Thermal evolution of the southern part of the Barents Sea (the Fedynsky Arch)

Abstract

The distribution of thermal conductivity, radiogenic heat generation and heat flow in the Barents Sea southern part, including the Fedynsky Arch, is analyzed. Models of deep temperatures controlling the catagenesis of organic matter thermal conditions are calculated. A 3D temperature model was built up to a 30 km depth, which allowed us to demonstrate cross-sectional temperature maps at various depths in the Earth’s crust. A comparison of the Barents Sea thermal field and seismotomographic model was carried out, which showed that the seismotomographic anomalies are caused by thermal inhomogeneities.

Keywords

• geothermics
• thermal and seismic tomography
• sedimentary basin
• oil and gas potential
• modeling