Burial history and thermal evolution of Westphalian coal-bearing strata in the Campine Basin (NE Belgium)

Abstract

A 1D-modelling program has been applied to reconstruct the burial and thermal histories of two exploration boreholes, KB172 and KB174, located in the Campine Basin. The results show differences in geological histories. The coalification of the Westphalian A and B strata in KB174 (0.66–0.98% Ro) was pre-Permian. Calculated maximum temperatures, based on borehole data and vitrinite reflectance, regional thicknesses and a heat flow of 84 mW/m2 during the Late Westphalian, range from 110 °C at the top to 175 °C at the bottom of the Westphalian cored in this borehole. The high coalification (0.85–1.30% Ro) of the Westphalian C and D strata in KB172 could be the result of the deposition of ∼2500 m of Upper Permian to Middle Jurassic sediments in combination with elevated heat flows (71–80 mW/m2). Two coalification periods, i.e. Late Westphalian and Middle Jurassic, are suggested for this borehole. The simulated maximum temperatures range from 130 °C at the top to 175 °C at the bottom of the investigated Westphalian C and D. The differences in the burial and thermal histories of both boreholes can be related to the activity of the transversal Donderslag Fault, a major structural element in the Campine coalfield, and the Roer Valley Graben.