Authors / CoAuthors
Haynes, M.W. | Gerner, E.J. | Budd, A.R.
Abstract
Previous approaches to estimating the subsurface temperatures for the whole of the Australian continent have relied on the interpolation of direct temperature observations from mineral and petroleum boreholes, well completion reports and/ or measured and synthetic heat flow determinations. However, data points are scarce and unevenly distributed across the continent, which leads to the interpolation of observed temperatures across vast distances. The limited depth range of data points also means that shallow observations are often extrapolated to a depth of interest, using limited assumptions about geology at depth. Furthermore, the information available from some well completion reports can often lead to questions of data quality, particularly from older reports. A robust method for estimating temperatures in areas without direct observations is important as understanding the conditions required to generate anomalous temperatures will help to reduce geothermal exploration risk. It may also lead to identifying areas of potential that are currently unidentified due to the lack of availability of temperature data, or erroneous observations. A new approach for estimating continental-scale subsurface temperatures is currently being developed that relies on combining available proxy data using high-performance computing and large continental-scale datasets. The new modelling approach brings together the current national-scale knowledge of the datasets including the Moho, potential field geophysics, sedimentary basins, thermal conductivity, crustal heat production, and granite volumes and heat production. Bringing together such a range of datasets provides a geoscientific basis by which to estimate temperature in regions where direct observations are not available. Furthermore, the performance of computing facilities, such as the National Computational Infrastructure, is enabling insights into the nature of Australia's geothermal resources which had not been previously available. This includes developing an understanding of the errors involved in such a study through the quantification of uncertainties. Currently the new approach is being run at a pilot scale, however, initial results are encouraging. The pilot study has been able to reproduce the temperature trends observed in areas that have been heavily constrained by bore-hole observations. Furthermore, a number of areas have now been identified, due to the difference in their estimated temperature from previous methods, which warrant further study.
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nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
77401
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
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- External PublicationAbstract
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Earth Sciences
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- Published_Internal
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2013-01-01T00:00:00
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