Characteristics of Deep Groundwater Flow and Temperature in the Tertiary Pohang Area, South Korea

Abstract

The geothermal characteristics of specific areas on Earth can be identified using geophysical and lithological logs based on deep boreholes, such as those more than 1000 m in depth. Based on the combined analyses of geophysical logs (temperature, caliper, electrical conductivity (EC), and natural gamma-ray logs) and lithological logs, as well as 1D steady-state heat transfer model, the deep groundwater flow and temperature were characterized in four deep boreholes (BH-1–BH-4) roughly 2000 m deep in the area of Heunghae-eup, Pohang, South Korea. The estimated thermal gradients from the temperature profiles are as follows: 22.37–30.77 °C/km for BH-1, 35.67–64.52 °C/km for BH-2, 40.85–46.44 °C/km for BH-3, and 33.33–35.71 °C/km for BH-4. According to the geophysical logs and lithology profiles, the groundwater mainly flows into and out of the boreholes through the basic dyke, rhyolite, and sandstone/mudstone. Evidently, the groundwater flows moving through the fractures and faults induce nonlinear temperature changes. The upward and downward groundwater flows passing through fractures and faults can be estimated using a 1D steady-state heat-transfer equation, by considering a fracture angle based on the lithological and geophysical profiles. To determine the direction (up/down) and rate of groundwater flow, the values for the parameter β were estimated as follows: −1.95 to 5.40 for BH-1, −13.48 to 4.87 for BH-2, −1.76 for BH-3, and −3.39 to 14.15 for BH-4.