Key issues in water sealing performance of underground oil storage caverns: Advances and perspectives

Water sealing performance is important for underground water-sealed oil storage(UWSOS).The key issues concerning water sealing performance mainly include the permeability of fractured rock mass(FRM),water-sealed safety(WSS),water curtain performance,and prediction and control of water inflow.This paper reviews the progress of above four key issues on water sealing performances.First,the permeability of an FRM is the basis of water sealing performance,and several commonly used permeability test methods and spatial variation characteristics of permeability are outlined.Second,the current water sealing criteria are compared,and the evaluation methods of WSS are summarized.Third,the design parameters and efficiency evaluation of water curtain systems(WCSs)are introduced.The water inflow of oil storage caverns(OSCs)can reflect the water sealing effect,and the prediction methods and control measures of water inflow are also summarized.Finally,the advantages and disadvantages of the current research are discussed,and the potential research directions are pointed out,such as optimization of water sealing criteria and FRM model,quantitative evaluation of WCS efficiency,accurate prediction of water inflow,and improvement of grouting technology.

Design and operation problems related to water curtain system forunderground water-sealed oil storage caverns

The underground water-sealed storage technique is critically important and generally accepted for the national energy strategy in China. Although several small underground water-sealed oil storage caverns have been built in China since the 1970s, there is still a lack of experience for large-volume underground storage in complicated geological conditions. The current design concept of water curtain system and the technical instruction for system operation have limitations in maintaining the stability of surrounding rock mass during the construction of the main storage caverns, as well as the long-term stability. Although several large-scale underground oil storage projects are under construction at present in China, the design concepts and construction methods, especially for the water curtain system, are mainly based on the ideal porosity medium flow theory and the experiences gained from the similar projects overseas. The storage projects currently constructed in China have the specific features such as huge scale, large depth, multiple-level arrangement, high seepage pressure, complicated geological conditions, and high in situ stresses, which are the challenging issues for the stability of the storage caverns. Based on years’ experiences obtained from the first large-scale （millions of cubic meters） underground water-sealed oil storage project in China, some design and operation problems related to water curtain system during project construction are discussed. The drawbacks and merits of the water curtain system are also presented. As an example, the conventional concept of “filling joints with water” is widely used in many cases, as a basic concept for the design of the water curtain system, but it is immature. In this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of the conventional concept are pointed out, with respect to the long-term stability as well as the safety of construction of storage caverns. Finally, new concepts and principles for design and construction of the underground water-sealed oil storage caverns are proposed.

Design of Mooring System for Oil Storage Vessels

The floating oil storage system has been proposed as a new facility for Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in China. Mooring is one of the key technologies to ensure the safety, reliability, and performance of the oil storage system. This paper describes the concept, analysis, design and reliability of the mooring system. For mooring system design of these oil vessels, analysis is essential of the behavior of the vessel in connection with mooring facilities of nonlinear resilience. A nonlinear mathematical model for analyzing a moored vessel is established and solved. Some results of numerical simulations are presented. Assessment of the safety regarding the mooring system in terms of failure probability is carried out. Another simulation model for calculating the failure probability of the mooring system is proposed. The design parameters that have an influence on the characteristics of the failure probability have been identified. The simulation results,show that the mooring system has an annual reliability value of 0.999998. The proposed simulation method is proved to be effective in quantitative evaluation of the safety of the mooring system for floating oil storage vessels.

Microstructure Transformation Behaviour of 610 MPa HSLA Steel Plate for 150000 m^3 Oil Storage Tank Construction

Static and dynamic continuous cooling transformations （CCT） of 610 MPa HSLA steel plate for 150000 m^3 oil storage tank construction were measured by using an MMS200 thermomechanical simulation system. It was found that with the increase in cooling rate, the proeutectoid ferrite, pearlite, granular bainite, and lath bainite appeared in the transformed microstructure. Compared with those of static CCT, the transformation points of acicular ferrite, granular bainite, and lath bainite in the dynamic CCT curve were shifted to the left, resulting in an increased acicular ferrite and bainite transformation area.

A study of water curtain parameters of underground oil storage caverns using time series monitoring and numerical simulation

Water curtain systems(WCSs)are key components for the operation of underground oil storage caverns(UOSCs)and their optimization and design are important areas of research.Based on the time series monitoring of the first large-scale underground water-sealed storage cavern project in China,and on finite element analysis,this study explores the optimum design criteria for WCSs in water-sealed oil caverns.It shows that the optimal hole spacing of the WCS for this underground storage cavern is 10 m in order to ensure seal effectiveness.When the WCS is designed with a 10-m horizontal hole spacing and a water curtain pressure(WCP)of 80 kPa,a water curtain hole(WCH)has an influence radius of approximately 25 m.The smaller the vertical distance is between a WCH and the main cavern,the greater the water inflow into the main cavern.The vertical hydraulic gradient criterion can be satisfied when this distance is 25 m.It shows that the optimal WCP is 70 kPa,which meets sealing requirements.

