Storage of Natural Gas

Unit V
 Points to be discussed
• Significance
• Storage methods
 Storage methods
• Cryogenic
• Underground
 Cryogenic storage
• Construction
• Types-double-wall and membrane type
Oct 2011 A to Z of Natural Gas and LNG 8
Oct 2011 A to Z of Natural Gas and LNG
9
 Single containment tanks
• Tank – 9% nickel steel on inner side & carbon
steel on outer side & insulation in between
the two.
 Double containment tanks

• Inner tank design - 9% nickel steel (Thick)

(same as full containment tank)
• Outer tank – pre-stressed concrete design
with a thin 9% nickel steel liner.
• Annular space - perlite insulation
• Roof of outer tank – carbon steel (no
insulation)
• Boil-off is higher
 Membrane storage tank
• Similar to those used on LNG carriers
• Insulation transmits stresses generated due to
the load of LNG to outer shell
• This technique helps build units with very
large capacities
 Other storage tanks
• Spherical
• Buried
 Underground storage
• Depleted reservoirs
• Aquifers
• Salt-cavern storage
 Depleted reservoirs
• Most wide spread method
• Most economical method
• Simple technique
• Permeability
• Porosity
• Verification of production targets
• Verification of tightness of cap rock
An Aquifer
 Aquifer Phases
• Injection phase
• Withdrawal phase
• Cushion gas- to allow withdrawals, to prevent
flooding of the producing well, to allow rapid
resumption (beginning after interruption) of
injection phase, accounts for a large share of
investment
 Salt-cavern storage
• Limited capacity
• Relatively recent type of storage
• Obtained by dissolution (leaching) of deep salt beds
• Required volume of cushion gas smaller than that
required in an aquifer
• Used only if aquifer storage is not feasible
• Larger max gas flow rate than that obtainable in an
aquifer
• Viscous friction in an aquifer slows down the gas
flow