Theoretical research on gas seepage in the formations surrounding bedded gas storage salt cavern

Abstract

When constructing salt cavern gas or petroleum storage in lacustrine sedimentary salt formations rich in mudstone interlayers, the influence of the sealing performance of interlayers and salt-mud interface on the storage tightness should be considered adequately. In order to reveal the gas seepage in deep formations surrounding bedded salt cavern underground storage, a leakage analysis model was established based on the characteristics of a low dip angle and the interbedded structure of bedded rock salt. The gas seepage governing equations for one-dimensional and plane radial flow were derived and solved. A gas seepage simulation experiment was conducted to demonstrate the accuracy and reliability of the theoretical calculation results. The error of the seepage range was approximately 6.70%, which is acceptable. The analysis and calculation results indicate that the motion equation of gas in deep formations satisfies a non-Darcy's law with a threshold pressure gradient and slippage effect. The sufficient condition for the gas flow to stop is that the pressure gradient is equal to the threshold pressure gradient. The relationship between the leakage range and operating time is a positive power function, that is, the leakage range gradually increases with time and eventually stabilizes. As the seepage range increases, the seepage pressure decreases sharply during the early stage, and then decreases gradually until the flow stops. Combining the research results with engineering applications, three quantitative evaluation indexes named the maximum admissible leakage range, leakage volume and leakage rate are proposed for the tightness evaluation of gas storage salt cavern during their operating stage. These indexes can be used directly in actual engineering applications and can be compared with the key design parameters stipulated in the relevant specifications. This work is expected to provide theoretical and technical support for the gas loss and tightness evaluation of gas storage salt caverns.