A preliminary site selection system for underground hydrogen storage in salt caverns and its application in Pingdingshan,China

Large‐scale underground hydrogen storage(UHS)provides a promising method for increasing the role of hydrogen in the process of carbon neutrality and energy transition.Of all the existing storage deposits,salt caverns are recognized as ideal sites for pure hydrogen storage.Evaluation and optimization of site selection for hydrogen storage facilities in salt caverns have become significant issues.In this article,the software CiteSpace is used to analyze and filter hot topics in published research.Based on a detailed classification and analysis,a“four‐factor”model for the site selection of salt cavern hydrogen storage is proposed,encompassing the dynamic demands of hydrogen energy,geological,hydrological,and ground factors of salt mines.Subsequently,20 basic indicators for comprehensive suitability grading of the target site were screened using the analytic hierarchy process and expert survey methods were adopted,which provided a preliminary site selection system for salt cavern hydrogen storage.Ultimately,the developed system was applied for the evaluation of salt cavern hydrogen storage sites in the salt mines of Pingdingshan City,Henan Province,thereby confirming its rationality and effectiveness.This research provides a feasible method and theoretical basis for the site selection of UHS in salt caverns in China.

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.

A novel nano-grade organosilicon polymer:Improving airtightness of compressed air energy storage in hard rock formations

Enhancing cavern sealing is crucial for improving the efficiency of compressed air energy storage(CAES)in hard rock formations.This study introduced a novel approach using a nano-grade organosilicon polymer(NOSP)as a sealant,coupled with an air seepage evaluation model that incorporates Knudsen diffusion.Moreover,the initial coating application methods were outlined,and the advantages of using NOSP compared to other sealing materials,particularly regarding cost and construction techniques,were also examined and discussed.Experimental results indicated a significant reduction in permeability of rock specimens coated with a 7–10μm thick NOSP layer.Specifically,under a 0.5 MPa pulse pressure,the permeability decreased to less than 1 n D,and under a 4 MPa pulse pressure,it ranged between4.5×10^(-6)–5.5×10^(-6)m D,marking a 75%–80%decrease in granite permeability.The sealing efficacy of NOSP surpasses concrete and is comparable to rubber materials.The optimal viscosity for application lies between 95 and 105 KU,and the coating thickness should ideally range from 7 to 10μm,applied to substrates with less than 3%porosity.This study provides new insights into air transport and sealing mechanisms at the pore level,proposing NOSP as a cost-effective and simplified solution for CAES applications.

Development status and prospect of underground thermal energy storage technology

Underground Thermal Energy Storage(UTES)store unstable and non-continuous energy underground,releasing stable heat energy on demand.This effectively improve energy utilization and optimize energy allocation.As UTES technology advances,accommodating greater depth,higher temperature and multi-energy complementarity,new research challenges emerge.This paper comprehensively provides a systematic summary of the current research status of UTES.It categorized different types of UTES systems,analyzes the applicability of key technologies of UTES,and evaluate their economic and environmental benefits.Moreover,this paper identifies existing issues with UTES,such as injection blockage,wellbore scaling and corrosion,seepage and heat transfer in cracks,etc.It suggests deepening the research on blockage formation mechanism and plugging prevention technology,improving the study of anticorrosive materials and water treatment technology,and enhancing the investigation of reservoir fracture network characterization technology and seepage heat transfer.These recommendations serve as valuable references for promoting the high-quality development of UTES.

Determination of convergence of underground gas storage caverns using non-invasive methodology based on land surface subsidence measurement

Undergroundgas storage caverns aremonitoredfor environmental safety in termsof equipmentandpotential emissions,particularly methane emissions from the underground and above-ground parts of the storage facility.Periodical measurements of land surface deformations and costly echometric measurements of convergence of individual storage facilities are carried out.The aims of environmental monitoring are:(1)to eliminate potential hazards in the shortest time,(2)assess the overall impact of intensive operation of storage facilities on the environment,(3)developmonitoringmethods relevant to environmental protection,and(4)take actions in case of failure.The paper presents a solution to the problem of determination of the convergence of underground caverns in a salt rock mass based on the results of land surface subsidence measurements carried out using the Gauss-Markov equalization algorithm.Themethod makes it possible for ongoing control of cavern volume convergence after each subsidence measurement on the ground surface and determining the actual impact of the use frequency(injection-mediumconsumption)on the convergence in time.The presentedmethodology is universal and verified on caverns located in a salt rockmass.The Gauss-Markov inversion model is the first used in this area,hence its application is significant.

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.

