Underground Gas Storage Reservoir Research Articles

Caloribacterium cisternae gen. nov., sp. nov., an anaerobic thermophilic bacterium from an underground gas storage reservoir

A novel anaerobic, moderately thermophilic bacterium (strain SGL43(T)) was isolated from Severo-Stavropolskoye underground gas storage reservoir (Russia). Cells of strain SGL43(T) were motile straight rods, 0.4 µm in diameter and 2.0-3.0 µm in length. The temperature range for growth was 28-65 °C, with optimum growth at 50 °C. The pH range for growth was 5.5-8.0, with optimum growth at pH 7.0-7.5. Growth of strain SGL43(T) was observed at NaCl concentrations of 0-4.0% (w/v) with optimum growth at 1.0% (w/v) NaCl. Substrates utilized by strain SGL43(T) included peptone, yeast extract, glucose, fructose, maltose, galactose, pyruvate and citrate. Products of glucose or citrate fermentation were acetate, hydrogen and CO(2). Thiosulfate was reduced to sulfide. The DNA G+C content of strain SGL43(T) was 43.1 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain SGL43(T) belongs to the order Thermoanaerobacterales (phylum 'Firmicutes'). The closest relative of strain SGL43(T) was Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum (86.2% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strain). Based on the data presented here, strain SGL43(T) is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Caloribacterium cisternae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Caloribacterium cisternae, the type species of the genus, is SGL43(T) (=DSM 23830(T)=VKM B-2670(T)).

(Per)chlorate reduction by an acetogenic bacterium, Sporomusa sp., isolated from an underground gas storage

A mesophilic bacterium, strain An4, was isolated from an underground gas storage reservoir with methanol as substrate and perchlorate as electron acceptor. Cells were Gram-negative, spore-forming, straight to curved rods, 0.5–0.8 μm in diameter, and 2–8 μm in length, growing as single cells or in pairs. The cells grew optimally at 37°C, and the pH optimum was around 7. Strain An4 converted various alcohols, organic acids, fructose, acetoin, and H2/CO2 to acetate, usually as the only product. Succinate was decarboxylated to propionate. The isolate was able to respire with (per)chlorate, nitrate, and CO2. The G+C content of the DNA was 42.6 mol%. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain An4 was most closely related to Sporomusa ovata (98% similarity). The bacterium reduced perchlorate and chlorate completely to chloride. Key enzymes, perchlorate reductase and chlorite dismutase, were detected in cell-free extracts.

Preliminary management and optimization of a gas reservoir in central Serbia

Management of hydrocarbon reservoirs is a dynamic, continuous and complex process. It is applied from reservoir discovery to its abandonment, with the objective of achieving maximum profitability by using a recovery process with minimum capital investments and operation costs. The goals of modern system-engineer' approach to hydrocarbon reservoir management are: managing efficiency; adequate and on time decision making; increasing reserves, and oil and gas recovery factor; production increment; risk reduction; investment efficiency; minimizing costs and environmental protection. The gas reservoir “M” is the gas reservoir discovered in central part of Serbia. It was not put in production yet, so it is important to apply reservoir management concepts from the beginning of the production process. Based on production characteristics, this reservoir belongs to a group of smaller gas reservoirs that characterizes most often the Serbian exploitation area. Also, this reservoir fullfils most of criteria for using it as an underground gas storage reservoir. Thus, the analysis of possibilities for conversion into the underground gas storage after certain production period was also considered. The management of gas reservoir “M” has been analyzed by two different approaches. The first one refers to the management of the reservoir as a gas producer during the whole reservoir life. The second management approach considers gas production for a certain period of time, followed by underground gas storage (UGS). In this paper, economic and financial evaluation results are given for the presented options of gas reservoir management. A decision analysis has been applied to select an optimized gas reservoir management approach. Adequate management of this gas reservoir would contribute to further development and reform of Serbia's gas energy sector that is characterized by great dependence on natural gas imports, and a lack of underground gas storage.

Intelligent Design and Modelling of Natural Gas Storage Facilities

Underground gas storage reservoirs provide an efficient and economical way to match the constant supply of gas from long-distance pipelines to the variable, weather-driven demand of the natural gas market. The most important design specifications for underground natural gas storage facilities in terms of startup and operation costs are its capacity, maximum reservoir pressure, number of wells required for drainage, flowing wellhead pressure, and the ratio between working gas and cushion gas. The relationships between these variables are quite complex, and a need exists for a reliable predictive tool. Despite these complexities, the optimal combination of these design parameters can be reached using artificial neural network (ANN) technology. In this study, ANN technology creates an intelligent system capable of learning the complex relationships between input parameters and output responses, which can quantify the importance of each relationship and design variables critical to the determination of optimal design.

