Subsurface Geophysical Characterization of the Crystalline Canadian Shield in Northeastern Alberta: Implications for Geothermal Development

• Author / Creator

  Chan, Judith S.

• In northern Alberta, existing heat flow and geothermal gradient studies suggest that using geothermal heat in oil sands processing would require deep drilling of the crystalline Canadian Shield. Using a 2.36 km deep borehole located near Fort McMurray, the goal of this study is to investigate the presence of any geological features that could act as fluid pathways for the development of an engineered geothermal system in the basement rocks. This is done by integrating the results from a comprehensive suite of geophysical borehole logs, seismic reflection surveys, zero-offset and walk-away vertical seismic profiles. The final results provide useful information on the in-situ physical properties of the rocks, depths to fracture zones and seismic reflectors, types of fractures, stress directions, and the acoustic responses of rock properties. Significant P-wave velocity anisotropy is also observed from the walk-away vertical seismic profile.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Geothermal energy
  • Geophysical characterization
  • Seismic reflection profile
  • Canadian Shield
  • Well logging
  • Vertical seismic profile

• Graduation date

  Fall 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3BR8MQ6B

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.