Publications

Numerical simulation evaluating the structural integrity of spr caverns in the big hill salt dome

Park, B.Y.; Herrick, C.G.; Ehgartner, Brian L.; Lee, Moo Y.; Sobolik, Steven R.

Three dimensional finite element analyses were performed to evaluate the structural integrity of SPR caverns located at the Big Hill site. These state-of-the-art analyses simulate the current site configuration with the addition of five caverns to produce an expanded facility. The model simulates 19 caverns in a systematic pattern with equal spacing and uniform cavern size and geometry. Operations, including both cavern workover and cavern enlargement due to leaching, were modeled to account for as many as five future oil drawdowns. The web of salt separating the caverns was reduced due to leaching. The impacts on cavern stability, underground creep closure, surface subsidence, infrastructure, and well integrity were quantified. The analyses include a recently derived damage criterion obtained from laboratory testing of Big Hill salt cores. From a structural viewpoint, the caverns were found to be stable. The thick caprock at Big Hill mitigated the predicted subsidence rates and damage to surface structures is not expected to occur. © 2006, ARMA, American Rock Mechanics Association.