Theoretical research on gas seepage in the formations surrounding bedded gas storage salt cavern

When constructing salt cavern gas or petroleum storage in lacustrine sedimentary salt formations rich in mudstone interlayers, the influence of the sealing performance of interlayers and salt-mud interface on the storage tightness should be considered adequately. In order to reveal the gas seepage in deep formations surrounding bedded salt cavern underground storage, a leakage analysis model was established based on the characteristics of a low dip angle and the interbedded structure of bedded rock salt. The gas seepage governing equations for one-dimensional and plane radial flow were derived and solved. A gas seepage simulation experiment was conducted to demonstrate the accuracy and reliability of the theoretical calculation results. The error of the seepage range was approximately 6.70%, which is acceptable. The analysis and calculation results indicate that the motion equation of gas in deep formations satisfies a non-Darcy's law with a threshold pressure gradient and slippage effect. The sufficient condition for the gas flow to stop is that the pressure gradient is equal to the threshold pressure gradient.The relationship between the leakage range and operating time is a positive power function, that is, the leakage range gradually increases with time and eventually stabilizes. As the seepage range increases, the seepage pressure decreases sharply during the early stage, and then decreases gradually until the flow stops.Combining the research results with engineering applications, three quantitative evaluation indexes named the maximum admissible leakage range, leakage volume and leakage rate are proposed for the tightness evaluation of gas storage salt cavern during their operating stage. These indexes can be used directly in actual engineering applications and can be compared with the key design parameters stipulated in the relevant specifications. This work is expected to provide theoretical and technical support for the gas loss and tightness evaluation of gas storage salt caverns.

Dynamic simulation research on injection and withdrawal performance of underground salt cavern natural gas storage

Owing to perfect impermeability,dynamics stability,flexible and efficient operation mode and strong adjustment,underground salt cavern natural gas storage is especially adapted to be used for short-term dispatch.Based on characteristics of gas flow and heat transfer,dynamic mathematic models were built to simulate the injection and withdrawal performance of underground salt cavern gas storage.Temperature and pressure variations of natural gas in gas storage were simulated on the basis of building models during withdrawal operation,and factors affecting on the operation of gas storage were also analyzed.Therefore,these models can provide theore-tic foundation and technology support for the design,building and operation of salt cavern gas storage.

Stability of interbed for salt cavern gas storage in solution mining considering cusp displacement catastrophe theory

Cusp displacement catastrophe theory can be introduced to propose a new method about instability failure of the interbed for gas storage cavern in bedded salt in solution mining.We can calculate initial fracture drawing pace of this interbed to obtain 2D and 3D gas storage shapes at this time.Moreover,Stability evaluation of strength reduction finite element method(FEM)based on this catastrophe theory can used to evaluate this interbed stability after initial fracture.A specific example is simulated to obtain the influence of the interbed depth,cavern internal pressure,and cavern building time on stability safety factor(SSF).The results indicate:the value of SSF will be lower with the increase of cavern building time in solution mining and the increase of interbed depth and also this value remains a rise with the increase of cavern internal pressure Especially,we can conclude that the second-fracture of the interbed may take place when this pressure is lower than 6 MPa or after 6 days later of the interbed after initial fracture.According to above analysis,some effective measures,namely elevating the tube up to the top of the interbed,or changing the circulation of in-and-out lines,can be introduced to avoid the negative effects when the secondfracture of the interbed may occur.

Stability analysis of the pillars between bedded salt cavern gas storages by cusp catastrophe model

The failure of pillars between bedded salt cavern gas storages can be seen as processes that the deformations of pillars convert from continuous gradual change system to catastrophe state,which are typical nonlinear catastrophe problems.In the paper,the cusp catastrophe model is proposed to obtain the stability factors of pillars.It can overcome the shortages of traditional strength reduction finite element method(SR FEM) and greatly improve the accuracy of stability factors obtained by numerical simulations.The influences of cavern depth,gas pressure,pillar width,and time on the stability factors are studied.Y-1 and Y-2 salt cavern gas storages,located at Jiangsu province of China,were simulated as examples.The stability factors of pillars between Y-1 and Y-2 were evaluated,and the running parameters were recommended to ensure the pillars stability.The results showed that the cusp catastrophe model has high practicability and can precisely predict the stability factors.The stability factors are equidirectional with the increase of gas pressure and pillar width,but reverse to the increase of cavern depth and time.The stability factors of pillars between Y-1 and Y-2 are small for narrow widths,which are influenced greatly by gas pressure,time,pressure difference,and gas production rate.In order to ensure the safety of pillars,the lowest gas pressure,safe running time,max.pressure difference and max.gas production rate of Y-1 and Y-2 were recommended as 7 MPa,5 years,3 MPa,and 0.50 MPa/d,respectively.