Oil injection and production in high-impurity salt mines oil storage: Laboratory experiments
WEI Xinxing1, 2, SHI Xilin1, 2*, LI Yinping1, 2, 3, MA Hongling1, 2, LI Peng1, 2, YANG Chunhe1, 2
(1. State Key Laboratory of Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Safety, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China; 2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
3. Hubei Key Laboratory of Geo-environmental Engineering, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China)
Abstract：In response to the engineering challenges associated with limited construction scale and slow development speed in high-impurity salt mines oil storage, this study proposes a novel technical approach that utilizes sediment voids to expand oil storage capacity. Laboratory experiments and theoretical analyses were conducted on sediment particles from the Yunying salt mine in Hubei Province. A evaluation system encompassing sediment characterization and sediment void storage capacity was established. The mechanism of oil injection and production under the fluid-solid coupling of oil/brine and sediment was systematically studied. The sediment void clogging risk during oil injection and production was explored. The migration rule of oil and brine in sediment voids were elucidated. The results indicate that Yunying sediments possess a void ratio exceeding 40% with favourable connectivity in total, meeting the requirements for oil storage. Multiple oil injection and production cycles demonstrate low flow resistance and a linear mass-time correlation. Dominant flow channels are established only during the initial injection, stabilizing thereafter. The oil-brine interface exhibits fingering phenomena without abnormal pressure or rate fluctuations. Transient clogging events occur randomly, presenting an overall low risk. The oil injection pressure increases stepwise as the oil-brine interface descends. The hydrophilic properties of the sediments improve brine injection and oil production efficiency through capillary forces. These findings provide scientific support for the construction of high-impurity salt mines oil storage facilities.
[1] 黄维和，韩景宽，王玉生，等. 我国能源安全战略与对策探讨[J]. 中国工程科学，2021，23(1)：112–117.(HUANG Weihe，HAN Jingkuan，WANG Yusheng，et al. Strategies and countermeasures for ensuring energy security in China[J]. Strategic Study of CAE，2021，23(1)：112–117.(in Chinese))
[2] ZHANG N，YANG C，SHI X，et al. Analysis of mechanical and permeability properties of mudstone interlayers around a strategic petroleum reserve cavern in bedded rock salt[J]. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences，2018，112：1–10.
[3] 黄 宽，张万益，王丰翔，等. 地下空间储能国内外发展现状及调查建议[J]. 中国地质，2024，51(1)：105–117.(HUANG Kuan，ZHANG Wanyi，WANG Fengxiang，et al. Development status of underground space energy storage at home and abroad and geological survey suggestions[J]. Geology in China，2024，51(1)：105–117.(in Chinese))
[4] 彭元正. 我国石油储备现状及体系构建的政策建议[J]. 中国石油企业，2015，(7)：21–28.(PENG Yuanzheng. Current situation of China?s petroleum reserves and policy suggestions for system construction[J]. China Petroleum Enterprises，2015，(7)：21–28.(in Chinese))
[5] BAI W Z，SHI X L，ZHU S J，et al. Leakage risk assessment system for salt cavern hydrogen storage[J]. Deep Underground Science and Engineering，2025，https：//doi.org/10.1002/dug2.70011.
[6] HUANG L C，FANG Y L，HOU Z M，et al. A preliminary site selection system for underground hydrogen storage in salt caverns and its application in Pingdingshan，China[J]. Deep Underground Science and Engineering，2024，3(1)：117–128.
[7] 施锡林，尉欣星，杨春和，等. 中国盐穴型战略石油储备库建设的问题及对策[J]. 中国科学院院刊，2023，38(1)：99–111.(SHI Xilin，WEI Xinxing，YANG Chunhe，et al. Problems and countermeasures for construction of China?s salt cavern type strategic oil storage[J]. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences，2023，38(1)：99–111.(in Chinese))
[8] HART D，ZEITLER T，SOBOLIK S. 2022 Annual report of available drawdowns for each oil storage cavern in the strategic petroleum reserve[R]. New Mexico，California：Sandia National Laboratories，2022.
[9] BÉREST P，BROUARD B. Safety of salt caverns used for underground storage blow out；mechanical instability；seepage；cavern abandonment[J]. Oil and Gas Science and Technology，2003，58(3)：361–384.
[10] ZHANG N，SHI X L，WANG T T，et al. Stability and availability evaluation of underground strategic petroleum reserve(SPR) caverns in bedded rock salt of Jintan，China[J]. Energy，2017，134：504–514.
[11] 施锡林，马洪岭，章雨豪. 高杂质盐矿已有溶腔大规模储气技术研究进展[J]. 山东科技大学学报：自然科学版，2020，39(4)：55–65. (SHI Xilin，MA Hongling，ZHANG Yuhao. Advances of large-scale gas storage technology in existing salt caverns in high-insoluble salt formations[J]. Journal of Shandong University of Science and Technology：Natural Science，2020，39(4)：55–65.(in Chinese))
[12] LIANG X P，MA H L，CAI R，et al. Study of impact of sediment on the stability of salt cavern underground gas storage[J]. Energies，2023，16(23)：7 825.
