Geothermics of the Malaysian sedimentary basins

Abstract

The objective of this study is to establish the thermal regimes and heat flow distribution in the Malay, Sarawak and Sabah sedimentary basins. This will assist in improving knowledge on the geology and hydrocarbon resources potential of these basins. A geothermal gradient database was created from well and temperature data of over 400 exploration and production wells. Measured thermal conductivity data from previous work were revised, while recently measured thermal conductivities of post-1980 wells were incorporated into the thermal conductivity database. A thermal conductivity table of average measured thermal conductivities corresponding with the different groups/cycles were created for each basin. Geothermics maps, consisting of geothermal gradient, thermal conductivity and heat flow, were produced. Results reveal a decreasing heat flow trend from west to east, with the Malay basin showing the highest heat flow and the lowest in the Sabah basin.