Mined cavern storage for liquefied natural gas (LNG)l has been under active development for many years in several countries. Described are the efficient mining techniques that renewed U.S. interest in caverns as a storage system by making them economically competitive with conventional storage methods. Laboratory data are reported on the physical and thermal behavior of selected rocks at low temperature. The design, construction, and operation of an insulated test cavern are described. The effects of insulation on evaporation rates and thermally induced rock stresses are discussed.
Information on the design and cost of commercial caverns for LNG storage is presented based on the results from this pilot test.
Le stockage en excavation du gaz naturel liquéfié a été developpé très activement dans plusieurs pays. Les techniques efficaces de fonçage ou forage ont renouvelé l'intérêt qu' on portait aux Etats-Unis à ce genre de stockage, reconnu économiquement compétitif aux méthodes conventionnelles. Les résultats d'essais sont donnés concernant le comportement physique et thermique à basse température, de roches préalablement sélectionnées. Le schéma, la construction et l'exploitation d'une caverne expérimentale calorifugée sont décrits. Les informations concernant le schéma et le coût des cavités pour le stockage commercial de gaz naturel liquéfié sont basées sur les résultats de ces essais semi-industriels.
With the recent rapid growth in energy requirements, natural gas has occupied an increasing role in meeting these needs on a worldwide basis. The movement and storage of natural gas in liquid form has required the development of new techniques to meet these need~.l-~ At present, there are three methods of storing liquefied natural gas which are available to the industry:
Aboveground metal tanks.
Cryogenic in-ground storage.
Below or aboveground prestressed concrete tanks.
In addition to these, another method-storage of LNG in an underground cavern-has been under investigationin France and the United States, but by different approaches. The first work was done by Gaz de France which contemplated storage of liquefied natural gas in an uninsulated, unlined cavern. Although some articles and papers have been published on the results of these tests, it might be helpful to recapitulate the essential details of this Basically, the excavation technique used is identical to that now used to construct liquefied propane and butane caverns. These gases are stored under pressure.
To contain the pressure effectively, a small-diameter (42 inches) vertical shaft entry to a depth of 400 feet or more is required. The operating pressure is close to the hydrostatic head corresponding to the depth of the reservoir. The cavern, as envisaged by the French, is uninsulated and therefore subject to relatively high heat influx rates.
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