Experimental study of water curtain performance for gas storage in an underground cavern

An artificial water curtain system is composed of a network of underground galleries and horizontal boreholes drilled from these galleries.Pre-grouting measures are introduced to keep the bedrock saturated all the time.This system is deployed over an artificial or natural underground cavern used for the storage of gas（or some other fluids） to prevent the gas from escaping through leakage paths in the rock mass.An experimental physical modeling system has been constructed to evaluate the performance of artificial water curtain systems under various conditions.These conditions include different spacings of caverns and cavern radii located below the natural groundwater level.The principles of the experiment,devices,design of the physical model,calculation of gas leakage,and evaluation of the critical gas pressure are presented in this paper.Experimental result shows that gas leakage is strongly affected by the spacing of water curtain boreholes,the critical gas pressure,and the number and proximity of storage caverns.The hydraulic connection between boreholes is observed to vary with depth or location,which suggests that the distribution of water-conducting joint sets along the boreholes is also variable.When designing the drainage system for a cavern,drainage holes should be orientated to maximize the frequency at which they encounter major joint sets and permeable intervals studying in order to maintain the seal on the cavern through water pressure.Our experimental results provide a significant contribution to the theoretical controls on water curtains,and they can be used to guide the design and construction of practical storage caverns.

Determination of the maximum allowable gas pressure for an underground gas storage salt cavern——A case study of Jintan,China

Increasing the allowable gas pressure of underground gas storage(UGS) is one of the most effective methods to increase its working gas capacity. In this context, hydraulic fracturing tests are implemented on the target formation for the UGS construction of Jintan salt caverns, China, in order to obtain the minimum principal in situ stress and the fracture breakdown pressure. Based on the test results, the maximum allowable gas pressure of the Jintan UGS salt cavern is calibrated. To determine the maximum allowable gas pressure, KING-1 and KING-2 caverns are used as examples. A three-dimensional(3D)geomechanical model is established based on the sonar data of the two caverns with respect to the features of the target formation. New criteria for evaluating gas penetration failure and gas seepage are proposed. Results show that the maximum allowable gas pressure of the Jintan UGS salt cavern can be increased from 17 MPa to 18 MPa(i.e. a gradient of about 18 k Pa/m at the casing shoe depth). Based on numerical results, a field test with increasing maximum gas pressure to 18 MPa has been carried out in KING-1 cavern. Microseismic monitoring has been conducted during the test to evaluate the safety of the rock mass around the cavern. Field monitoring data show that KING-1 cavern is safe globally when the maximum gas pressure is increased from 17 MPa to 18 MPa. This shows that the geomechanical model and criteria proposed in this context for evaluating the maximum allowable gas pressure are reliable.

Two-and three-dimensional stability analysis of underground storage caverns in soft rock(Cappadocia, Turkey) by finite element method

Engineering design in soft rocks and its stability analysis exerts many challenges to rock engineers. Many engineering works in Turkey’s Cappadocia region must face and tackle the existing sites covered by the soft rocks. This study is aimed to examine the stability condition of a typical underground storage cavern(USC) excavated in a soft rock in this region. For this purpose, two-and threedimensional stability analyses of the USCs were performed using the finite element method(FEM).Because of the inherent difficulty in characterizing soft/weak rock masses in the region using traditional classification systems, the stability of a typical USC was evaluated by representing the rock mass condition with two distinct scenarios in FEM analysis.While these structures were unstable according to the 2D analysis conducted in RS2 software in the worstcase scenario, they were stable in the 3D analysis using RS3 software in both scenarios. Besides,feasible cover depths were examined to assess their possible effects on the factor of safety and deformation measurements. It was found that 15 m seems to be an optimal depth for excavating a typical USC in the soft rocks exposed in the region. The 3D FEM results provide valuable information to optimize the future planning and preliminary design of USCs.

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.

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.

Rock mass response for lined rock caverns subjected to high internal gas pressure

The storage of hydrogen gas in underground lined rock caverns(LRCs)enables the implementation of the first fossil-free steelmaking process to meet the large demand for crude steel.Predicting the response of rock mass is important to ensure that gas leakage due to rupture of the steel lining does not occur.Analytical and numerical models can be used to estimate the rock mass response to high internal pressure;however,the fitness of these models under different in situ stress conditions and cavern shapes has not been studied.In this paper,the suitability of analytical and numerical models to estimate the maximum cavern wall tangential strain under high internal pressure is studied.The analytical model is derived in detail and finite element(FE)models considering both two-dimensional(2D)and three-dimensional(3D)geometries are presented.These models are verified with field measurements from the LRC in Skallen,southwestern Sweden.The analytical model is inexpensive to implement and gives good results for isotropic in situ stress conditions and large cavern heights.For the case of anisotropic horizontal in situ stresses,as the conditions in Skallen,the 3D FE model is the best approach.

