Computer-aided study of the gas flow within a natural gas storage and the associated collection network

Abstract

Abstract.The current paper presents a computer-aided analysis of the way in which a natural gas storage created in a depleted gas deposit and the associated gas collection network are operated, both during the extraction phase and during the injection phase. In a first step, an analysis is carried out on a two-dimensional, nonstationary model for the gas storage, based on the deposit's geometry and the rock properties, but also on the gas motions. Also, a dynamic simulation of the injection and extraction processes is unfolded, allowing the study and optimisation of elements such as well placement and gas flows through the wells with the goal of maximising the storable gas quantities. A second model is then generated for the gas collection network associated with the natural gas storage, using the simulation software Simone. Its main benefit is allowing the simulation and modelling of nonstationary flows through the network. The two models are closely interconnected, in that for the extraction stage, the output from the first model is used as input for modelling the collection network, while for the injection phase, the results from modelling the collection network are used as entry data for the gas storage model.