Thermal Accumulation Mechanisms of Deep Geothermal Reservoirs in the Moxi Area, Sichuan Basin, SW China: Evidence from Temperature Measurements and Structural Characteristics

Wenbo Yang, Weiqi Luo, Simian Yang, Wei Zheng, Luquan Zhang, Fang Lai, Shuang Yang and Zhongquan Li ()
Additional contact information
Wenbo Yang: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Weiqi Luo: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Simian Yang: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Wei Zheng: PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company, Chengdu 610051, China
Luquan Zhang: PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gasfield Company, Chengdu 610051, China
Fang Lai: School of Telecommunications Engineering, Sichuan Railway College, Chengdu 611732, China
Shuang Yang: School of History and Geography, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu 611130, China
Zhongquan Li: State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-21

Abstract: The Moxi area in the Sichuan Basin hosts abundant deep geothermal resources, but their thermal regime and accumulation mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using 2D/3D seismic data, drilling records, and temperature measurements (DST), we analyze deep thermal fields, reservoir–caprock systems, and structural features. The following are our key findings: (1) Heat transfer is conduction-dominated, with thermal anomalies in Late Permian–Early Cambrian strata. Four mudstone/shale caprocks and three carbonate reservoirs occur, with the Longtan Formation as the key seal. Reservoir geothermal gradients (25.05–32.55 °C/km) exceed basin averages. (2) Transtensional strike-slip faults form E-W/NE/NW networks; most terminate at the Permian Longtan Formation, with few extending into the Lower Triassic while penetrating the Archean–Lower Proterozoic basement. (3) Structural highs positively correlate with higher geothermal gradients. (4) The deep geothermal reservoirs and thermal accumulation mechanisms in the Moxi area are jointly controlled by crustal thinning, basement uplift, and structural architecture. Mantle-derived heat converges at basement uplift cores, generating localized thermal anomalies. Fault networks connect these deep heat sources, facilitating upward fluid migration. Thick Longtan Formation shale seals these rising thermal fluids, causing anomalous heating in underlying strata and concentrated thermal accumulation in reservoirs—enhanced by thermal focusing effects from uplift structures. This study establishes a theoretical framework for target selection and industrial-scale geothermal exploitation in sedimentary basins, highlighting the potential for repurposing oil/gas infrastructure.

Keywords: Sichuan basin; deep geothermal resources; structural characteristics; thermal accumulation mechanism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/3901/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/3901/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:15:p:3901-:d:1707145

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().