压气储能地下储气库衬砌裂缝分布特征及演化规律研究

地下储气库衬砌的主要作用是将内压传递给围岩,且同时作为柔性密封层的附着基层。高内压作用下衬砌开裂可导致密封层出现反射型裂缝,进而引起高压气体的泄漏。为深入认识地下储气库衬砌的开裂特征,开发了基于FLAC3D平台的衬砌裂缝分析程序,研究了衬砌配筋方式、配筋率、钢筋保护层厚度、围岩类别和温压循环荷载作用等因素对衬砌开裂演化特征的影响。研究成果表明:对衬砌采取合理的配筋方式和改善围岩质量的措施可有效控制衬砌裂缝的宽度;采用分区配筋的方式可有效控制圆形断面隧洞式储气库衬砌中的最大裂缝宽度,同时降低衬砌的配筋量。空气压力和温度同步变化引起的热力耦合效应还有助于减小衬砌中出现的裂缝宽度。

Comparative analysis of thermodynamic and mechanical responses between underground hydrogen storage and compressed air energy storage in lined rock caverns

Underground hydrogen storage(UHS)and compressed air energy storage(CAES)are two viable largescale energy storage technologies for mitigating the intermittency of wind and solar power.Therefore,it is meaningful to compare the properties of hydrogen and air with typical thermodynamic storage processes.This study employs a multi-physical coupling model to compare the operations of CAES and UHS,integrating gas thermodynamics within caverns,thermal conduction,and mechanical deformation around rock caverns.Gas thermodynamic responses are validated using additional simulations and the field test data.Temperature and pressure variations of air and hydrogen within rock caverns exhibit similarities under both adiabatic and diabatic simulation modes.Hydrogen reaches higher temperature and pressure following gas charging stage compared to air,and the ideal gas assumption may lead to overestimation of gas temperature and pressure.Unlike steel lining of CAES,the sealing layer(fibre-reinforced plastic FRP)in UHS is prone to deformation but can effectively mitigates stress in the sealing layer.In CAES,the first principal stress on the surface of the sealing layer and concrete lining is tensile stress,whereas UHS exhibits compressive stress in the same areas.Our present research can provide references for the selection of energy storage methods.

新能源用钢管的应用现状、需求分析及思考

“双碳”战略下新能源及相关产业发展给钢管带来新的应用场景,对钢管的功能和性能提出新的需求。聚焦于碳捕获、利用与封存技术领域中的CO_(2)输送用管、氢能领域中的氢气输送用管和储能领域中的盐穴压缩空气储能用注采管,总结了新能源用钢管的应用现状和研究进展,分析了各领域用管需求,并就“双碳”背景下新能源用钢管的基础理论研究、关键技术开发和标准体系建设等方面进行了思考,提出了建议。

中国大规模盐穴储氢需求与挑战

氢能是来源广泛且低碳清洁的能源,大力发展氢能产业是实现双碳目标和应对全球能源转型的重要举措。在氢能“制备―储存―运输―应用”全产业链中,储氢难问题长期制约着氢能产业高质量发展。盐穴储氢具有成本低、规模大、安全性高和储氢纯度高等突出优势,是未来氢能大规模储备的重要发展方向,也是我国能源低碳转型的重大战略需求。综合调研了我国制氢产业和氢能消费现状,分析了我国盐穴储氢的需求。调研了国外利用盐穴储存天然气和氢气的技术及工程现状,总结了我国盐穴储气库发展和建设历程。对比了利用盐穴储存天然气、氦气、压缩空气和氢气的异同点,提出我国盐穴储氢面临三大科技挑战:层状盐岩氢气渗透与生化反应、盐穴储氢库井筒完整性管控、储氢库群灾变孕育与防控。研究成果明确了我国氢气储备需求的快速增长趋势和大规模盐穴储氢的重点攻关方向。

Transient electromagnetic detection method in water-sealed underground storage caverns

Taking advantage of the water sensitivity of the transient electromagnetic method(TEM),this study assesses the effectiveness of the water curtain system for underground LPG storage caverns during the excavation period.It also detects fracture water flow during the excavation process in light of the practice of two pilot large underground LPG storage caverns in China.Comparative maps of apparent resistivity derived from TEM measurements before and after water-filling during the excavation process have been discussed to improve the quality of the water curtain system.This is the first case to apply TEM to detect the quality of the water curtain system during the construction of underground LPG storage cavern projects,and it is found to be practical,more visualized and worth popularizing.

压缩空气储能地下储气库热力学改进模型研究

【目的】明晰地下储气库的热力学过程是压缩空气储能(compressed air energy storage,CAES)电站安全设计与运行调度的重要基础。【方法】现有地下储气库热力学模型在计算热量交换时,存在高压储气阶段热损失偏大和低压储气库阶段补热过多的不足。本文在全面分析地下储气库热力学模型理论基础合理性的前提下,先分析储气库热量计算偏差的形成根源;再提出改进模型。【结果】研究结果表明:现有的热力学计算解析模型忽略了CAES地下储气库在运行过程中温度分布的不均匀性,这种温度分布的不均匀导致储气室洞壁与压缩空气之间的对流换热模型失真,导致温度计算结果偏差大。考虑混合对流换热的改进模型二可以较好地解决储气阶段温度计算结果与真实结果之间偏差过大的问题。算例分析证明了改进模型二的合理性。【结论】本文的改进模型二可为CAES地下储气库容积优化设计与效率分析提供计算依据。