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Title: Sensitivity of storage field performance to geologic and cavern design parameters in salt domes.

Abstract

A sensitivity study was performed utilizing a three dimensional finite element model to assess allowable cavern field sizes for strategic petroleum reserve salt domes. A potential exists for tensile fracturing and dilatancy damage to salt that can compromise the integrity of a cavern field in situations where high extraction ratios exist. The effects of salt creep rate, depth of salt dome top, dome size, caprock thickness, elastic moduli of caprock and surrounding rock, lateral stress ratio of surrounding rock, cavern size, depth of cavern, and number of caverns are examined numerically. As a result, a correlation table between the parameters and the impact on the performance of storage field was established. In general, slower salt creep rates, deeper depth of salt dome top, larger elastic moduli of caprock and surrounding rock, and a smaller radius of cavern are better for structural performance of the salt dome.

Authors:
 [1];
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. (Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Laboratories
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
959108
Report Number(s):
SAND2009-1278
TRN: US201016%%554
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
02 PETROLEUM; CREEP; DESIGN; DILATANCY; FRACTURING; PERFORMANCE; SENSITIVITY; STORAGE; STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE; THICKNESS; SALT CAVERNS; SALTS; Strategic petroleum reserve.; United States; Strategic Petroleum Reserve; Salt domes.

Citation Formats

Ehgartner, Brian L., and Park, Byoung Yoon. Sensitivity of storage field performance to geologic and cavern design parameters in salt domes.. United States: N. p., 2009. Web. doi:10.2172/959108.
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Ehgartner, Brian L., & Park, Byoung Yoon. Sensitivity of storage field performance to geologic and cavern design parameters in salt domes.. United States. doi:10.2172/959108.
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Ehgartner, Brian L., and Park, Byoung Yoon. Sun . "Sensitivity of storage field performance to geologic and cavern design parameters in salt domes.". United States. doi:10.2172/959108. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/959108.
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@article{osti_959108,
title = {Sensitivity of storage field performance to geologic and cavern design parameters in salt domes.},
author = {Ehgartner, Brian L. and Park, Byoung Yoon},
abstractNote = {A sensitivity study was performed utilizing a three dimensional finite element model to assess allowable cavern field sizes for strategic petroleum reserve salt domes. A potential exists for tensile fracturing and dilatancy damage to salt that can compromise the integrity of a cavern field in situations where high extraction ratios exist. The effects of salt creep rate, depth of salt dome top, dome size, caprock thickness, elastic moduli of caprock and surrounding rock, lateral stress ratio of surrounding rock, cavern size, depth of cavern, and number of caverns are examined numerically. As a result, a correlation table between the parameters and the impact on the performance of storage field was established. In general, slower salt creep rates, deeper depth of salt dome top, larger elastic moduli of caprock and surrounding rock, and a smaller radius of cavern are better for structural performance of the salt dome.},
doi = {10.2172/959108},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2009},
month = {Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2009}
}
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Technical Report:
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DOI:  10.2172/959108
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  • ; ;
    A sensitivity study was performed utilizing a three dimensional finite element model to assess allowable cavern field sizes in strategic petroleum reserve salt domes. A potential exists for tensile fracturing and dilatancy damage to salt that can compromise the integrity of a cavern field in situations where high extraction ratios exist. The effects of salt creep rate, depth of salt dome top, dome size, caprock thickness, elastic moduli of caprock and surrounding rock, lateral stress ratio of surrounding rock, cavern size, depth of cavern, and number of caverns are examined numerically. As a result, a correlation table between the parametersmore » and the impact on the performance of a storage field was established. In general, slower salt creep rates, deeper depth of salt dome top, larger elastic moduli of caprock and surrounding rock, and a smaller radius of cavern are better for structural performance of the salt dome.« less

  • ; ;
    Abstract not provided.

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  • This report was prepared as a result of a contract between Middle South Services, Inc. and Fenix and Scisson, Inc. The conceptual design was prepared for two sites, Hazlehurst and Prothro as two known possible sites. It was later expanded to include a third site, Carmichael as the first two sites were not then available. This required the design and costing at various depths, 670 m (2200 ft), 488 m (1600 ft) and 1067 m (3500 ft) to the top of the cavern. It also involves variation in the size of the caverns for various weekly cycles of required airmore » pressure to supply the turbine during peak load periods. The air is released from the caverns at 310 Kg/sec for eight hours per day, five days per week and the caverns replenished through compressors eight hours per day seven days per week. The pressure ranges from a maximum of 70 bars at the beginning of the week to 50 bars at the end of the generating period on Friday. The temperature of the input and outlet air is assumed to be 140/sup 0/C. This agrees with the estimated temperature of the cavern at Carmichael which allows for an isothermal operation. During preparation of the report no technical or environmental barriers were found.« less

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