INTELLIGENT DESIGN AND MODELLING OF NATURAL GAS STORAGE FACILITIES

Underground gas storage reservoirs provide an efficient and econom-ical way to match the constant supply of gas from long-distancepipelines to the variable, weather-driven demand of the natural gasmarket.

Multitransient electromagnetic demonstration survey in France

We describe the acquisition, processing, and inversion of a multitransient electromagnetic (MTEM) single-line survey, conducted in December 2004 over an underground gas storage reservoir in southwestern France. The objective was to find a resistor corresponding to known gas about [Formula: see text] below the survey line. In data acquisition, we deployed a [Formula: see text] inline bipole current source and twenty [Formula: see text] inline potential receivers in various configurations along the [Formula: see text] survey line; we measured the input current step and received voltages simultaneously. Then we deconvolved the received voltages for the measured input current to determine the earth impulse responses. We show how both amplitude and traveltime information contained in the recovered earth impulse responses reveal the lateral location and approximate depth of the resistive reservoir. Integrating the impulse responses yields step responses, from which the asymptotic DC values were estimated and used in rapid 2D dipole-dipole DC resistivity inversion to find the top of the reservoir. A series of collated 1D full-waveform inversions performed on individual common midpoint gathers of the step responses position the top and bottom of a resistor corresponding to known gas in the reservoir and also obtain the transverse resistance. The results imply that the MTEM method can be used as a tool for hydrocarbon exploration and production.

The formation of magnetic ferric oxides in soils over underground gas storage reservoirs

The concepts of the specific mechanisms responsible for the formation of magnetic ferric oxides in soils over artificial gas storage reservoirs are considered for the first time. Upon the interaction of technogenic allochthonous methane with soil, some biogeochemical barriers are formed that are characterized by the accumulation of solid products resulting from the functioning and development of the soil. The pedogenic new formations are represented by fine magnetic ferric oxides of specific shape. They are the result of an elementary soil-forming process—oxidogenesis composed of a complex of microprocesses of biogenic and abiogenic nature.

Characterizing reservoir parameters by integrating seismic monitoring and geomechanics

The Cere-la-Ronde underground gas storage reservoir in the Paris Basin, a test site to study and enhance reservoir seismic monitoring, is a water-bearing sandstone reservoir in a faulted anticline structure. Seismic data acquired so far have generated a qualitative interpretation of the location of the gas bubble by studying fluid saturation (Meunier, 1998). However, between 1994 and 1997, two sonic logs showed subtle differences in VP not explained solely by saturation variations. Changes in pore pressure and stresses also influence reservoir elastic properties. Hence, we used geomechanical modeling to evaluate quantitatively how exploiting the gas reservoir impacts seismic measurements.

LEGAL ISSUES RELATING TO UNDERGROUND GAS STORAGE

This paper addresses various legal issues associated with underground gas storage, including the potential for commercial underground gas storage, legislative developments in relation to underground gas storage, specific legal issues in relation to commercial underground gas storage, matters to address in a commercial underground gas storage agreement, and the potential application of third party access regimes to underground gas storage reservoirs and facilities.

A Numerical Simulation Study on Mixing of Inert Cushion Gas with Working Gas in an Underground Gas Storage Reservoir

The cushion gas, providing the pressure energy necessary for withdrawal of working gas, makes up the largest part of the investment in underground gas storage projects. The suggested method of reducing this cost is the replacement of some part of the cushion gas with less expensive inert gas, such as nitrogen. In the replacement, there might be some problems due to mixing between natural gas and inert gas. Turkey has sharply increasing demand for natural gas. The constant imported gas and varying demand throughout the year due to the distinct seasons in the region are the reasons for severe need for gas storage in Turkey. There are no underground storage units in Turkey, but two gas reservoirs in the Thrace basin grant the potential for gas storage. From this point of view, the gas mixing problem is investigated for a typical gas reservoir by coupled use of a gas reservoir simulator and a transport model. A two-dimensional (2-D), single-phase numerical gas reservoir simulator is developed to obtain the pressure distribution during production and injection cycles. The velocity distribution is found by using these pressures. Then the two-dimensional transport model is used to calculate nitrogen concentrations around the injection wells. Both models are used effectively for controlling the mixing problem in an underground gas storage reservoir.

Optimization of Energy Production from an Underground Gas Storage Reservoir

The aim of this study is to supply the variable gas demand from an underground gas storage reservoir during heating season by an optimal selection of production rates. Because of the interaction of many influences, parameters, and previous decisions, determination of production rates becomes so involved that the manager can no longer use intuitive judgment. The objective, therefore, is to reach an optimum decision by applying the linear programming method in problem optimization. A candidate gas storage field in the Thrace Basin of Turkey is selected as a case study. The gas reservoir simulator developed provided the raw data for the formulation of a linear programming model. The solution process involves the use of superposition in time and space to develop the constraints for the optimization model. The constraints are based on the physical limitations of the system. Optimizing the production rates maximized the total amount of gas produced from the storage field and minimized the makeup gas according to the given constraints.

