NATURAL GAS STORAGE

* Above Ground Storage

* Below Ground Storage

Sem. VI, PE 633, 2012-13

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Natural Gas Storage

Above-ground Storage (limited to small volumes 10 MCF to 1,000
MCF)
- Medium pr. Spheres (construction as per ASME code)
- Cylindrical Containers
Capacity of gas storage vessel is amount of free gas it will deliver in
operating range
Q = V (m n)
A
Where:
Q = cu. ft. of gas, at atmospheric pr. that vessel will deliver between
prs. m & n
V = volume of vessel, cu. Ft.
m = maximum OP, psig
n = minimum OP, psig
A = atmospheric pressure, psia (14.7 psia)
High Pressure vessels, usually horizontal tanks (bullets) are used for
storage (50-60psig), as per ASME unfired vessel code
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Underground Storage of natural gas is

accommodated
in
following
major
structures:
Depleted dry gas reservoirs
Reservoirs in aquifers
Depleted combined O & G reservoirs
Depleted oil reservoirs
Other storage facilities are:
Solution mined caverns
Bottle & pipe type holders
Transmission pipelines
Converted mines
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Definitions of Underground Storage Terms

Underground storage of gas pertains
to gas that has been transferred from its
original location to an underground reservoir
or container, for the efficient use of pipeline
capacity all year and the most effective
delivery to markets, especially during peak
demand periods.
storage facilities are located near consumption
markets. However, some reservoirs have been
located in the producing areas.
important function of underground storage is
to equalize supply and demand. This demand is
met on an hourly, daily and seasonal basis.
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Aquifer Storage: The storage of gas underground in

porous and permeable rock stratum, the pore spaces of which
were originally filled with water and in which the stored gas
is confined by suitable structure, permeability barriers and
hydrostatic water pressure.
Current Gas: The total volume of extraneous gas injected
into a storage reservoir in excess of the total cushion gas.
This is the total maximum volume of gas available for
delivery during any input-output cycle.
Cushion gas: The total volume of unrecoverable and
economically recoverable native or foreign gas which exerts a
pressure, within the storage reservoir, from 0 psig to the
pressure in a storage reservoir which will maintain a required
minimum rate of delivery during any output cycle.
Cushion Gas, Capitalized or Foreign: That part of the
volume or injected cushion gas which is extraneous to the
storage
reservoir. Output of gas from a storage reservoir,
Deliverability:
Cushion
Native:
That per
part24
of hours,
the volume
of cushion
expressed Gas,
as a range
in MCF
at a given
total
gas
which
indigenous
to the
storage
reservoir.
volume
ofisgas
in storage
with
a corresponding
reservoir
pressure and at a given flowing pressure at the wellhead.
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Foreign Gas: Volume of extraneous gas injected into the storage

reservoir which exerts, within the storage reservoir, a gauge pressure
above that gauge pressure (psi) at which storage was started.

Formation Storage (or Storage zone ): The drillers name of that

stratum of the earths crust within which the storage reservoir is
located.

Inject-ability: The input of gas to a storage reservoir, expressed as a

rate in MCF per 24 hours at a given total volume of gas in storage with a
corresponding reservoir pressure and at a given flowing pressure at the
wellhead.

Injection Season: Those months of the year in which the normal net
flow of gas is into the storage reservoir.

Input, total: Volume of foreign or extraneous gas injected into a

storage reservoir during a given period of time.

Maximum Gas in Storage: The total highest volumetric balance of

total input over total output of gas in storage.

Native Gas: The volume of gas indigenous to the storage reservoir.

This should include total volume of unrecoverable gas and economically
recoverable gas within the storage reservoir, which exerts a pressure
from 0 psig to the gage pressure (psi) at which gas storage is started.

Output, total: Volume of gas withdrawn from a storage reservoir

during a given period of time.
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Pressure, Ultimate Reservoir:

The maximum gage pressure psi

(either wellhead or bottom hole, as designated) exerted by the volume of gas at
the ultimate reservoir capacity.

Reservoir, Storage: That part of a storage formation or zone having a defined

limit of porosity which can effectively be used to retain gas at a given ultimate
reservoir pressure.

Ultimate Reservoir Capacity: The total volume of gas within a reservoir

which exerts a pressure from 0 psig to the maximum or ultimate reservoir gage
pressure (psi). This should include all native gas (recoverable and
unrecoverable), cushion gas, and current gas.

Well, Gas Storage:

A bore hole extending from the surface into the storage

reservoir, which is used primarily for either the input or output of gas or for
observation of pressure, or the extraction or injection of fluids in connection
with a gas storage project.

Reservoir Capacity:

Total reservoir capacity is subdivided into two main

categories: cushion gas and working gas.

Cushion gas is the amount of gas in the reservoir which is necessary for a
minimum operating pressure, and cannot be considered for delivery. This
cushion gas consists of native gas (originally in place) and injected foreign gas.
In the case of a depleted gas field, a certain amount of foreign gas must be
injected to bring the reservoir pressure up to a certain operating pressure.

Working gas is the amount of foreign gas injected in a reservoir which is

available for delivery.
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Slide - 9 is a sketch of the breakdown of gas in an underground gas storage

Diagrammatic Sketch Of Breakdown of Gas

in an Underground Gas Storage reservoir

Simplified Diagram of Terms Describing

Petroleum Inventories & Storage Capacities

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