The subsurface temperature and heat flow of onshore and offshore Netherlands are 
subject of active study. Projects include the creation of a quality-controlled 
database of temperatures from released well data, correction of temperature 
measurements and the analysis and interpretation of temperature data. This paper 
provides an overview of these projects and presents some preliminary results of 
analysis and interpretation of the temperature data. 

Initial analysis and interpretation of the variations in temperature and temperature 
gradients at different scales reveal a close relation with spatial variations in 
bulk thermal conductivity of the Netherlands subsurface. 

Vertical variations in temperature gradients are widespread both at a regional scale 
and at well locations. The vertical changes in bulk thermal conductivity of the 
subsurface play an important role inducing these variations. The relatively low 
thermal conductivity of the Tertiary and especially the Quaternary sedimentary units 
of high porosity, and the high thermal conductivity of the Zechstein salts are 
important in this respect. The well known influence of salt structures on 
temperature was clearly identified from the temperature data from wells penetrating 
the Zechstein Group.

The regional distribution of temperature gradients reveals a difference between the 
temperature gradients in the Mesozoic basins, reaching magnitudes exceeding 32.5 
oC/1000m, and platform areas, where most gradients are less than 32.5 oC/1000m.

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