Microseismic surveying and repeated VSPs for monitoring an underground gas storage reservoir using permanent geophones

This article deals with the recent development of permanent downhole geophones and their use for both passive and active monitoring of an underground gas storage reservoir. This was part of a joint research project in which Compagnie Générale de Géophysique (CGG), ELF Aquitaine Production (EAP), Gaz de France (GDF), Institut Français du Pétrole (IFP) and TOTAL were associated. The aim of this project was to develop and test 3-component permanent sensors.

High Resolution Sequence Stratigraphy of Scythian-Early Anisian Continental Deposits of East of Paris Basin; Applications to Gas Storage: ABSTRACT

Continental facies of Scythian-early Anisian age (Buntsandstein) of East of the Paris Basin form the underground gas storage reservoir exploited by Gaz de France in the area of Nancy (east of France). An accurate sedimentological study and the application of Genetic Stratigraphy principles lead to the understanding of the deposition of fluvial, which form the reservoirs, and to the reconstruction of their geometries. The subsurface data are calibrated on outcrops. Three types of fluvial systems (braided, sinuous to straight and anastomosed) are defined. A special focus on anastomosed channels permits to differentiate a proximal and a distal facies. Study of laterally continuous outcrops induces recurrent cycles of thickness, velocity and time variations (few tens to hundred ka). These correspond to the highest frequence stratigraphic units, i.e. parasequences or genetic units. Maximum of channel and levee presentation occurs during base-level rise: base-level fall is characterised by amalgamation of sets, by-pass and erosion. This method is applied to subsurface data by an accurate calibration of well logs on cores. Thus the electric expression of genetic units corresponding to different environments is determined as well as the expression of base-level variations. The correlation of these units using stacking pattern method leads to amore » very fine subdivision of reservoir between timelines. Different orders of depositional sequences are pointed out, resulting in reservoir geometry characterization and permeability barrier distribution.« less

Experimental Micro-modeling and Numerical Simulation of Gas/Water Injection/Withdrawal Cycles as Applied to Underground Gas Storage Reservoir

SUMMARY This paper presents the results of an experimental and theoretical study of mechanisms responsible for the evolution and structure of the gas bubble during air-water injection-withdrawal cycles in 2D glass micromodels. Wetting films located in the corners of throat section conduct flow. Wetting film flow generates gas loop structure which increases injection efficiency and also the amount of trapped gas during withdrawal. During the next injection, blob distribution and wetting film flow induce a quicker breakthrough. Using a network simulator which takes into account wetting film flow, the influence of flow-rate on cycling is highlighted

Carbon isotope study of gas migration in underground gas storage reservoirs, Czechoslovakia

Migration of gas can be a serious problem in underground gas storage reservoirs. Injected gas can migrate through the reservoir and mix with local gas deposits and/or leak out. Isotope analysis is an effective method of identifying the different gases in the reservoir and tracing them through the storage zone in time and space. This paper reports an application of combined chemical and isotope analysis to three underground storage reservoirs in Czechoslovakia. All reservoirs are depleted gas fields where injected gas is mixed with native gases. In theZˇukov reservoir and an adjacent field, an extensive migration of injected gas was proved. Two types of biogenic gases were located in the Dunajovice reservoir, where only a part of the storage has mixed with the injected gas. Vertical migration of injected gas in stratified storage zones occurred in the Hrusˇky reservoir. The method seems to be applicable generally to distinguish injected or stored gas from the locally produced (native) gas.

Identification ofP/S-wave successions for application in microseismicity

Interpretation ofP/S-wave successions is used in induced or passive microseismicity. It makes the location of microseismic events possible when the triangulation technique cannot be used. To improve the reliability of the method, we propose a technique that identifies theP/S-wave successions among recorded wave successions. A polarization software is used to verify the orthogonality between theP andS polarization axes. The polarization parameters are computed all along the 3-component acoustic signal. Then the algorithm detects time windows within which the signal polarization axis is perpendicular to the polarization axis of the wave in the reference time window (representative of theP wave). The technique is demonstrated for a synthetic event, and three application cases are presented. The first one corresponds to a calibration shot within which the arrivals of perpendicularly polarized waves are correctly detected in spite of their moderate amplitude. The second example presents a microseismic event recorded during gas withdrawal from an underground gas storage reservoir. The last example is chosen as a counter-example, concerning a microseismic event recorded during a hydraulic fracturing job. The detection algorithm reveals that, in this case, the wave succession does not correspond to aP/S one. This implies that such an event must not be located by the method based on the interpretation of aP/S-wave succession as no such a succession is confirmed.

