Heat Flow Determinations and Geothermal Potential Assessment of the Australian Continent: Support for an Emerging Geothermal Industry

摘要

Current understanding of the temperature distribution at depth across the Australian continent is based on sparse and unevenly distributed borehole temperature measurements, and even fewer heat flow determinations. Heat flow determinations are superior to temperature-only measurements, because they incorporate thermal conductivity, allowing for more robust extrapolations of temperature to depth. To help improve the understanding of the temperature structure and geothermal potential of the Australian continent, the Geothermal Project at Geoscience Australia (GA), initiated under the Onshore Energy Security Program, is using a two-pronged approach.