Preliminary results from the pittsfield aquifer field test applicable to commercialization of compressed air energy storage technology

Conference · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5854691

Allen, R D; Doherty, T J; Istvan, J A; Pereira, J C; Schainker, R B

A field experiment to examine feasibility of full-scale compressed air energy storage (CAES) within aquifer reservoirs was initially sponsored by the U. S. Department of Energy and is currently sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute to complete the experiment. Parameters investigated encompass storage and recovery operations within a single-well and two-well environment. Testing to date has demonstrated injection, storage, and cycling of air in an aquifer suitable for CAES application. A thin lenticular air bubble was developed in a low-lying dome-shaped structure involving the permeable, water-saturated St. Peter sandstone overlain by the impervious Joachim dolomite. Water coning during air withdrawal was not a problem. Cohesion of the sandface and near-wellbore region was sufficient to prevent serious breakdown of the formation. No important mineral alterations were detected within the small amount of withdrawn solid particulate material, most of which probably originated within the piping. Air stored for several months became depleted in oxygen, probably because of oxidation reactions with sulfides or suboxides in the reservoir and/or caprock. Relationships among pressure, mass flow rate, temperature, and time are presented for some of the injection and withdrawal cycles. Mass flow rate can be limited by the permeability of the sandface and total reservoir. Well completion technique is extremely important to assure continuing high permeability of the sandface. At present heat quantities representative of CAES injection without aftercoolers have not been injected. However, this type of experiment is planned.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, Washington
• OSTI ID: 5854691
• Report Number(s): CONF-840804-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Proc., Intersoc. Energy Convers. Eng. Conf.; (United States) Journal Volume: 2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250200* -- Energy Storage-- Compressed & Liquified Gas
AIR FLOW
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
AQUIFERS
BUBBLES
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATE MINERALS
CARBONATES
COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE
DOLOMITE
ENERGY STORAGE
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FIELD TESTS
FLOW RATE
FLUID FLOW
GAS FLOW
INJECTION
INTAKE
MAGNESIUM CARBONATES
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MINERALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERMEABILITY
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SATURATION
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STORAGE
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TESTING
TIME DEPENDENCE
UNDERGROUND STORAGE
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
WATER SATURATION
WELL COMPLETION