Shallow geothermal regime in the Perth Metropolitan Area

Abstract

Exploration of Perth's geothermal potential has been performed by the Western Australian Geothermal Centre of Excellence (WAGCoE). Detailed vertical temperature and gamma ray logging of 17 Western Australia Department of Water's (DoW) Artesian Monitoring (AM) wells was completed throughout the Perth Metropolitan Area (PMA). In addition, temperature logs from 53 DoW AM wells measured in the 1980s were digitised into LAS format. The logged data are available in the WAGCoE Data Catalogue.

Analysis of the gamma ray logs yielded the first estimates of radiogenic heat production in Perth Basin formations. Values by formation ranged between 0.24 and 1.065 μW m⁻³. The temperature logs provide a picture of true formation temperatures within shallow sediments in the Perth Basin. A three-dimensional model of the temperature distribution was used to produce maps of temperature at depth and on the top of the Yarragadee aquifer.

The temperature data were interpreted with a one-dimensional conductive heat model. Significant differences between the model and the observations was indicative of heat moving via non-conductive mechanisms, such as advection or convection. Evidence of non-conductive or advective heat flow is demonstrated in most formations in the region, with significant effects in the aquifers. Average conductive geothermal gradients range from 13°C km⁻¹ to 39°C km⁻¹, with sandstone formations exhibiting average gradients of approximately 25°C km⁻¹, while insulating silt/shale formations show higher average gradients of over 30°C km⁻¹.

To produce preliminary heat flow estimates, temperature gradients were combined with thermal conductivities measured elsewhere. The geometric mean heat flow estimates range between 64 mW m⁻² to 91 mW m⁻², with the standard deviation of the arithmetic mean heat flow ranging between 15 and 23 mW m⁻².

The study characterises the shallow temperature regime in the Perth Metropolitan Area, which is of direct relevance towards developing commercial geothermal projects.

Key Words:

• geothermal
• temperature logging
• Perth
• Western Australia
• radiogenic heat production
• heat flow
• conduction
• convection
• advection

Acknowledgements

The Western Australian Geothermal Centre of Excellence is funded by the Western Australian government, CSIRO, the University of Western Australia and Curtin University. This work was supported by Green Rock Energy Ltd and GT Power Pty. Ltd. Geoscience Australia graciously provided the logging equipment and training. The authors wish to thank the AJES reviewer and also Alex Kern from the WA DoW, who provided useful feedback on the content. Figure 2 was made with the TSCreator software package.