<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Effective planning of the cavern field involves determining the optimal pillar width between the caverns and the feasible number of caverns based on geological and mining conditions. The proper design of the pillar width is crucial to ensure the stability of the cavern field and the rational utilization of the rock salt deposit. The stability of the pillars is a complex problem influenced by various factors, including rock salt creep, changes in the cavern pressure during operational cycles, mechanical parameters, and failure criteria of the rock salt. To address this problem, the stability of the cavern field in relation to the number of caverns and pillar widths is evaluated. The evaluation is based on the following criteria: displacements, von Mises stress, strength/stress ratio, and safety factor. Three variations of pillar width and three variants of cavern fields, differing in the number of caverns, are considered. Results show that the allowable pillar width is affected by the number of caverns in the cavern field. Moreover, the stability analysis reveals uneven stress and deformation distribution in the cavern field. When the pillar width is 2.0–3.0 times the diameter of a cavern, pillars at the centre exhibit poorer stability than those at the edges of the cavern field. However, with a narrower pillar width, the highest displacements occur at the field's edges. The findings of this study provide a valuable date in the planning, design, and operation of new cavern fields for the underground storage of energy sources such as oil, natural gas, hydrogen, and compressed air in rock salt deposits.</p>
</abstract>

Effective planning of the cavern field involves determining the optimal pillar width between the caverns and the feasible number of caverns based on geological and mining conditions. The proper design of the pillar width is crucial to ensure the stability of the cavern field and the rational utilization of the rock salt deposit. The stability of the pillars is a complex problem influenced by various factors, including rock salt creep, changes in the cavern pressure during operational cycles, mechanical parameters, and failure criteria of the rock salt. To address this problem, the stability of the cavern field in relation to the number of caverns and pillar widths is evaluated. The evaluation is based on the following criteria: displacements, von Mises stress, strength/stress ratio, and safety factor. Three variations of pillar width and three variants of cavern fields, differing in the number of caverns, are considered. Results show that the allowable pillar width is affected by the number of caverns in the cavern field. Moreover, the stability analysis reveals uneven stress and deformation distribution in the cavern field. When the pillar width is 2.0–3.0 times the diameter of a cavern, pillars at the centre exhibit poorer stability than those at the edges of the cavern field. However, with a narrower pillar width, the highest displacements occur at the field's edges. The findings of this study provide a valuable date in the planning, design, and operation of new cavern fields for the underground storage of energy sources such as oil, natural gas, hydrogen, and compressed air in rock salt deposits.

Effect of pillar width on the stability of the salt cavern field for energy storage

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Recourse Management

Studia Geotechnica et Mechanica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Effective planning of the cavern field involves determining the optimal pillar width between the caverns and the feasible number of caverns based on geological...

Effect of pillar width on the stability of the salt cavern field for energy storage

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Jun 20, 2024

Page range: -

Received: Oct 31, 2023

Accepted: May 15, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sgem-2024-0009

Keywords
salt caverns for energy storage, efficient pillar width, rational planning of cavern field, stability of cavern field, safety of storage operation

© 2024 Katarzyna Cyran et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Effect of pillar width on the stability of the salt cavern field for energy storage

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Jun 20, 2024

Page range: -

Received: Oct 31, 2023

Accepted: May 15, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sgem-2024-0009

Keywordssalt caverns for energy storage, efficient pillar width, rational planning of cavern field, stability of cavern field, safety of storage operation

© 2024 Katarzyna Cyran et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
salt caverns for energy storage, efficient pillar width, rational planning of cavern field, stability of cavern field, safety of storage operation