Abstract
This paper focused on the phenomenon and treatment of water inflow abnormal increase in a certain underground water-sealed storage cavern located in the southeast of China. The phenomenon of water inflow abnormal increase occurred during the impoundment in the airtightness test, as storage cavern conditions changed from construction to operational condition. There are few reports of such changes in previous studies. First, a concept seepage model was given to describe the seepage law of a storage cavern under different conditions, including construction, ideal operational and actual operational conditions. The equivalent expression was given for the water inflow under these three conditions. It was found that the areas of intensive seepage were responsible for the water inflow abnormal increase by establishing the hydraulic connection between access tunnel and storage cavern. Second, a theoretical study was conducted to identify intensive seepage areas around the access tunnels to guide the treatment of water inflow abnormal increase. The parameter \(\frac{{\mathrm{Q}}_{\mathrm{a}}\mathop{-}{\mathrm{Q}}_{\mathrm{b}}}{{\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{a}}\mathop{-}{\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{b}}}\), representing the degree of variation in water inflow influenced by the variation of the water level in the access tunnel, was proposed as an identification index for intensive seepage areas. Finally, a detailed introduction and review of the water inflow abnormal increase in certain cases was provided. A method was proposed for intensive seepage area identification in an access tunnel, ingeniously using the impoundment process during a tightness test. Some suggestions and guidance were provided for the proposed method. We believe that this case study could provide guidance on water inflow control for similar projects.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
All available data are provided in the manuscript.
References
Chen YF, Ling XM, Liu MM, Hu R, Yang ZB (2018) Statistical distribution of hydraulic conductivity of rocks in deep-incised valleys, Southwest China. J Hydrol 566:216–226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.09.016
Gao X, Yan EC, Yeh TCJ, Wang YL, Liang Y, Hao YH (2018) Reliability analysis of hydrologic containment of underground storage of liquefied petroleum gas. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 79:12–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2018.04.037
GB 50218–2014 (2014) Standard for engineering classification of rock masses. Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing (In Chinese)
GB 50455–2020 (2020) Code for design of underground oil storage in rock caverns. Beijing: Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People’s Republic of China (In Chinese)
Goodall DC, Aberg B, Brekke TL (1988) Fundamentals of gas containment in unlined rock caverns. Rock Mech Rock Eng 21(4):235–258. https://doi.org/10.1007/Bf01020278
Jo YJ, Lee JY (2010) Time series analysis of hydrologic data obtained from a man-made undersea LPG cavern. Eng Geol 113(1–4):70–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2010.03.002
Karatela E, Taheri A (2018) Three-dimensional hydro-mechanical model of borehole in fractured rock mass using discrete element method. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 53:263–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2018.02.032
Kazemi H, Sarukkalige R, Shao QX (2021) Evaluation of non-uniform groundwater level data using spatiotemporal modeling. Groundw Sustain Dev. 15:100659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2021.100659
Kim J, Cho W, Chung IM, Heo JH (2007) On the stochastic simulation procedure of estimating critical hydraulic gradient for gas storage in unlined rock caverns. Geosci J 11(3):249–258. https://doi.org/10.1007/Bf02913938
Lee J, Kim JH, Kim HM, Chang HW (2010) Statistical approach to determine the salinized ground water flow path and hydrogeochemical features around the underground LPG cavern, Korea. Hydrol Process 21(26):3615–3626. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.6589
Li SC, Wang ZC, Ping Y, Zhou Y, Zhang L (2014) Discrete element analysis of hydro-mechanical behavior of a pilot underground crude oil storage facility in granite in China. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 40(40):75–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2013.09.010
Li Y, Chen YF, Zhang GJ, Liu Y, Zhou CB (2017) A numerical procedure for modeling the seepage field of water-sealed underground oil and gas storage caverns. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 66(6):56–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2017.04.002
Li ZK, Wang KZ, Wang AM, Liu H (2009) Experimental study of water curtain performance for gas storage in an underground cavern. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 1(1):89–96. https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1235.2009.00089
Li ZK, Lu BQ, Zou J, Xu B, Zhang ZZ (2016) Design and operation problems related to water curtain system for underground water-sealed oil storage caverns. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 8(5):689–696. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2016.06.003
Li ZQ, Xue YG, Liang JY, Qiu DH, Su MX, Kong FM (2020) Performance assessment of the water curtain system: a monitoring system in an underground water-sealed oil reservoir in China. Bull Eng Geol Env 79:3635–3648. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-020-01792-0
Liu H, Qiao LP, Wang SH, Li W, Liu J, Wang ZC (2021) Quantifying the containment efficiency of underground water-sealed oil storage caverns: method and case study. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2020.103797
Liu J, Zhao XD, Zhang SJ, Xie LK (2018) Analysis of support requirements for underground water-sealed oil storage cavern in China. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 71:36–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2017.08.013
Liu Q, Liu J, Pan Y, Kong X, Hong K (2017) A case study of TBM performance prediction using a Chinese rock mass classification system – hydropower classification (HC) method. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 65:140–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2017.03.002
