No abstract

In contrast to most other petrophysical parameters, intrinsic permeability for any single rock type varies by the decade rather than by the factor (see, for example, Bear [1972]). Both the type of measurement and its characteristic scale (that is, the rock volume over which an individual permeability value is integrated) are responsible for this. Brace [1980, 1984] compiled permeabilities of sedimentary (porous) and crystalline (fractured) rocks and pointed out that both types of rock exhibit a “scale effect”: the larger the experiment's scale, or characteristic volume, the greater the permeability. One other transport parameter, dispersion length or dispersivity, which is closely related to permeability, behaves similarly. There are both data compilations for dispersivity documenting this scale effect [Beims, 1983; Gelhar et al., 1985] and theoretical studies (such as Neumann [1990]) discussing possible scaling rules. An interesting conclusion by Neumann [1990], which is in good agreement with Brace's results, is that "porous and fractured media appear to follow the same idealized scaling rule for both flow and transport, raising a question about the validity of many distinctions commonly drawn between such media."

Estimating permeability from grain‐size distributions or from well logs is attractive but difficult. In this paper we present a new, generally applicable, and relatively inexpensive approach which yields permeability information on the scale of core samples and boreholes. The approach is theoretically based on a fractal model for the internal structure of a porous medium. It yields a general and petrophysically justified relation linking porosity to permeability, which may be calculated either from porosity or from the pore‐radius distribution. This general relation can be tuned to the entire spectrum of sandstones, ranging from clean to shaly. The resulting expressions for the different rock types are calibrated to a comprehensive data set of petrophysical and petrographical rock properties measured on 640 sandstone core samples of the Rotliegend Series (Lower Permian) in northeastern Germany. With few modifications, this new straightforward and petrophysically motivated approach can also be applied to metamorphic and igneous rocks. Permeability calculated with this procedure from industry porosity logs compares very well with permeability measured on sedimentary and metamorphic rock samples.

The identification and quantification of conductive and convective components in the heat transfer of a sedimentary basin is demonstrated for the Rheingraben. Three different methods of varying complexity as well as three independent data sets are employed: (1) energy budget considerations based on hydraulically perturbed thermal data from shallow boreholes (<500m), (2) 1-D vertical Peclet number analysis of thermal data from 22 deep boreholes (> lo00 m), and (3) 2-D finite difference modelling of the fully coupled fluid flow and heat transport equations on a vertical cross-section of the entire Rheingraben. Energy budget considerations yield a conductive basal heat flow density of 84 + 40/-10 mW mP2, and in good agreement with this Peclet number analysis, gives median values in the range 90 f 35 mW m-'.In the first case, the basement is formed by low permeable, tertiary sediments at about 500 m depth, and in the second by the transition from the sedimentary graben fill to the crystalline basement at depths of between 2000 and 4000m. It is shown how results from numerical modelling support the flow field assumptions made by methods (1) and (2), as well as the value of 80 f 10 mW m-' for average basal heat flow density entering the graben from below. Conversely, the Peclet number range Pe I 1.2 inferred from method (2) can be applied for a (at least partial) calibration of the fully coupled hydrothermal model calculatioris. This technique is suggested as a potentially interesting thermal method for constraining regional-scale permeability.An interpretation of heat transport is presented that satisfies the experimentally established patterns of both temperature and heat flow density in the Rheingraben. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the thermal anomalies along the western rim of the graben (such as Pechelbronn, France or Landau, Germany) can be convincingly explained by a basin-wide, deep rooted E-W groundwater circulation that locally enhances a background basal heat flow density of about 80 mW m-' on average by 50 per cent and at individual sites by as much as 120 per cent.

The relationships between thermal conductivity and other petrophysical properties have been analysed for a borehole drilled in a Tertiary Flysch sequence. We establish equations that permit us to predict rock thermal conductivity from logging data. A regression analysis of thermal conductivity, bulk density, and sonic velocity yields thermal conductivity with an average accuracy of better than 0.2 W(m K) -1 . As a second step, logging data is used to compute a lithological depth profile, which in turn is used to calculate a thermal conductivity profile. From a comparison of the conductivity-depth profile and the laboratory data it can be concluded that thermal conductivity can be computed with an accuracy of less than 0.3 W(m K) -1 from conventional wireline data. The comparison of two different models shows that this approach can be practical even if old and incomplete logging data is used. The results can be used to infer thermal conductivity for boreholes without appropriate core data that are drilled in a similar geological setting.

Abstract. An extensive geothermal research program within the German Continental Deep Drilling Program (KTB) covered an almost complete spectrum of experimental and theoretical aspects. The main results and conclusions are as follows: (1) Equilibrium temperature is 118.6øC at 4000 m in the KTB pilot borehole (KTB-VB) and will be around 260øC at 9100 m in the KTB main borehole (KTB-HB). Time required for thermal equilibration of the KTB-HB to within 1% of the initial perturbation will be about 13-16 years. for large rock volumes, but simple numerical models indicate that the associated temperature regimes are imcompatible with KTB borehole data. (6) Heat production rate shows no systematic variation with depth and is related to lithology at the KTB as in other deep boreholes in crystalline rock. Numerical models, using heat production rate derived from seismic velocities, yield temperatures compatible with KTB borehole data.

No abstract

S U M M A R YGround temperature histories (GTH) are inferred from temperature measurements in several boreholes of south-eastern Germany and western Bohemia (Czech Republic). The GTHs that can be extracted from these boreholes, ranging in depth between 150 and 700m, cover the past 250yr. Both data sets were inverted separately and yield consistent GTHs. They were also inverted jointly to yield a regional GTH of the past 250yr for this part of Europe. The results indicate two main episodes in the mean ground temperature with (1) a cooling period from 1750-1800 to 1930-1950, followed by (2) short colder and warmer periods until now. The same trends are found in the meteorological records at four nearby weather stations (Bayreuth, Jena, Munchen and Praha), but the meteorological record in Berlin is clearly distinct. The GTH for this part of Europe is also markedly different from one obtained in central France. These differences are consistent with the spatial variability of climatic trends.