Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Phase 1
Cavern
Formation
Phase 2
Solution Mining
Phase 3
Debrining
Phase 4
Gas Trading
Caverns are
created in salt
rock up to 1 km
below the
surface
Blanket gas (Nitrogen)
controls cavern shape
Fresh water is
injected to create
the cavern
Brine is disposed of
either at sea or for use
in the production of
chemical feedstock
Once the cavity is
fully formed it can
be used to store
natural gas
FIGURE 8.4
Salt bed gas storage cavern.
• Excellent seals: the cavern walls are essentially impermeable barriers.
• Small risk of reservoir gas leaks.
Disadvantages include:
• Long distance from the winter heating market to the north.
• Costly initial start-up: disposal of saturated salt water generated dur-
ing solution mining may be costly and environmentally problematic.
The other types of storage contribute significantly smaller volumes of gas to
the overall storage portfolio.
Liquid Natural Gas
Liquid natural gas (LNG) facilities provide delivery capacity during peak
periods when market demand exceeds pipeline deliverability (Figure 8.5).
LNG storage tanks possess a number of advantages over underground stor-
age. Natural gas as a liquid at approximately -163°C (-260°F) occupies about
