Abstract

AbstractBachu Uplift is one of the major oil prospect areas in Tarim basin. Its tectono‐thermal evolution significantly influences generation, migration and accumulation of hydrocarbon in this region. In this paper, we reconstructed buried histories of four seismic profiles spanning Bachu Uplift and rebuilt the tectono‐thermal history of this region by solving two‐dimensional heat conduction partial differential equation. During the simulation, we calculated the average heat flow value at Moho by using the “back stripping” method. Then we employed the principle of isostasy to compute the buried depths of Moho during geological periods, finally calculated the basement and surface heat flow of the basin. The numerical results show that the tectono‐thermal histories of this region can be divided into seven stages. The maximum geothermal gradient and heat flow appeared in the Triassic period, with values of 32 °C/km and 73.6 mW/m2, respectively and the minimum is present now with values of 20 °C/km and 46.4 mW/m2, respectively. Because of lateral thermal diffusion since Miocene, the calculated average heat flow value today is slightly greater than the actual value. At last, we discussed the influence of thermal conductivity and heat generation on thermal evolution of a basin.

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