The aim of this project will be to develop a three dimensional model for heat transport in sedimentary basins. This process of conversion from primary organic material to hydrocarbons is known as maturation. The accurate assessment, and prediction, of the maturity and maturation history of hydrocarbon source rocks is of key importance to the oil industry when exploring for hydrocarbons in sedimentary basins like the North Sea. The maturation history of a source rock depends upon its heating history.
Temperature increases with depth of burial.
In most basins the vertical conduction of heat determines temperature variations and the amount of heat supplied to source rocks. This assumption is valid for most sedimentary basins. A number of important oil discoveries have been made during the past five years in the Faeroe-Shetland basin to the west of the British Isles. This area is now the main area of active hydrocarbon exploration in UK waters. This igneous activity would have had a major impact on the temperature structure and transport of heat in the sedimentary sucession of the Faeroe-Shetland basin, which includes important source rock horizons.