NATURAL GAS CAVERN STORAGE AND THE ISSUE OF DISPOSAL OF THE FLUIDS

摘要

With the increase in the demand for natural gas in this country, the value of Market Area Storage has become a critical issue that needs to be examined. In many areas in the United States, bedded and domal salt caverns are being used for high-deliverability storage and salt-cavern storage will continue to be an important component of the natural gas supply industry. Successful commercialization of this type of storage project depends upon the following factors: 1) sufficient thickness of the sa 2) depth of the sa 3) location of the facility; 4) availability of a freshwater supply for the dissolution process; and 5) an acceptable method of fluid disposal. One of the most important issues in dealing with this type of project is finding an acceptable, cost-effective method for the disposal of the fluids generated during the salt-dissolution process. Current interpretation of the Federal Regulations regarding this issue varies widely among U.S. EPA Regional Offic es and Primacy States. Some of these agencies allow for disposal of the startup or excess fluids into Class II injection wells, while others require disposal of these types of fluids into Class I non-hazardous injection wells. The lack of consensus on this issue of disposal needs to be resolved. This can be accomplished through: 1) greater communication between U.S. EPA, Primacy States, and the industry; 2) a detailed study of existing cavern storage facilities where fluids are being disposed into Class II wells; 3) an evaluation of the Federal Regulations to see if a national consensus can be reached; and 4) if a consensus cannot be reached then what changes need to be made in the regulations to make this an acceptable Class II disposal practice.