Download - 970219_SPEAG_Cavern Storage Requirements
SOFREGAZ US
REQUIREMENTS FOR CAVERN
STORAGE
Paul Bieniawski
SPE Appalachian Storage Group
February 19, 1997
SOFREGAZ US
OUTLINE
• History
• Comparisons
• Cavern Storage Requirements
• Cavern Storage Operations
• Effect of Variables
• Questions
SOFREGAZ US
HISTORY
• 1961 Southeastern Michigan Gas converts abandoned
brine caverns in bedded salt to gas storage.
• 1963 Saskatchewan Power Corporation commences
operations of first caverns designed specifically for gas
storage in bedded salt.
• 1964 First cavern storage in Armenia.
• 1966 First cavern storage in West Germany.
• 1968 First cavern storage in France.
• 1970 Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation commences
operations of first caverns designed specifically for gas
storage in a salt dome.
• 1974 First cavern storage in United Kingdom.
• 1981 First cavern storage in Denmark.
SOFREGAZ US
COMPARISONS
RESERVOIR AQUIFER REEF MINE CAVERN
BASE GAS59% 67% 40% 28% 29%
CAPACITYPER
WELL 470 785 1,225 165 1,890
DELIVERABILITYPER
WELL 3,320 3,395 20,930 10,940 72,715
SOFREGAZ US
LOCATION
• Acreage
• Proximity to Pipelines
• Proximity to Markets
• Proximity to Raw Water Supply
• Proximity to Brine Disposal
• Proximity to Utilities
SOFREGAZ US
SALT
• Salt Purity
• Existence and Nature of Caprock
• Existence and Nature of Interbeds
• Distribution of Interbeds
SOFREGAZ US
ADVANTAGES OF SALT
• Impervious to Hydrocarbons
• Very High Compressive Strength
• Ability to Yield and Divert Stresses
• Ability to Flow and Heal Fractures
SOFREGAZ US
CAPROCK
• Not Present in Bedded Salts
• Exact Origin Unknown
• Believed to be Accumulation of Insolubles
Originally Transported in the Salt
• Usually Comprised of Anhydrites, Gypsum,
and Dolomite
• May be Highly Fractured with Numerous Lost
Circulation Zones
SOFREGAZ US
RAW WATER
• Fresh, Brackish, or Unsaturated Brine
• Sources
• Aquifers
• Rivers
• Canals
• Lakes
• Municipal Supplies
SOFREGAZ US
BRINE DISPOSAL
• Wells
• Chemical Feedstock
• Evaporation Plants
• Solar Evaporation
• Surface Waters
• Displacement
SOFREGAZ US
CAVERN SHAPING
Top of Insolubles
Raw Water Injection
Brine Return
Blanket Level
Production Casing
Brine Return
Raw Water Injection
SUMP DEVELOPMENT CAVERN DEVELOPMENT
SOFREGAZ US
CAVERN MECHANICS
Sump Building Partially Cavern
BRINERETURN
INSOLUBLESWATER INJECTION
BLANKETLEVEL
BRINERETURN
WATERINJECTION
BOTTOMOF CAVERN
BRINE RETURN
BLANKET LEVEL
BOTTOM OFCEMENTED CASING
BRINERETURN
DEPTH OFORIGINAL HOLE
BLANKETLEVEL
INSOLUBLES
INSOLUBLES
Near Completion Developed Cavern Near Completion
WATER
INJECTI
ON
SOFREGAZ US
CAVERN OPERATIONS.
Injection
Facilities
Withdrawal
Facilities
Brine Pond
GASEXPANSION
BRINEDISPLACEMENT
GasHeater
PCR
GL
YC
OL
AB
SO
RB
ER
SOFREGAZ US
OPERATIONS (cont’d)
M
STORAGE
CAVERN
STORAGE
CAVERN
Injection
Facilities
Withdrawal
Facilities
SOFREGAZ US
EFFECT OF VARIABLES
• Minimum Pressure
• Maximum Pressure
• Insolubles Percentage
• Bed Thickness
SOFREGAZ US
MINIMUM PRESSURE
GRADIENT
0
0.4
0.8
1.2
1.6
0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
Minimum Pressure Gradient, psi/ft
Ba
se
Ga
s, B
cf
SOFREGAZ US
MAXIMUM PRESSURE
GRADIENT
2.5
2.7
2.9
3.1
3.3
3.5
3.7
0.6 0.65 0.7 0.75 0.8 0.85 0.9
Max Pressure Gradient, psi/ft
To
tal C
ap
ac
ity
, B
cf
SOFREGAZ US
INSOLUBLE CONTENT
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Insoluble Content, % vol
Ca
ve
rn V
olu
me
, M
illio
n B
arr
els
SOFREGAZ US
BED THICKNESS
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Bed Thickness, ft
Ca
ve
rn V
olu
me
, M
illio
n B
arr
els