[13] 王 斌. 金坛盐穴储气库注气排卤管口附近沉渣颗粒运动规律研究[J]. 土工基础，2020，34(4)：515–519.(WANG Bin. Movements of sediment particles near the inlet of a brine discharge pipe of a salt cavern gas storage[J]. Soil Engineering and Foundation，2020，34(4)：515–519.(in Chinese))
[14] LI P，LI Y P，SHI X L，et al. Prediction method for calculating the porosity of insoluble sediments for salt cavern gas storage applications[J]. Energy，2021，221：119815.
[15] 马洪岭，梁孝鹏，赵 凯，等. 山东泰安盐穴储气库地质可行性分析[J]. 隧道与地下工程灾害防治，2022，4(2)：19–27.(MA Hongling，LIANG Xiaopeng，ZHAO Kai，et al. Geological feasibility analysis of Tai'an salt cavern gas storage in Shandong Province[J]. Hazard Control in Tunnelling and Underground Engineering，2022，4(2)：19–27.(in Chinese))
[16] WEI X X，SHI X L，LI Y P，et al. Feasibility analysis of a novel salt cavern oil storage(SCOS) construction method in high-impurity salt mines[J]. Acta Geotechnica，2025，20：5 845–5 871.
[17] WEI X X，SHI X L，LI Y P，et al. Optimization of engineering for the salt cavern oil storage(SCOS) during construction in China[J]. Geoenergy Science and Engineering，2024，233：212567.
[18] 李银平，马洪岭，施锡林，等. 我国盐穴地下储库建设的挑战与对策研究——从“金坛模式”到“XX模式”[J]. 岩土力学，2024，45(10)：2 859–2 869.(LI Yinping，MA Hongling，SHI Xilin，et al. Challenges and countermeasures in salt cavern underground storage in China—from“Jintan mode”to“XX mode”[J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics，2024，45(10)：2 859–2 869.(in Chinese))
[19] WEI X X，SHI X L，LI Y P，et al. Experimental and theoretical research on the feasibility of oil storage in sediment voids for salt cavern oil storage (SCOS)[J]. Geoenergy Science and Engineering，2025，250：213851.
[20] 李 朋，李银平，施锡林，等. 多夹层盐矿水采沉渣空隙特征与储气能力评价[J]. 岩土力学，2022，43(1)：76–86.(LI Peng，LI Yinping，SHI Xilin，et al. Pore characteristics and volume capacity evaluation of insoluble sediments for gas storage in multi-interbedded salt formations[J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics，2022，43(1)：76–86.(in Chinese))
[21] 王自敏. 提高对接井盐穴储气库沉渣空间利用率实验研究[硕士学位论文][D]. 北京：中国石油大学(北京)，2020.(WANG Zimin. Experimental study on increasing space utilization rate of sediment in butt well salt cavern gas storage[M. S. Thesis][D]. Beijing：China University of Petroleum(Beijing)，2020.(in Chinese))
[22] 郑雅丽，邱小松，丁国生，等. 盐穴储气库残渣空间利用实验研究[J]. 盐科学与化工，2019，48(11)：14–19.(ZHENG Yali，QIU Xiaosong，DING Guosheng，et al. Experimental research on using residue void space in salt cavern gas storage[J]. Journal of Salt Science and Chemical Industry，2019，48(11)：14–19.(in Chinese))
[23] LI P，LI Y P，SHI X L，et al. Experimental and theoretical research on the debrining process in sediments for a gas storage salt cavern[J]. Geoenergy Science and Engineering，2023，225：211667.
[24] LI Q H，LIU W，JIANG L L，et al. Harnessing sediment voids of low-grade salt mines for compressed air energy storage：Experimental and theoretical insights[J]. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology，2025，35(8)：1 303–1 322.
[25] WEI X X，SHI X L，LI Y P，et al. Experimental study of the crude oil storage in underground salt cavern sediment void with high impurity salt mines[J]. Geoenergy Science and Engineering，2025，252：213923.
[26] WEI X X，SHI X L，LI Y P，et al. Oil flows in the insoluble sediment voids for the underground salt cavern oil energy storage：Insights from liquid-liquid two-phase flow[J]. Geoenergy Science and Engineering，2025，254：214026.
[27] LI Y P，SHI X L，CHEN X S，et al. Field experiment research on the penetrability of insoluble sediment in high-impurity salt mine caverns[J]. Geoenergy Science and Engineering，2026，257(A)：214196.
[28] LI P，LI Y P，SHI X L，et al. Frictional loss and permeability estimation of sediment in salt cavern：A combined approach of mathematical model，experimental validation，and numerical simulations[J]. Geoenergy Science and Engineering，2025，244：213497.
2026, Vol. 45 
