Stability criteria for storage of compressed air in hard rock reservoirs

Technical Report · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5998060

Allen, R D; Doherty, T J

The geological reservoir environment considered in this paper consists of a hard rock formation with adequate depth, geometry, lithology, strength, hydraulic head, and absence of negative features such as a high lateral stress field. High excavation costs dictate that a CAES reservoir in hard rock be a nearly constant pressure, water-compensated cavern. Design concerns associated with the daily operational temperature cycling and wall wetting include: (1) hard rock properties at non-ambient conditions; (2) residual strength of hard rock after failure; (3) mineralogical alteration of hard rock under CAES conditions; (4) cavern geometry and size; (5) thermal shock; (6) low frequency fatigue; and (7) air penetration of the rock mass. Furthermore, rapid exsolution of air in the compensating water column during air injection must be prevented. With these considerations in mind, a number of design and stability criteria were established.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5998060
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-10729; ON: DE85005521
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250200* -- Energy Storage-- Compressed & Liquified Gas
CAVITIES
COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE
DESIGN
ECONOMICS
ENERGY STORAGE
GEOLOGY
HYDROLOGY
MECHANICS
MONITORING
OPERATION
ROCK CAVERNS
ROCK MECHANICS
STABILITY
STORAGE
UNDERGROUND STORAGE