Porous media experience applicable to field evaluation for compressed air energy storage
A survey is presented of porous media field experience that may aid in the development of a compressed air energy storage field demonstration. Work done at PNL and experience of other groups and related industries is reviewed. An overall view of porous media experience in the underground storage of fluids is presented. CAES experience consists of site evaluation and selection processes used by groups in California, Kansas, and Indiana. Reservoir design and field evaluation of example sites are reported. The studies raised questions about compatibility with depleted oil and gas reservoirs, storage space rights, and compressed air regulations. Related experience embraces technologies of natural gas, thermal energy, and geothermal and hydrogen storage. Natural gas storage technology lends the most toward compressed air storage development, keeping in mind the respective differences between stored fluids, physical conditions, and cycling frequencies. Both fluids are injected under pressure into an aquifer to form a storage bubble confined between a suitable caprock structure and partially displaced ground water. State-of-the-art information is summarized as the necessary foundation material for field planning. Preliminary design criteria are given as recommendations for basic reservoir characteristics. These include geometric dimensions and storage matrix properties such as permeability. Suggested ranges are given for injection air temperature and reservoir pressure. The second step in developmental research is numerical modeling. Results have aided preliminary design by analyzing injection effects upon reservoir pressure, temperature and humidity profiles. Results are reported from laboratory experiments on candidate sandstones and caprocks. Conclusions are drawn, but further verification must be done in the field.
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 5319221
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-3294
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Basis for compressed air energy storage (CAES) field test at Pittsfield, Illinois
Quantitative Characterization of Impacts of Coupled Geomechanics and Flow on Safe and Permanent Geological Storage of CO2 in Fractured Aquifers
Related Subjects
AQUIFERS
EVALUATION
SITE SELECTION
COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
CALIFORNIA
COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
DESIGN
INDIANA
KANSAS
POROSITY
SPECIFICATIONS
UNDERGROUND STORAGE
USA
ENERGY STORAGE
EQUIPMENT
GREAT LAKES REGION
MIDWEST REGION
NORTH AMERICA
STORAGE
WESTERN REGION
250200* - Energy Storage- Compressed & Liquified Gas