The influence of cavern length on deformation and barrier integrity around horizontal energy storage salt caverns

Horizontal cavern structures are discussed as a means to constructing energy storage facilities in bedded salt formations. During their design, the spacing of injection and discharge boreholes for solution mining is an important variable determining length, shape construction cost, but also influencing long-term mechanical behavior during oil or gas. Increasing borehole has been suggested order increase capacity rate while decreasing cost its consequences have yet be explored. In this paper, geometries constructed with different spacings obtained using simulation model. Static creep analyses conducted based on these geometrical models discuss impact maximum length caverns. The results show that deformation horizontal induces limited volume change depending operating pressures. initially increases roof displacement volumetric convergence, plateaus after 600 m, i.e. 5 6 times cross-sectional diameter. A similar observed terms selected integrity criteria. indicate principal possibility access larger volumes higher speed by increasing longer than designed