Energy storage salt cavern construction and evaluation technology

Abstract

With the demand for peak-shaving of renewable energy and the approach of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, salt caverns are expected to play a more effective role in oil and gas storage, compressed air energy storage, large-scale hydrogen storage, and temporary carbon dioxide storage. In order to effectively utilize the underground space of salt mines on a sound scientific basis, the construction of salt caverns for energy storage should implement the maximum utilization of salt layers, improve the cavern construction efficiency, shorten the construction period, and ensure cavern safety. In this work, built upon design experience and on-site practice in salt cavern gas storage, the four pivotal construction stages – conceptual design, solution mining simulation, tightness assessment, and stability evaluation – have been thoroughly enhanced, strengthening the technical framework for salt cavern energy storage.