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

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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.