Sealing capacity evaluation of underground gas storage under intricate geological conditions

• DOI: 10.1016/j.engeos.2024.100292
• Publication Date: 2024-02-12T17:41:27Z
• Authors: Guangquan Zhang; Sinan Zhu; Daqian Zeng; Yuewei Jia; Lidong Mi; Xiaosong Yang; Junfa Zhang
• Keywords: Geomechanics

Underground gas storage (UGS) is a critical component within the natural industry's value chain, encompassing production, distribution, storage, and marketing. Hence, it vital for national energy supply security, economic stability, people's livelihood. Evaluating UGS' sealing capacity essential its safe construction operational efficiency. This involves evaluating both static of traps during hydrocarbon accumulation dynamic UGS under intensive injection withdrawal, alternating loads. study reviewed evaluation 28 projects in China, detailing methodology developed by Sinopec implementation. The approach merges disciplines like geology, geomechanics, hydrodynamics, employing dynamic-static qualitative-quantitative analyses. Sinopec's methods, grounded situ stress analysis, include mechanistic studies, laboratory tests, geological surveys, fluid-solid interactions. Through tests on UGS, alongside investigations into mechanisms geomechanical properties cap rocks faults, has devised geomechanics - rock damage seepage mechanics coupling model (the model). predicts variations relative to pore pressure changes operations, fault integrity, thereby setting maximum pressures. Utilizing this technique, defined performance metrics criteria depleted reservoirs salt cavern enabling preliminary evaluations at sites. These have significantly informed design schemes integrity operations.