If we have measured bit rock interface temperature using thermocouple during drilling. By embedded the thermocouple in the rock sample. Then what is the major application for industry, manufacturer, for user etc.
On the other hand and apart from the above and in drilling operations, overpressure formatiops could be defined usign temperature curve while drilling.
We all know that temperature should increase with depth. measuring temperature can help us to monitor the formation in case of any anomaly. An abnormal temperature (i.e. one that doesn't obey the rule of temperature increasing with depth or a sudden kick) might be as a result of various characteristics and properties of the formation, one of which can be overpressure zone.
Temperature log measurement can be very important because it also helps the driller to make informed decision on the need to adjust the drilling mud in order to cool down the bit when a temperature kick occurs.
In fact, the use of this log type is very wide as it is also utilized to study the thermal history among many other uses Orkun Turgay
In addition, measuring temperature while drilling can help us in monitoring the fluid movements within the borehole. These movements can be inflow (formation fluids flow into borehole) or outflow (drilling fluids flow into the formation).
In the case of inflow:
The continuous flow of formation water or oil into the borehole produces high temperature anomalies, as these fluids are at the formation temperature which is higher than the temperature of the drilling mud. On the other hand, the gas flow into the borehole produces a low temperature anomaly (as a result of gas expansion while entering the borehole).
In the case of outflow:
The fractured zones can be identified as low temperature anomalies as the drilling fluid (which is cooler than the formation fluids) enters the formation causing a drop in the temperature.
I use BHA mud temperature to come up with a thermal profile that is used to correct the driller's pipe tally depth using a way-point based incremental correction. This thermally corrected depth is then the basis of the elastic stretch correction used in Driller's way-point Depth correction. It is also an input to the correction uncertainty for the depth measurement uncertainty. For details, see "Along-hole Depth" on www.lulu.com.
In deep wells, if bottom hole temperature has time to stabilise before running each string of casing then logging this max. and plotting temperature versus depth can provide a good estimate of geothermal gradient. This gradient surface intercept can then indicate whether the structure has been subject to uplift or subsidence in recent geological time. (see Geothermal gradient in Wikipedia).
In some depositional environments, increasing temperatures could cause considerable increase in background gas levels. This is also used to indicate secondary pressuring mechanism other than compaction disequilibrium which is the primary pressuring mechanism in geopressure modeling.
If we are considering the pure temperature effect from a bit rock interaction point of view, then I would say the bit/cutters' critical temperature would be one of the major applications, specifically for PDC bits. PDC cutters vary based on the manufacturer (diamond grit %, carbide %, cobalt %, or maybe leached PDC). Different cutters will have different rated critical temperatures, where acceding this threshold will initiate accelerated cutter wear.
The major application of borehole temperature measurement is wells is to help determine the real time temperature of the well and the rock-formation the bit is intercepting with. In collaboration with the geological structure and other physical well conditions. First, the result helps determine the type of intervention needed in order to cool the bit if there are excess heat. This might be done by applying carefully designed drilling muds among other measures.
With respect to the manufacturing industry, knowing the performance, durability and capacity of their bits with respect to depth, temperature and many other anomalies within the subsurface, might give them an insight into their produce and also provide a platform for targeted technological advances.
Apart from this, i believe there are other use of the data collected from the well, it is a vital part of the overall geological model and interpretation.