Geosciences Journal

The Association of Korean Geoscience Societies (한국지질과학협의회)
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Assessing containment properties of underground oil storage caverns: methods and a case study

  • Qiao, Liping (Geotechnical and Structural Engineering Research Center, Shandong University) ;
  • Wang, Zhechao (Geotechnical and Structural Engineering Research Center, Shandong University) ;
  • Li, Shucai (Geotechnical and Structural Engineering Research Center, Shandong University) ;
  • Bi, Liping (Geotechnical and Structural Engineering Research Center, Shandong University) ;
  • Xu, Zhenhao (Geotechnical and Structural Engineering Research Center, Shandong University)
  • Received : 2016.04.17
  • Accepted : 2016.10.25
  • Published : 2017.08.01
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Abstract

One of the most important issues in the construction of underground water-sealed oil storage caverns is the assessment of their containment properties. These properties depend on the hydrogeological condition and also engineering characteristics of the caverns. Conceptual hydrogeological model for assessing the containment properties of underground water-sealed oil storage caverns was developed. Empirical, numerical and experimental methods for assessing the containment properties were summarized. A principle for the selection of assessment methods was proposed for engineering application. It was proposed that the selected assessment method should be appropriate for the investigation stages, the research objectives and the parameters which have been determined. A five-stage flowchart for the assessment of containment properties of underground water-sealed oil storage caverns was developed. The set of assessment methods was applied to a pilot underground water-sealed oil storage facility in China. Empirical methods, fracture network method and field test methods were presented for the assessment of the containment properties of the cavern, while the other methods were introduced in previous studies.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : National Natural Science Foundation of China, China University of Mining and Technology

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