A Bottom-Hole Temperature Analysis in ThË American Midcontinent (Kansas): Implications to the Applicability of BHTS in Geothermal Studies

Abstract

Most boreholes drilled in the search for hydrocarbons record a BHT (Bottom-Hole Temperature). Unfortunately, these data represent disturbed formation temperatures and may be overlain by noise. Although the value is noted on the well record, sufficient information may not be recorded to apply one of the correction algorithms. In the densely drilled and thinly veneered sedimentary covered cratonic area of the North American Midcontinent, literally thousands of these values are available. If sufficient temperature values are available, an empirical correction factor can be used to calculate true formation conditions. Also, the raw BHTs can provide information about noise by mapping the data at different depth levels and for different units. Considering that the BHTs are relatively incorrect by the same amount, searching for abnormal values in a mass of BHT values becomes the objective of some studies In eastern Kansas, 15,000 BHT values are available for checking different influences and for relating the values to the geological and geothermal conditions. Several quantitative techniques are available to help in this evaluation, such as trend analysis and algebraic map These two techniques were applied to the eastern Kansas data set to evaluate the applicability of BHTs for the evaluation of the geothermal conditions of the area.