Abstract

Geothermal and heat flow distribution study was carried out at eighteen locations in Delta State, Nigeria using field data obtained from temperature logging and thermal conductivity measurements. The study shows that the geothermal gradients for the area ranges from a minimum of 25.47°C/km to a maximum of 31.16°C/km and a mean geothermal gradient of 28.64°C/km. This result indicates that the geothermal gradient falls within the range interval typical of the gradients commonly encountered in tectonically inactive areas. The study also shows that the heat flow ranges from 38.93 to 89.59 mWm^-2 with a mean heat flow of 62.70 mWm^-2. The study reveals that the heat flow and geothermal gradient of the study area decreases southward toward the ocean. This implies that fluid migration path is to the south of the study area.

Key words: Heat flow, geothermal gradient, temperature, thermal conductivity, bottom-hole temperature.