Detection and Evaluation Technologies for Using Existing Salt Caverns to Build Energy Storage

Underground salt caverns are widely used in large-scale energy storage, such as natural gas, compressed air, oil, and hydrogen. In order to quickly build large-scale natural gas reserves, an unusual building method was established. The method involves using the existing salt caverns left over from s...

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Main Authors: Yuanxi Liu, Yinping Li, Hongling Ma, Xilin Shi, Zhuyan Zheng, Zhikai Dong, Kai Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-12-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/23/9144
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author Yuanxi Liu
Yinping Li
Hongling Ma
Xilin Shi
Zhuyan Zheng
Zhikai Dong
Kai Zhao
author_facet Yuanxi Liu
Yinping Li
Hongling Ma
Xilin Shi
Zhuyan Zheng
Zhikai Dong
Kai Zhao
author_sort Yuanxi Liu
collection DOAJ
description Underground salt caverns are widely used in large-scale energy storage, such as natural gas, compressed air, oil, and hydrogen. In order to quickly build large-scale natural gas reserves, an unusual building method was established. The method involves using the existing salt caverns left over from solution mining of salt to build energy storages. In 2007, it was first applied to Jintan Natural Gas Storage of China. Based on this successful project, several existing salt caverns were screened to build energy storages in China. Engineering experience indicates that the key to successful reusing is how to select the most suitable of the numerous available caverns and confirm it. This paper summarizes and reviews relevant theories and testing methods, including: (1) the primary selection principle for using existing salt caverns to build energy storage, (2) the testing method and evaluation theory of tightness of the existing salt cavern, and (3) the typical project case of using the existing salt caverns to build energy storage in China. From the practical application results, the selection principle proposed in this paper can quickly screen available existing salt caverns with energy storage potential, and the brine injection method can effectively evaluate their tightness. It provides a technical roadmap for the subsequent implementation of existing salt cavern utilization projects on a large scale.
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spelling doaj.art-6a94ec804a3545f293fa879befe15bb42023-11-24T10:56:02ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-12-011523914410.3390/en15239144Detection and Evaluation Technologies for Using Existing Salt Caverns to Build Energy StorageYuanxi Liu0Yinping Li1Hongling Ma2Xilin Shi3Zhuyan Zheng4Zhikai Dong5Kai Zhao6State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, ChinaUnderground salt caverns are widely used in large-scale energy storage, such as natural gas, compressed air, oil, and hydrogen. In order to quickly build large-scale natural gas reserves, an unusual building method was established. The method involves using the existing salt caverns left over from solution mining of salt to build energy storages. In 2007, it was first applied to Jintan Natural Gas Storage of China. Based on this successful project, several existing salt caverns were screened to build energy storages in China. Engineering experience indicates that the key to successful reusing is how to select the most suitable of the numerous available caverns and confirm it. This paper summarizes and reviews relevant theories and testing methods, including: (1) the primary selection principle for using existing salt caverns to build energy storage, (2) the testing method and evaluation theory of tightness of the existing salt cavern, and (3) the typical project case of using the existing salt caverns to build energy storage in China. From the practical application results, the selection principle proposed in this paper can quickly screen available existing salt caverns with energy storage potential, and the brine injection method can effectively evaluate their tightness. It provides a technical roadmap for the subsequent implementation of existing salt cavern utilization projects on a large scale.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/23/9144energy storageexisting salt cavernnatural gas storagecompressed air energy storagebrine injection methodtightness
spellingShingle Yuanxi Liu
Yinping Li
Hongling Ma
Xilin Shi
Zhuyan Zheng
Zhikai Dong
Kai Zhao
Detection and Evaluation Technologies for Using Existing Salt Caverns to Build Energy Storage
Energies
energy storage
existing salt cavern
natural gas storage
compressed air energy storage
brine injection method
tightness
title Detection and Evaluation Technologies for Using Existing Salt Caverns to Build Energy Storage
title_full Detection and Evaluation Technologies for Using Existing Salt Caverns to Build Energy Storage
title_fullStr Detection and Evaluation Technologies for Using Existing Salt Caverns to Build Energy Storage
title_full_unstemmed Detection and Evaluation Technologies for Using Existing Salt Caverns to Build Energy Storage
title_short Detection and Evaluation Technologies for Using Existing Salt Caverns to Build Energy Storage
title_sort detection and evaluation technologies for using existing salt caverns to build energy storage
topic energy storage
existing salt cavern
natural gas storage
compressed air energy storage
brine injection method
tightness
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/23/9144
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