RESEARCH ON THE FLOATING OIL STORAGE SYSTEM FOR STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE

The problem of petroleum safety is closely related to national politics andeconomics security and becomes one of key for discussion in China. The floating oil storage systemhas been proposed as a new facility for Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in our country. There aresome differences in solving this problem. Although many of domestic research institutions arestudying the project of SPR, the research is separate, and lack of comprehensive consideration, andfails to make a complete and scientific demonstration in many aspects, such as oil storage capacity,selection of storage sites, storage facilities, technologic and economic feasibility, riskassessment, etc. Therefore, no mature and systematic petroleum reserve theories have been formed upto now. Peoples argue the issue of objective of SPR, function, mode, cost, effect, etc. There arestill many bifurcations, so, it is necessary to make more detailed demonstration, and provide somescientific decision-making strategy for the governments. In this paper, several significant problemsare solved, for instance, the option of SPR facilities, the research on the principalcharacteristics of floating oil storage vessels, the a-nalysis of mooring system for oil storagevessels, the design of breakwater and the calculation of failure probability, the risk assessment offloating oil storage system, etc.

Investigation of Internal Turret Mooring System for Oil Production Storage Vessels

The internal turret mooring system for oil production storage vessels is a developing type ofoffshore floating production system suitable for deep water and harsh environmental application. In this paper, some achievements in our research work are presented. The description includes: dynamic analysis of mooring system, research on performance of turret assembly, influence of vessel dimensions and hull forms on mooring performance, model tests under combined action of environmental forces in basin, and hull structural strength analysis.

Reform Exploration for Safety Course System of Oil and Gas Storage and Transportation Facilities

In recent years,the safety of oil and gas storage and transportation facilities has been paid more attention by the state and enterprises due to frequent accidents.The oil and gas storage and transportation facilities safety courses in China University of Petroleum(Beijing)includes“Engineering mechanics”,“Strength design of pipelines and tanks”and“Safety and integrity management of oil and gas storage and transportation facilities”.The three courses lack relevance and the teaching mode is too rigid,resulting in students losing their initiative in learning.If students can’t use the knowledge flexibly,it will affect the achievement of the objectives of the training program.Therefore,oil and gas storage and transportation facilities safety courses are reformed,training plans are adjusted and teaching methods are improved.The practice shows that the reform enriches the teaching content,improves the teaching quality,stimulates classroom activity and gets a good evaluation of students.The reform of safety courses has a certain significance for cultivating compound talents who have the ability to solve practical problems in engineering.

Rock engineering problems related to underground hydrocarbon storage

Oil and gas can be stored underground by a variety of means,such as in depleted oil and gas fields,in aquifers,in rock salt caverns,in unlined mined rock caverns,in lined shallow caverns and abandoned mines.Different types of underground storages require different geological and hydrogeological conditions and are associated with different rock engineering problems.However,the common issue is to ensure the gas-and oil-tightness of storage caverns.In other words,the stored oil and gas must not escape from the storage caverns.This may be realized by different means according to the types of storages and the sites geological conditions.There are basically two approaches of gas leakage control,i.e.permeability control and hydrodynamic containment.The latter involves the use of a water curtain system in many cases,which creates an artificial hydraulic boundary condition and helps to establish the required groundwater condition when needed.In addition to the common problems,the underground storage of liquefied petroleum gas(LPG) requires special attentions to the opening of rock joints,which result from the tensile thermal stress induced by the low storage temperature.Great care must be taken in choosing abandoned mines for oil and gas-storage since it is quite rare that the natural site conditions can meet the usual requirements,in particular for the gas tightness.The paper provides a general description of the gas leakage control for underground oil and gas storage projects,and addresses various rock engineering problems associated with selected types of storages in detail.

Exploration prospects of oil and gas in the Northwestern part of the Offshore Indus Basin, Pakistan

Oil and gas resources are short in Pakistan and no commercially viable oil and gas sources have been yet discovered in its offshore areas up to now.In this study,the onshore-offshore stratigraphic correlation and seismic data interpretation were conducted to determine the oil and gas resource potential in the Offshore Indus Basin,Pakistan.Based on the comprehensive analysis of the results and previous data,it is considered that the Cretaceous may widely exist and three sets of source rocks may be developed in the Offshore Indus Basin.The presence of Miocene mudstones has been proven by drilling to be high-quality source rocks,while the Cretaceous and Paleocene–Eocene mudstones are potential source rocks.Tectonic-lithologic traps are developed in the northwestern part of the basin affected by the strike-slip faults along Murray Ridge.Furthermore,the Cretaceous and Paleocene–Eocene source rocks are thick and are slightly affected by volcanic activities.Therefore,it can be inferred that the northwestern part of Offshore Indus Basin enjoys good prospects of oil and gas resources.

