Method for Simulation and Optimization of Underground Gas Storage Performance

Abstract

Proper simulation and identification of the flow potential of a gas storage plant is only possible if the nonlinear limits related to cavern operation and an optimal strategy (set of decision rules) related to the plant operation mode are considered. An efficient operation of a storage plant is a challenging task due to the complexity of cavern rock mechanical restrictions, as well as other technical restrictions imposed on different plant devices. The scope of this paper is to cater for these challenges by defining a set of different operational strategies, i.e., sets of actions which constitute the predefined high level mechanism that allows for an economic and efficient plant operation. In this paper, one specific strategy example is described in detail. Specifically, we give simulation results and outline an optimization procedure designed to maximize the plant’s performance capabilities. The general plant model and the form of rock mechanical restrictions of cavern operation are reviewed, and the construction of the computational algorithm is analyzed.