Numerical investigations of thermally induced fractures in rock salt

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceedingConference contributionResearchpeer review

Authors

  • D. Zapf
  • K. Staudtmeister
  • B. Leuger

Research Organisations

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Details

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017
Pages594-600
Number of pages7
ISBN (electronic)9781510857582
Publication statusPublished - 2017
Event51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017 - San Francisco, United States
Duration: 25 Jun 201728 Jun 2017

Publication series

Name51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017
Volume1

Abstract

For the storage of natural gas, compressed air or hydrogen in rock salt caverns it is necessary to carry out numerical calculations for the dimensioning of the relevant operation parameters. These are on the one hand the allowable maximum and necessary minimum internal pressure to ensure a gastight and stable cavern over decades and on the other hand the limitation of the withdrawal and refill rates between these geomechanical limits. During the withdrawal phases of the gas the temperature decreases which can lead to stress states in tensile regions at the cavern wall. Because the tensile strength of rock salt is relatively low compared to its compressive strength it is likely that tensile stresses lead to discrete fractures orthogonal to the direction of the tensile stresses. If fractures of this kind are created-whether vertical or horizontal-the gas will penetrate into the fracture at the relevant pressure and further extend the length of the fractures under certain circumstances. There are currently research projects in work that can describe whether the fractures might propagate into the not by temperature changes influenced rock salt mass during repeated cyclic pressure changes. Salt caverns cannot be entered but only explored by sonar measurements, with which it is not possible to detect tensile fractures at the cavern wall. Within this paper examples from mining configurations will be shown where temperature changes lead to tensile fractures in the surrounding rock salt. These fractures have been well mapped while the temperature development is well documented. The paper deals with recalculations under consideration of different salt properties of the temperature distributions and the resulting stress state in the surrounding rock salt mass. The stress calculation results and the consequences for the dimensioning of natural gas caverns are going to be discussed and assessed. A special aspect within this topic is the cooling of the cavern surrounding rock salt mass after the leaching phase with relatively cool fresh water and the influence on the first operation period.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cite this

Numerical investigations of thermally induced fractures in rock salt. / Zapf, D.; Staudtmeister, K.; Leuger, B.
51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017. 2017. p. 594-600 (51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017; Vol. 1).

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceedingConference contributionResearchpeer review

Zapf, D, Staudtmeister, K & Leuger, B 2017, Numerical investigations of thermally induced fractures in rock salt. in 51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017. 51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017, vol. 1, pp. 594-600, 51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017, San Francisco, California, United States, 25 Jun 2017.
Zapf, D., Staudtmeister, K., & Leuger, B. (2017). Numerical investigations of thermally induced fractures in rock salt. In 51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017 (pp. 594-600). (51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017; Vol. 1).
Zapf D, Staudtmeister K, Leuger B. Numerical investigations of thermally induced fractures in rock salt. In 51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017. 2017. p. 594-600. (51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017).
Zapf, D. ; Staudtmeister, K. ; Leuger, B. / Numerical investigations of thermally induced fractures in rock salt. 51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017. 2017. pp. 594-600 (51st US Rock Mechanics / Geomechanics Symposium 2017).
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