Optimization of engineering for the salt cavern oil storage (SCOS) during construction in China

Abstract

Salt cavern oil storage (SCOS) is a mature underground energy storage method which is widely used in the EU and US. The construction of SCOS is a complex system that involves all kinds of engineering. In this paper, four typical problems of SCOS engineering are analyzed: economical evaluation, pipeline laying, stability analysis, and operation method. To solve these four typical problems, five mathematical optimization models (fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model, analytic hierarchy process model, grey prediction model, simulated annealing model, and systematic clustering model) are implemented. The key findings show that the investment weight of SCOS is 0.5834, which is the best investment storage method, an improved stability evaluation criterion of the SCOS is adopted based on evaluation score: 0.72–1.0 is stable; 0.54–0.72 is more stable; 0.23–0.54 is a little unstable; 0.01–0.23 is very unstable, and a new salt cavern sediment void oil storage (SVOS) operation method is proposed. The research has a significance for the implementation of large-scale SCOS in China.