US3318380A - Method of forming fluid-confined underground storage reservoirs - Google Patents

Method of forming fluid-confined underground storage reservoirs Download PDF

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Publication number
US3318380A
US3318380A US30436563A US3318380A US 3318380 A US3318380 A US 3318380A US 30436563 A US30436563 A US 30436563A US 3318380 A US3318380 A US 3318380A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
fluid
formation
reservoir
borehole
barrier
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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English (en)
Inventor
Ralph E Tenny
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Shell USA Inc
Original Assignee
Shell Oil Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to US30436563 priority Critical patent/US3318380A/en
Application filed by Shell Oil Co filed Critical Shell Oil Co
Priority to FR986028A priority patent/FR1410461A/fr
Priority to BE652229D priority patent/BE652229A/xx
Priority to DK416564A priority patent/DK109129C/da
Priority to GB3455264A priority patent/GB1067651A/en
Priority to CH1105664A priority patent/CH444042A/de
Priority to ES0303389A priority patent/ES303389A1/es
Priority to NL6409796A priority patent/NL6409796A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3318380A publication Critical patent/US3318380A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C3/00—Vessels not under pressure
    • F17C3/005—Underground or underwater containers or vessels
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B41/00—Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00
    • E21B41/005—Waste disposal systems
    • E21B41/0057—Disposal of a fluid by injection into a subterranean formation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2201/00—Vessel construction, in particular geometry, arrangement or size
    • F17C2201/05—Size
    • F17C2201/052—Size large (>1000 m3)
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2225/00—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2225/04—Handled fluid after transfer, i.e. state of fluid after transfer from the vessel characterised by other properties of handled fluid after transfer
    • F17C2225/042—Localisation of the filling point
    • F17C2225/043—Localisation of the filling point in the gas
    • F17C2225/045—Localisation of the filling point in the gas with a dip tube

