Development of Downhole Geothermal Heat Flux and Thermal Conductivity Transducers

摘要

Two new transducers were developed which can be used in exploration holes to measure downhole geothermal heat fluxes and earth thermal conductivities. The first step in this effort consisted of analytically describing the performance characteristics of the transducers. Next, models of the transducers were built and tested in the laboratory, verifying the measurement concepts involved. Then a survey was made of possible sites where full-scale transducers could be tested in exploration holes. The two transducers were then fabricated and the test plan developed. Although some technical background material is outlined for the two transducers, the report primarily describes (1) the transducer field test effort at Middletown, (2) the downhole measurements made, and (3) the geothermal heat flux and thermal conductivity data derived from the transducer measurements. The results obtained by the two transducers are compared to each other and to other pertinent data. (ERA citation 05:010009)