1. Yuan G, Wan J, Li J, Jurado MJ et al. (2021) Stability analysis of a typical two-well-horizontal saddle-shaped salt cavern. J Energy Storage. 2021;40:102763. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2021.102763
Abstract
In recent decades, creep in salt cavern Underground Gas Storage (UGS) has caused accidents at different locations around the world. Most of them were caused by volume shrinkage of salt caverns. In order to analyze the stability condition of the two-well-horizontal (TWH) salt cavern more realistically, we apply the TWHSMC V2.0 code that was calculated using the cavern geometry, and we used FLAC3D to study the stability of the cavern. Our results show that for a TWH salt cavern: 1) the optimal maximum and minimum operating pressures are 23 MPa and 16 MPa, 2) that the UGS remains stable under static pressure and for a long period of time, and 3) that the horizontal displacement of the cavern is relatively small compared to the vertical displacement. More cycles per unit time and a shorter continuous operation of low-pressure time, result in a smaller volume shrinkage rate and thus less cavern deformation. The recommended casing shoe height should be at least 12 m from the top of the cavern.
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