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

Technical Report · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 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 Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5437632
• Report Number(s): PNL-4180; ON: DE82015027
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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