Definitions

  • Another object of the invention is to provide a method of creating subterranean storage reservoirs in permeable formations without the necessity of removing the material of the formation through excavation, Washing or other physical removal procedures.
  • Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a method wherein a fluid barrier may be created within a subterranean formation to confine a valuable fluid within the boundaries defined by said barrier.
  • the relatively impermeable layer bounding the permeable formation in which it is desired to form the reservoir may be either a natural formation or an artificially created barried layer.
  • the reservoir may be formed either above or below the impermeable layer, depending upon the specific gravity of the fluid desired to be stored. It is to be understood, that variations in the individual characteristics of a particular application of the invention are intended to be encompassed by the generic concept of the invention.
  • FIGURES l. 2 and 3 diagrammatically illustrate vertical sections showing the sequential steps of forming and utilizing an underground storage reservoir in a permeable formation located below a relatively impermeable layer according to one embodiment of the invention
  • FIGURE 6 schematically illustrates a sectioned plan 3 view of a series of individual reservoirs, similar to those illustrated in FIGURES l to 4, used to define the boundaries of a relatively large reservoir area;
  • FIGURE 10 illustrates a sectioned plan view taken on line 1010 of FIGURE 9.
  • FIGURE 12 diagrammatically illustrates a vertical section of a formation having a reservoir formed therein corresponding substantially to that of FIGURE 9, but differing therefrom in that the cone-shaped reservoir boundaries are inverted.
  • FIGURE 1 therein is illustrated a well borehole 10 extending through an impermeable formation 11 and partially traversing a permeable sand formation 12 in which it is desired to form a storage reservoir.
  • the borehole 10 has extending therethrough a casing string 13 provided with perforations 14 at the end section thereof traversing the permeable formation 12.
  • a tubing string 15 extends concentrically through the casing string 13 to a position wherein its open end protrudes slightly below that of the casing string.
  • a cap member 16 closes the upper end of the string 10 and is provided with sealing means whereby the string 15 may be extended therethrough.
  • a fluid conduit 17 extends into sealed communication with the interior of the casing string 13 below the cap 16.
  • FIGURE 4 differs from that of FIGURE 3 in that the stored fluid designated by the numeral 31 is heavier than the aqueous fluid indicted by the numeral 32.
  • the introduction and removal of stored fluids are affected through the tubing string 33 corresponding to the tubing string 15.
  • the gel solution of the annular ring 30 is initially injected and displaced through a casing string 34 corresponding to the string 13.
  • suitable packing arrangements are provided between the tubing string 33 and casing string 34, as are well within the province of those skilled in the well completion art.
  • FIGURE 5 illustrates an arrangement for creating an impermeable barrier within a permeable formation where impermeable formations are not naturally present to facilitate formation of a subterranean reservoir, such as those described with reference to FIGURES 1 to 4. It is to be understood, however, that the impermeable barrier of FIGURE 5 is not limited to the embodiments of FIG- URES 1 to 4, but rather may be applied to any of the embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, an im permeable barrier formed according to the FIGURE 5 arrangement may be used where it is necessary to have an impermeable barrier either above or below a storage reservoir which is desired to be formed.
  • the creation of the impermeable barrier or layer, as designated by the numeral 35 in FIGURE 5, corresponds substantially to the creation of water coning suppressing disc as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,784,787 to Charles S. Matthews and James W. Killian.
  • a casing string 36 corresponding to the aforediscussed strings 13 and 34 is first run into the permeable formation 37 in which it is desired to form the layer.
  • a tubing string 40 having a closed lower end with perforations 41 thereabove is then run into the casing string as illustrated in FIGURE 5.
  • the perforations 41 are positioned adjacent a perforated section of the casing string 36 at the level where it is desired to form the impermeable layer.
  • packers 42 and 43 are sealingly positioned between the tubing string 40 and easing string 36 above and below the perforations 41.
  • the packers have sealingly extended therethrough a conduit 44 to permit fluids to flow from the area af the casing string above the packers to the area below the packers.
  • FIGURE 8 illustrates a plan view of a complete arrangement of wells corresponding to those of FIGURE 7, wherein the wells cooperate to form a storage reservoir or bottle.
  • the injection and production wells 51 and 52 of FIGURE 8 correspond to those described with reference to FIGURE 7. However, in application after the wells 51 and 52 have been used for injection and production, respectively, to form a curtain of rigid material therebetween, the wells are reused in a reverse manner with the wells 52 being used for injection, while the wells 51 are used for production. The latter injection and production is continued, as was that described with reference to FIGURE 7, until a curtain of rigid solution is maintained between the wells.
  • the areas 61 indicate the curtains formed by the initial injection and production between the wells 51 and 52 and the curtains 62 designate the curtains formed by the reverse injection between the wells 52 and 51.
  • a complete circular or ring-shaped pattern of curtains can be formed to laterally confine a storage reservoir or bottle beneath, or above, an impermeable layer.
  • the reservoir so formed is utilized by forming a well 63 into the confined area 64 thereof in order to introduce and remove fluids.
  • the well 63 corresponds substantially to the well 10, as equipped in FIGURE 3.
  • FIGURE 9 is intended for the storage of fluids, such as natural gas, having a relatively low specific gravity.
  • fluids such as natural gas
  • the fluids injected into the reservoir or bottle created by the fluid cone bear against the formation 71 due to their buoyant force while imparting pressure to the fluid cone designated by the numeral 75 due to their injected pressure.
  • the pressure imparted to the walls of the fluid cone 75 depends on the pressure imparted to the fluid injected into the confined area of the formation 67 through casing string 72. As this pressure and the volume of gas within the fluid cone varies, so does the shape of the cone. For example, as the volume of gas within the cone is decreased, the fluid cone tends to collapse around the production string 74.
  • the fluid cone of FIGURE 12 is similar to that of FIGURE 9 in that its configuration is adapted to change with the volume of fluid stored therein. It is further noted that the dynamic fluid cone of FIGURE 12 may be replaced with a plugging fluid, as described with reference to FIGURE 11, to form a frozen inflexible bottle of substantially the same properties as the configuration of FIGURE 11.
  • the choice between storage reservoirs of FIGURES 11 and 12 may be dictated by the vertical relationship between the porous and permeable reservoir strata and a naturally occurring impermeable formation.
  • the wall is rigidified by reacting a silicate with a gel-producing reagent.
  • barrier fluid as a continuous vertically extensive wall of closed periphery located around the borehole in a position contacting said relatively impermeable layer and spaced radially from said borehole;
  • the barrier fluid is a water soluble silicate
  • barrier fluid as a continuous vertically extensive wall of closed periphery located around the borehole in a position contacting said relatively impermeable layer and spaced radially from said borehole;
  • the material of the barrier fluid is a water soluble silicate
  • the wall is maintained by reacting the silicate with a gel-producing reagent.
  • a method according to claim 14 wherein maintaining of the wall in position is accomplished through rigidifying of the barrier fluid from which said wall is established.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Consolidation Of Soil By Introduction Of Solidifying Substances Into Soil (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
  • Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)
US30436563 1963-08-26 1963-08-26 Method of forming fluid-confined underground storage reservoirs Expired - Lifetime US3318380A (en)