Optimum Development of a Saturated Oil Field

This project investigated the potential optimal development strategy for a saturated reservoir, with a gas cap. It assessed the viability of three production methods—solution gas drive (primary depletion), water flooding and gas injection, using varying injector well numbers. This project also undertook sensitivity analysis in the field, concluding that the development of another appraisal well would vastly improve the accuracy of NPV calculation. Furthermore, this project ascertained an optimized recovery method, based on numerical production simulations and economic modelling, of initial solution gas drive recovery, until reservoir pressure equals the bubble point pressure, at which point three water flooding injectors should be employed, developed at six-month intervals to maximise production while limiting CAPEX and OPEX as much as possible.

In-situ hydrocarbon formation and accumulation mechanisms of micro- and nano-scale pore-fracture in Gulong shale, Songliao Basin, NE China

By conducting experimental analyses, including thermal pyrolysis, micro-/nano-CT, argon-ion polishing field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D NMR), the Gulong shale oil in the Songliao Basin was investigated with respect to formation model, pore structure and accumulation mechanism. First, in the Gulong shale, there are a large number of pico-algae, nano-algae and dinoflagellates, which were formed in brackish water environment and constituted the hydrogen-rich oil source materials of shale. Second, most of the oil-generating materials of the Qingshankou Formation shale exist in the form of organo-clay complex. During organic matter thermal evolution, clay minerals had double effects of suppression and catalytic hydrogenation, which expanded shale oil window and increased light hydrocarbon yield. Third, the formation of storage space in the Gulong Shale was related to dissolution and hydrocarbon generation. With the diagenesis, micro-/nano-pores increased, pore diameter decreased and more bedding fractures appeared, which jointly gave rise to the unique reservoir with dual media (i.e. nano-scale pores and micro-scale bedding fractures) in the Gulong shale. Fourth, the micro-/nano-scale oil storage unit in the Gulong shale exhibits independent oil/gas occurrence phase, and shows that all-size pores contain oils, which occur in condensate state in micropores or in oil-gas two phase (or liquid) state in macropores/mesopores. The understanding about Gulong shale oil formation and accumulation mechanism has theoretical and practical significance for advancing continental shale oil exploration in China.

Reform of Elastic-Plastic Mechanics and Strength Design of Pipelines Based on Ideological and Political Education

Oil and gas storage and transportation safety courses are very important in oil and gas storage and transportation engineering.With the ideological and political construction of the course in the new period,the mode of professional knowledge teaching cannot meet the teaching requirements.The teaching team has been practicing in the course for many years.By inserting typical characters,typical projects,national policies and industry trends into the course,students'patriotism,academic confidence and environmental protection awareness have been cultivated,and remarkable results have been achieved.At the same time,it can provide some reference for the ideological and political education of engineering majors.

Occurrence Characteristics of Saline-Lacustrine Shale-Oil in the Qianjiang Depression,Jianghan Basin,Central China

The amount of shale oil and its characterization are key issues in the study of shale oil.At present,many scholars use a variety of methods to evaluate the amount of shale oil,and use the calculated amount of hydrocarbons to analyze its influencing factors;however,there is lack of detailed research on the storage space for shale-oil and it’s influencing factors.In view of this issue,gas chromatography(GC),gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS),soxhlet extraction(SE),fieldemission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM),low-temperature nitrogen adsorption(LTNA),highpressure mercury intrusion(HPMI),and X-ray diffraction(XRD)were used to analyze and compare samples from two wells located in different deposition locations.The unconventional Well BYY2 and BX7 s were drilled in the depocenter and distal area of the Qianjiang Formation,respectively.Controlled by differences in the organic matter type and sedimentary environment,the organic matter in Well BYY2,which was found to be characterized by laminar shale,mainly originated from aquatic algae.The results showed that as the total organic carbon(TOC)content increased,the amount of shaleoil in the pores increased.Shale-oil was mostly stored in mesopores and macropores that had been preserved by dolomite minerals of a biogenic origin and also occurred in pores sized 5–200 nm and>1μm.Dolomite minerals of a biogenic origin and clay minerals contributed to the occurrence of shaleoil.In comparison,the organic matter in Well BX7 has been greatly influenced by terrestrial organic matter.Pores in the massive mudstones from Well BX7 were determined to be mainly mesopores preserved by clay minerals and quartz,and the shale-oil was mostly stored within the pores of<40 nm.When the TOC content was~2.5 wt.%,the generated shale-oil reached saturation.Clay minerals contributed to the occurrence of shale-oil,whereas quartz only contributed to the occurrence of shale-oil in macropores.