Finite-Element Analysis of Salt Caverns Employed in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve

摘要

A finite-element computer program has been developed to accurately predict the creep response of rock salt. This program successfully predicted the creep-closure rates of several caverns using an approximation of the cavern geometry and material properties from the site. The caverns at Bryan Mound, Texas have been analyzed with this program by approximating each with a two-dimensional axisymmetric finite-element mesh. Initial leaching and thermal effects were treated in an approximate manner. An element deletion technique was used to simulate the leaching which occurs when oil is withdrawn and replaced with fresh water. Each cavern was analyzed for thirty years and an indication of the long-term stability and volume change was obtained. This information will be used in the formulation of operating procedures for the cavern. 21 figures, 4 tables. (ERA citation 08:027833)