Bayou Choctaw Caverns 15 and 17 web analysis
The relatively thin web of salt that separates Bayou Choctaw Caverns 15 and 17 was evaluated using the finite-element method. The stability calculations provided insight as to whether or not any operationrestrictions or recommendations are necessary. Because of the uncertainty in the exact dimensions of the salt web, various web thicknesses were examined under different operating scenarios that included individual cavern workovers and drawdowns. Cavern workovers were defined by a sudden drop in the oil side pressure at the wellhead to atmospheric. Workovers represent periods of low cavern pressure. Cavern drawdowns were simulated by enlargening the cavern diameters, thus decreasing the thickness of the web. The calculations predict that Cavern 15 dominates the behavior of the web because of its larger diameter. Thus, giventhe choice of caverns, Cavern 17 should be used for oil withdrawal in order to minimize the adverse impacts on web resulting from pressure drops or cavern enlargement. From a stability point of view, maintaining normal pressures in Cavern 15 was found to be more important than operating the caverns as a gallery where both caverns are maintained at the same pressure. However, during a workover, it may be prudent to operate the caverns under similar pressures to avoid the possibility of a sudden pressure surge at the wellhead should the web fail.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 7048436
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-92-2890; ON: DE93008492
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
PETROLEUM
UNDERGROUND STORAGE
SALT CAVERNS
STABILITY
SALT DEPOSITS
CREEP
DRAWDOWN
EVALUATION
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
LEACHING
NUMERICAL DATA
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
SAFETY
STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE
THICKNESS
CALCULATION METHODS
CAVITIES
DATA
DIMENSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
INFORMATION
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
RESERVES
RESOURCES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STORAGE
022000* - Petroleum- Transport
Handling
& Storage