Update and Review of Continental Conductive Surface Heat Flow Measurements in México: An Analysis of Deep Boreholes

• Published in: Natural resources research (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 981 - 1005
• Main Authors: Espinoza-Ojeda, O. M., Prol-Ledesma, R. M., Muñiz-Jauregui, J. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.06.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Boreholes; Chemistry and Earth Sciences; Computer Science; Data collection; Drilling; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Enthalpy; Flow measurement; Fossil Fuels (incl. Carbon Capture); Geography; Geothermal power; Geothermal resources; Heat; Heat flow; Heat storage; Heat transfer; Heat transmission; Mathematical Modeling and Industrial Mathematics; Mineral Resources; Organic matter; Original Paper; Parameters; Petroleum; Physics; Statistics for Engineering; Stratigraphy; Sustainable Development; Temperature profiles; Thermal evolution; Mexico; Petroleum boreholes; Geothermal plays; Thermal profiles; Geothermal energy; Heat flow; Geothermal boreholes; México
• ISSN: 1520-7439; 1573-8981
• DOI: 10.1007/s11053-023-10173-9

Conductive heat flow is an important parameter that is used to explain, directly or indirectly, several geological, geophysical and geochemical processes in the Earth´s interior. It is also one of the main input parameters for reliable estimations of resources related with geothermal and petroleum systems. That is because heat flow is used to describe subsurface temperature profiles and heat transfer mechanisms, thereby enabling the establishment of heat storage reserves in the case of geothermal systems and conditions of thermal maturation of organic matter in petroleum genesis. Since 2014, collection of data to estimate new continental conductive heat flow values in México has been an exhaustive scientific task. As a result, data from 4159 sites have been compiled, mostly from deep geothermal and petroleum boreholes. In this context, only 3,888 new geothermal gradient data were compiled and used to estimate new heat flow values. These new values complement the 702 continental heat flow values compiled and published between 1974 and 2021. Traditionally, all efforts to measure geothermal gradient in México have focused on the five high enthalpy geothermal fields under exploitation. Therefore, this continuous updating of the continental heat flow database would be an excellent input for Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis, enabling to define areas at a regional level with thermal anomalies and discovering new prospects, resulting in better knowledge of Mexican geothermal resources. Finally, the obtained data will help interested private and public entities to improve the geothermal exploration techniques in collaboration with academic institutions. Moreover, the scientific community interested in Earth science studies will benefit from this information with application to diverse research that involves the thermal evolution of the crust.