Priority Applications (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US30436563 US3318380A (en) 1963-08-26 1963-08-26 Method of forming fluid-confined underground storage reservoirs
BE652229D BE652229A (da) 1963-08-26 1964-08-24
DK416564A DK109129C (da) 1963-08-26 1964-08-24 Fremgangsmåde til fremstilling af underjordiske væskereservoirer.
GB3455264A GB1067651A (en) 1963-08-26 1964-08-24 Fluid-confined underground storage reservoirs
FR986028A FR1410461A (fr) 1963-08-26 1964-08-24 Réservoirs souterrains
CH1105664A CH444042A (de) 1963-08-26 1964-08-24 Verfahren zum Anlegen eines Behälters zum Lagern eines Strömungsmittels in einer durchlässigen Erdformation
ES0303389A ES303389A1 (es) 1963-08-26 1964-08-24 Un metodo para formar un deposito de almacenamiento de fluidos de una formacion permeable.
NL6409796A NL6409796A (da) 1963-08-26 1964-08-25

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US30436563 US3318380A (en) 1963-08-26 1963-08-26 Method of forming fluid-confined underground storage reservoirs

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US3318380A true US3318380A (en) 1967-05-09

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US (1) US3318380A (da)
BE (1) BE652229A (da)
CH (1) CH444042A (da)
DK (1) DK109129C (da)
ES (1) ES303389A1 (da)
GB (1) GB1067651A (da)
NL (1) NL6409796A (da)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3386509A (en) * 1966-09-30 1968-06-04 Pan American Petroleum Corp Plugging highly permeable zones of underground formations
US3400761A (en) * 1965-12-27 1968-09-10 Hunt Oil Company Use of fluid flow barriers in the secondary recovery of oil
US3642067A (en) * 1970-07-23 1972-02-15 Marathon Oil Co Inhibiting salt water intrusion into fresh water aquifers
US4399866A (en) * 1981-04-10 1983-08-23 Atlantic Richfield Company Method for controlling the flow of subterranean water into a selected zone in a permeable subterranean carbonaceous deposit
US4525285A (en) * 1983-08-31 1985-06-25 Halliburton Company Method of preventing loss of an oil-base drilling fluid during the drilling of an oil or gas well into a subterranean formation
US5133624A (en) * 1990-10-25 1992-07-28 Cahill Calvin D Method and apparatus for hydraulic embedment of waste in subterranean formations
US5370478A (en) * 1993-05-11 1994-12-06 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Process for isolating contaminated soil
US20090220303A1 (en) * 2008-02-29 2009-09-03 Dickinson Iii Ben Wade Oakes Underground sequestration system and method
US20100098492A1 (en) * 2008-10-20 2010-04-22 Dickinson Iii Ben Wade Oakes Engineered, Scalable Underground Storage System and Method
US20110038670A1 (en) * 2009-08-11 2011-02-17 Wilkinson John R Gaseous Sequestration Methods and Systems
US20140241803A1 (en) * 2009-06-23 2014-08-28 Bruce Tunget Apparatus and methods for forming and using subterranean salt cavern

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1921358A (en) * 1930-02-10 1933-08-08 Union Oil Co Method for storage of petroleum in natural underground reservoirs
US2365039A (en) * 1941-09-09 1944-12-12 Case Pomeroy & Company Method of treating oil wells
US2708876A (en) * 1950-10-17 1955-05-24 Union Oil Co Ring detonation process for increasing productivity of oil wells
US2713906A (en) * 1952-12-31 1955-07-26 Texas Co Preventing of gas coning in the production of oil from combination reservoirs
US3120263A (en) * 1958-07-02 1964-02-04 Texaco Inc Producing petroleum from a subsurface formation
US3148730A (en) * 1960-06-27 1964-09-15 Sinclair Research Inc Secondary recovery process
US3152640A (en) * 1962-02-26 1964-10-13 Phillips Petroleum Co Underground storage in permeable formations
US3175614A (en) * 1960-09-30 1965-03-30 Gulf Research Development Co Underground gas storage process
US3202214A (en) * 1960-04-18 1965-08-24 Halliburton Co Preparation and use of sodium silicate gels

