Apparent thermal conductivity by geology obtained from thermal conductivity profiling

Abstract

Estimation of Apparent thermal conductivity by depth is suitable for evaluating the thermophysical properties of different geological formations. Thermal conductivity profiling (TCP) using heating cable and borehole was conducted total of 53 sites in Fukushima, Saga, and Okinawa Prefecture and data of apparent thermal conductivities were categorized by geology. The median values of apparent thermal conductivity for each sediment are generally consistent with literature values (“effective thermal conductivity”), respectively. Differences in the apparent thermal conductivities of granite and mudstone were observed between Fukushima Prefecture and other prefectures, respectively, suggesting that it is important to consider the regional characteristics of physical properties when evaluating the apparent thermal conductivity of a rock.