Abstract:For the feasibility analysis of the energy storages in deep salt formation in China,a comprehensive analysis of the sealability of salt caverns as oil/gas storages in the Yunying salt mine in Hubei Province is proposed. In the salt mine,the salt layers are usually intersected by many indissoluble or slightly soluble interlayers. Considering these sedimentary characteristics,a series of experiments concerning the sealability of the salt storages are carried out. The experiments,i.e. direct shear test,Brazilian test and microscopic test,on the mechanical properties of the interfaces between salt and anhydrite layers show that the salt and anhydrite layers have been bonded perfectly,and the salt/anhydrite interfaces are actually not weak as expected. This unique feature benefits definitely the stability and sealability of the salt storage caverns. To further investigate the permeability,the sealability and the loading capacity of the bedded salt rocks,an in-situ high water pressure test on a borehole in the bedded salt formation is performed recently. From the in-door and in-situ experiments,a conclusion can be drawn that the bedded salt formation in the Yunying salt mine satisfies completely the sealability requirement of the energy storage caverns.