Burial and thermal history of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (Poland) constrained by maturity modelling : implications for coalification and natural gas generation

Maturity modelling was carried out using basin and petroleum system modelling (BPSM) software in the lithologic sections of 17 wells of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (Poland). The best fit between calculated and measured vitrinite reflectance (VR), porosity and density data was obtained by applying a thickness of eroded sedimentary overburden from 1700 m in the east to 4500 m in the west and relatively low to moderate heat flow values during the maximum late Carboniferous burial. These heat flow values were in the range 50-71 mW/m2