Optimal design of underground gas storage

• Published in: Transactions on the built environment Vol. 112; pp. 389 - 399
• Main Authors: KRAVANJA, S, ZLENDER, B
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Southampton WIT 2010; W I T Press
• Subjects: Applied geophysics; Applied sciences; Caverns; Design; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Geomechanics; Internal geophysics; Linear programming; Mathematical programming; Nonlinear programming; Objective function; Operational research and scientific management; Operational research. Management science; Optimization; Rock masses; Rocks; Underground caverns; Underground storage; Underground storage tanks; Costs; Rock mechanics; Constraint; Underground storage; Geophysics; Non linear programming; Rock mass; Modeling; Optimization; Optimal design; Cost function; Lining; Objective function; Safety
• DOI: 10.2495/HPSM100361
• ISBN: 1845644646; 9781845644642
• ISSN: 1746-4498

This paper presents the cost optimization of an underground gas storage (UGS), designed from lined rock caverns (LRCs). The optimization is performed by the non-linear programming (NLP) approach. For this purpose, the NLP optimization model OPTUGS was developed. The model comprises the cost objective function, which is subjected to geomechanical and design constraints. It is proposed that the geotechnical problem will be solved simultaneously. In such a way, the optimization enables not only that the solution is optimal, but also that the rock mass achieves enough strength, stability and safety. It is proposed that the optimization will be performed for the phase of the conceptual design. The numerical example at the end of the paper demonstrates the efficiency of the introduced optimization approach.