Numerical Simulation of Gas Storage Caverns in Qom Region

TL;DR

This paper presents a numerical simulation study of gas storage caverns in salt formations in Qom, Iran, focusing on stability, cavern interaction, and optimal spacing using creep models.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed numerical modeling approach considering geological and geomechanical factors for salt cavern design in Qom.

Findings

Cavern interaction occurs at less than two times the cavern diameter.

Increasing CTCD to 2.5 times reduces cavern interaction.

Numerical models help determine safe cavern spacing.

Abstract

The rock mechanical design of gas storage cavern in salt requires the analysis of the stability and the usability of the cavern over the planned operating time period. The design includes the build up of a rock mass model and a numerical model taking into account the geological situation, load condition, geometrical condition, and material parameters. In this paper multiple caverns in salt formation with geological and geomechanical situation in Qom (central part of Iran) was investigated a using creep model. Minimum safe center to center distances (CTCD) of multiple horizontal caverns also were studied. CTCD of caverns interact at less than two times of cavern diameter. With increasing the CTCD to 2.5 times cavern diameters, diminish most interaction.