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1921358A (en) * 1930-02-10 1933-08-08 Union Oil Co Method for storage of petroleum in natural underground reservoirs
US2365039A (en) * 1941-09-09 1944-12-12 Case Pomeroy & Company Method of treating oil wells
US2708876A (en) * 1950-10-17 1955-05-24 Union Oil Co Ring detonation process for increasing productivity of oil wells
US2713906A (en) * 1952-12-31 1955-07-26 Texas Co Preventing of gas coning in the production of oil from combination reservoirs
US3120263A (en) * 1958-07-02 1964-02-04 Texaco Inc Producing petroleum from a subsurface formation
US3202214A (en) * 1960-04-18 1965-08-24 Halliburton Co Preparation and use of sodium silicate gels
US3148730A (en) * 1960-06-27 1964-09-15 Sinclair Research Inc Secondary recovery process
US3175614A (en) * 1960-09-30 1965-03-30 Gulf Research Development Co Underground gas storage process
US3152640A (en) * 1962-02-26 1964-10-13 Phillips Petroleum Co Underground storage in permeable formations

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3400761A (en) * 1965-12-27 1968-09-10 Hunt Oil Company Use of fluid flow barriers in the secondary recovery of oil
US3386509A (en) * 1966-09-30 1968-06-04 Pan American Petroleum Corp Plugging highly permeable zones of underground formations
US3642067A (en) * 1970-07-23 1972-02-15 Marathon Oil Co Inhibiting salt water intrusion into fresh water aquifers
US4399866A (en) * 1981-04-10 1983-08-23 Atlantic Richfield Company Method for controlling the flow of subterranean water into a selected zone in a permeable subterranean carbonaceous deposit
US4525285A (en) * 1983-08-31 1985-06-25 Halliburton Company Method of preventing loss of an oil-base drilling fluid during the drilling of an oil or gas well into a subterranean formation
US5133624A (en) * 1990-10-25 1992-07-28 Cahill Calvin D Method and apparatus for hydraulic embedment of waste in subterranean formations
US5318382A (en) * 1990-10-25 1994-06-07 Cahill Calvin D Method and apparatus for hydraulic embedment of waste in subterranean formations
US5370478A (en) * 1993-05-11 1994-12-06 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Process for isolating contaminated soil
US8256992B2 (en) 2008-02-29 2012-09-04 Seqenergy, Llc Underground sequestration system and method
WO2009108940A3 (en) * 2008-02-29 2009-11-05 Seqenergy, Llc Underground sequestration system and method
US20090220303A1 (en) * 2008-02-29 2009-09-03 Dickinson Iii Ben Wade Oakes Underground sequestration system and method
US20100098492A1 (en) * 2008-10-20 2010-04-22 Dickinson Iii Ben Wade Oakes Engineered, Scalable Underground Storage System and Method
US20100101789A1 (en) * 2008-10-20 2010-04-29 Dickinson Iii Ben Wade Oakes Engineered, Scalable Underground Storage System and Method
WO2010048188A1 (en) * 2008-10-20 2010-04-29 Seqenergy, Llc Engineered, scalable underground storage system and method
US8256991B2 (en) 2008-10-20 2012-09-04 Seqenergy, Llc Engineered, scalable underground storage system and method
US8277145B2 (en) 2008-10-20 2012-10-02 Seqenergy, Llc Engineered, scalable underground storage system and method
US20140241803A1 (en) * 2009-06-23 2014-08-28 Bruce Tunget Apparatus and methods for forming and using subterranean salt cavern
US9366126B2 (en) * 2009-06-23 2016-06-14 Bruce Tunget Apparatus and methods for forming and using subterranean salt cavern
US20110038670A1 (en) * 2009-08-11 2011-02-17 Wilkinson John R Gaseous Sequestration Methods and Systems
US8454268B2 (en) * 2009-08-11 2013-06-04 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Gaseous sequestration methods and systems

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL6409796A (da) 1965-03-01
DK109129C (da) 1968-03-18
GB1067651A (en) 1967-05-03
ES303389A1 (es) 1965-01-01
BE652229A (da) 1965-02-24
CH444042A (de) 1967-09-15

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