Geotechnical issues and guidelines for storage of compressed air in excavated hard rock caverns

Technical Report · Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5437632· OSTI ID:5437632

Allen, R D; Doherty, T J; Fossum, A F

The results of a literature survey on the stability of excavated hard rock caverns are presented. The objective of the study was to develop geotechnical criteria for the design of compressed air energy storage (CAES) caverns in hard rock formations. These criteria involve geologic, hydrological, geochemical, geothermal, and in situ stress state characteristics of generic rock masses. Their relevance to CAES caverns, and the identification of required research areas, are identified throughout the text. This literature survey and analysis strongly suggests that the chief geotechnical issues for the development and operation of CAES caverns in hard rock are impermeability for containment, stability for sound openings, and hydrostatic balance.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5437632
• Report Number(s): PNL-4180; ON: DE82015027
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
58 GEOSCIENCES
COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE
ROCK CAVERNS
EXCAVATION
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
OPERATION
SPECIFICATIONS
STABILITY
ROCKS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
HYDROLOGY
PERMEABILITY
REVIEWS
UNDERGROUND STORAGE
CAVITIES
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY STORAGE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
STORAGE
250200* - Energy Storage- Compressed & Liquified Gas
580300 - Mineralogy
Petrology
& Rock Mechanics- (-1989)
580400 - Geochemistry- (-1989)