Factor

Importance (Order)

Qualifications

Overburden thickness

1^st

Always important

Heat flow

1^st

Always important

Thermal conductivity

1^st

Always important

Surface temperature

2^nd

Always important

Sedimentation

1^st

>100 m/m∙y.

2^nd

100 m/m∙y.

3^rd

10 m/m∙y.

Groundwater flow

Gravity driven

1^st - 2^nd

Foreland basin

Compaction driven

3^rd

Unless focused

Free convection

Unknown

Initial thermal event

1^st (0 - 20 Ma)

Rift basins only

2^nd (20 - 60 Ma)

3^rd (>60 Ma)