Applications of Geochemistry to Production, Storage, and Use of Natural Gas: ABSTRACT

Geochemistry has become a standard tool in the exploration for oil and gas. Many of the concepts and techniques developed for exploration can be used with equal effectiveness in identifying environmental problems related to the production, storage, and use of natural gas. Contamination of shallow aquifers as a result of improperly completed gas or oil wells is a problem in some area. Similarly, gas which has migrated from underground gas-storage reservoirs also can contaminate shallow aquifers. Many shallow aquifers contain relatively high concentrations of microbially generated methane, and therefore detection of hydrocarbons is not sufficient to determine the source of the gas. Although microbial gas can frequently be distinguished from thermogenic gases by the absence of ethane and heavier hydrocarbons, migration through hundreds or thousands of feet of porous sediments can result in changes in the chemical composition of the gas, analogous to the changes that occur as gas passes through a chromatographic column. Therefore, the absence of heavier hy rocarbons is not always an indicator of source. Carbon isotopic composition of methane, however, appears to be relatively unaffected by migrational changes and can generally be used to distinguish between microbial and thermogenic methane. Questions also frequently arise as to the source of gas from gas and oil wells around the margins of gas-storage reservoirs. Although chemical analysis can sometimes be useful in distinguishing between storage gas and native gas, these gases are sometimes chemically quite similar. In the event that the gases cannot be distinguished chemically, determination of the carbon and/or the hydrogen isotopic composition of the methane may still provide positive identification. Gases generated in sanitary landfills or marshy areas sometimes can be interpreted as being the result of leakage from pipelines. In addition to the techniques already mentioned, radiocarbon dating of methane can be used to identify gases from these sources. End_of_Article - Last_Page 245------------

Method for dimensioning underground oil and gas storage reservoirs (in German) : Paraschkewow, R; Nikolaew, N In: Rock Mechanics: Caverns and Pressure Shafts (papers to the ISRM Symposium, Aachen, 26–28 May 1982)V2, P979–982. Publ Rotterdam: A. A. Balkema, 1982

Method for dimensioning underground oil and gas storage reservoirs (in German) : Paraschkewow, R; Nikolaew, N In: Rock Mechanics: Caverns and Pressure Shafts (papers to the ISRM Symposium, Aachen, 26–28 May 1982)V2, P979–982. Publ Rotterdam: A. A. Balkema, 1982

Application of acoustic emission in the geotechnical area

A review of the application of acoustic emission (microseismic) techniques to the geotechnical area will be given. The approach will be somewhat historical starting with the pioneering work (in the 1930's) by Obert and Duvall in the coal and metal mines and continuing up to the present where currently a host of materials and engineering problems are being investigated with acoustic emission techniques. Acoustic emission measurements in the laboratory will be described which have given insight into the mechanical behavior of rocks, soils, coal and ice. Field applications which will be dealt with include determination of the stability of mine tunnels, open pit mine slopes, underground gas storage reservoirs, and earthem dikes and dams. The use of acoustic emission techniques in earthquake prediction studies will be reviewed. [The authors' work has been supported by EPA.]

Oil Displacement by Foams in Relation to Their Physical Properties in Porous Media

An investigation was conducted on the leading properties of water-gas foams and on their circulation in porous media. Results were interpreted by using the concept of the quality, or gas content, of foams in circulation. The quality is found to correlate with the foam viscosity as determined by Darcy's law in a given section of the porous medium. Introduction The use of water-gas foams has been developed in recent years in the field of oil and gas production. Because of their specific properties, foams have found a variety of uses. Some examples follow: 1. The well known use of foam as an aerated drilling fluid has been extended to workover and remedial well operations. Such light fluids are especially suitable for operating in decompressed reservoirs where traditional types of mud might cause damage. 2. The technology of exploiting underground gas storage reservoirs is also involved. Foams have been used to even out the gas injection profile in the case of stratified formations. They have also been suggested as a way of preventing gas leakage through the cap rock of storage reservoirs. 3. Attempts have been made to use foams as a secondary recovery fluid, although this practice is still quite limited. 4. More recently, such fluids have been used as a means of treating wells to reduce water or gas inflow during oil production. Tests of this technique have been carried out on Soviet fields. These divers possible uses of foams take advantage of their varied properties and also take into account their behavior in porous media. This is the point in particular that we shall deal with here. particular that we shall deal with here. Characteristic Properties of Foams The water foams considered here may be defined as relatively stable and homogeneous dispersions of gas in a foaming-agent solution containing 0.1 to 1.0 percent of a surfactant. percent of a surfactant. The simple aspect of such fluids (see Fig. 1) shows that the two phases that make them up are more of less associated with one another to form a structure that becomes more and more orderly as the proportion of gas becomes higher. proportion of gas becomes higher.