Mawire A (2013) Experimental and simulated thermal stratification evaluation of an oil storage tank subjected to heat losses during charging. Appl Energ 108(11):459–465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.03.061
Mejías M, Renard P, Glenz D (2009) Hydraulic testing of low-permeability formations: a case study in the granite of Cadalso de los Vidrios. Spain Eng Geol 107(3–4):88–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2009.05.010
Mohanty S, Vandergrift T (2012) Long term stability evaluation of an old underground gas storage cavern using unique numerical methods. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 30:145–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2012.02.015
Morfeldt CO (1983) Storage of petroleum products in man-made caverns in Sweden. Bull Eng Geol Environ 28(1):17–30. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02594793
Nilsen B (2021) Norwegian oil and gas storage in rock caverns – technology based on experience from hydropower development. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 13(2):479–486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2020.11.004
Onyejekwe S, Kang X, Ge L (2016) Evaluation of the scale of fluctuation of geotechnical parameters by autocorrelation function and semivariogram function. Eng Geol 214:43–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2016.09.014
Pardoen B, Talandier J, Collin F (2016) Permeability evolution and water transfer in the excavation damaged zone of a ventilated gallery. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 85:192–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2016.03.007
Qiao L, Wang Z, Li S, Bi L, Xu Z (2017) Assessing containment properties of underground oil storage caverns: methods and a case study. Geosci J 21(4):1–15. https://doi.org/10.11779/CJGE201611013
Qiu DH, Fu K, Xue YG, Li ZQ, Ning ZX, Zhou BH, Tao YF (2021) Seepage field prediction of underground water-sealed oil storage cavern based on long short-term memory model. Environ Earth Sci 80(7). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09892-0.
Ravandi EG, Rahmannejad R, Karimi-Nasab S, Sarrafi A (2016) Sensitivity analysis of effective parameters on water curtain performance for crude oil storage in Iranian URC using the 2(k) factorial design and numerical modeling. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 58:247–256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2016.06.001
Ren F, Ma GW, Wang Y, Fan LF (2016) Pipe network model for unconfined seepage analysis in fractured rock masses. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 88:183–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2016.07.023
Shahbazi A, Saeidi A, Chesnaux R (2020) A review of existing methods used to evaluate the hydraulic conductivity of a fractured rock mass. Eng Geol 265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105438
Shen YJ, Yan RX, Yang GS, Xu GL, Wang SY (2017) Comparisons of evaluation factors and application effects of the new [BQ]GSI system with international rock mass classification systems. Geotech Geol Eng 35(6):2523–2548. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-017-0259-z
Shi L, Zhang B, Wang HX, Zhang HJ, Peng ZH, Li JY (2019) Investigation on the causes of abnormal increase of water inflow in underground water-sealed storage system. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 87:174–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2019.02.013
Shi L, Zhang B, Wang L, Wang HX, Zhang HJ (2018) Functional efficiency assessment of the water curtain system in an underground water-sealed oil storage cavern based on time-series monitoring data. Eng Geol 239:79–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2018.03.015
Wang ZC, Li SC, Qiao LP (2015) Design and test aspects of a water curtain system for underground oil storage caverns in China. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 48:20–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2015.01.009
Wei XF, Liu XL, Duan YL, Feng JM (2017) Property transformation of a modified sulfoaluminate grouting material under pressure circulation for a water-sealed underground oil cavern. Constr Buiid Mater 140:210–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.02.137
Xu ZH, Bu ZH, Gao B, Pan DD, Lin P, Nie LC (2021) Sensitivity analysis and prediction method for water inflow of underground oil storage caverns in fractured porous media. Int J Geomech 21(2):04020251. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001894
Xu ZH, Gao B, Li SC, Zhang LW, Zhao SL, Shi XS (2018) A groundwater seal evaluation method based on water inflow for underground oil storage caverns. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 82:265–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2018.08.030
Zhang B, Shi L, Yu X, Qi SW (2019) Assessing the water-sealed safety of an operating underground crude oil storage adjacent to a new similar cavern – a case study in China. Eng Geol 249:257–272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.01.008
Zhang QH, Liu QB, He GF (2020) Reexamining the necessity of adding water curtain borehole with improved understanding of water sealing criterion. Rock Mech Rock Eng 53(SI):4623–4638. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-020-02194-0
Zhang XP, Ming L, Mao D, Zhao Z, Liu H (2017) Design and construction of shaft for rock caverns in Singapore. Geomech Eng 13(1):173–194. https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2017.13.1.173
Zhuang DY, Tang CA, Liang ZZ, Ma K, Wang SY, Liang JZ (2017) Effects of excavation unloading on the energy-release patterns and stability of underground water-sealed oil storage caverns. Tunn Undergr Sp Tech 61:122–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2016.09.011
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the editors and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions that significantly helped improve the quality of this paper.
Funding
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41972300, 41572301 and 40902086) and by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Funded Project (Project No. 2021M701083).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Shi, L., Zhang, B., Zhang, J. et al. Experimental observation and enlightenment from the water inflow abnormal increase for underground water-sealed storage cavern: a case study. Bull Eng Geol Environ 82, 28 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-022-03041-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-022-03041-y