysics, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 325-347, 2005.
[10] F. G. Awad, P. Sibanda, M. Narayana and S. S. Motsa. “Convection from a semi-finite plate in a fluid saturated porous medium with cross-diffusion and radiative heat transfer.” International Journal of the Physical Sciences. Vol. 6, no 21, pp. 4910-4923, 2011.
[11] E. E. Okwueze and A. O. Offong. “Seismic Refraction investigations of the foundation conditions of the rock/soil in parts of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.” Journal of Physics, vol. 4, pp. 114-124, 1992.
[12] O. Anomohanran. “The use of third degree polynomial for accurate conversion of Seismic time to depth and vice versa”, Journal of the Nigeria Assoc. of Mathematical Physics, vol. 8, 241-246, 2004.
[13] B. Norden and A. Forster. “Thermal conductivity and radiogenic heat production of sedimentary and magmatic rocks in the North East German Basin.” AAPG Bull., vol. 90, pp. 939-962, 2006.
[14] C. N. Nwankwo, A. S. Ekine and L. I. Nwosu. “Estimation of the heat flow variation in the Chad Basin Nigeria.” J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. Vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 73-80, 2009.